Singing with Elvis #TuesdayTidbit #WeeklySmile #Inspiration

I know I haven’t participated in this feature for a while. It’s not because I haven’t had an opportunity to smile in so long. I’ve been busy working on my new short story collection and with other obligations. A couple of weeks ago, I spent a weekend in Colorado, attending my nephew’s college graduation, and the weekend before that, I went to a poetry workshop in Casper, Wyoming, a two-hour drive south of Sheridan, where I live. Now that Living Vicariously in Wyoming is in the hands of DLD Books, and other things are settling down, I should have more time, until they start work on it, that is. So, here’s my smile for the week.

As you may know, I sing with a group called The Hubcaps. Because the local senior center, where we practice and hold most of our performances, is called The Hub, we decided to call ourselves The Hubcaps. A band that accompanies us is called The Lug Nuts.

We meet once a week for an hour and a half to rehearse and put on a show at Christmas and in the spring, taking the summer off. Our spring performances were last week.

The theme was “The Golden Age of Rock and Roll.” The dining room, where we performed, was festooned with old 45 records and other memorabilia. A local radio announcer played Wolf Man Jack, pretty authentically, I thought, and announced each song as if he were spinning the tunes. Hits from the 1950s, 60s, and 70s included, but weren’t limited to: “One Fine Day,” “Sh-Boom,” and “Sweet Caroline.”

A gentleman in the chorus portrayed Elvis, singing, “I Can’t Help Falling in Love with You.” As he sang, he wandered around the room, waving and smiling, while the rest of us pretended to swoon. He even took his wife’s hand and sang to her. Then, he came back to the stage, took my hand, and I found myself singing the last chorus with him, as we embraced, much to the audience’s delight.

This wasn’t rehearsed ahead of time. He later told us that he picked me because he assumed, due to my limited vision, I would think he was handsome when he thought that was far from the truth. I suppose I should have been offended, but I was smiling, and so was everyone else.

Earlier, I considered dropping out of the group after the spring performances. With that and other obligations, it was almost getting to be too much. But I enjoy singing with them, whether I’m getting attention or not, and I’m afraid I’ll miss it if I don’t continue. Now that I’m simply waiting for DLD Books to start work on Living Vicariously in Wyoming, the pressure is off, and maybe the book will be out by the time The Hubcaps start rehearsing again in September.

What made you smile this past week? You can click here to participate on your blog and read other responses or simply leave a comment below. Thank you for coming.

 

Photo Courtesy of Tess Anderson Photography

Photo Resize and Description

by Two Pentacles Publishing

 

I have great news! For those who use the National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled in the United States, Why Grandma Doesn’t Know Me is now available in an audio format from their site. To download this book click here.

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New! Why Grandma Doesn’t Know Me

Copyright 2021 by Abbie Johnson Taylor.

Independently published with the help of DLD Books.

Photo Resize and Description

by Two Pentacles Publishing

 

Sixteen-year-old Natalie’s grandmother, suffering from dementia and confined to a wheelchair, lives in a nursing home and rarely recognizes Natalie. But one Halloween night, she tells her a shocking secret that only she and Natalie’s mother know. Natalie is the product of a one-night stand between her mother, who is a college English teacher, and another professor.

After some research, Natalie learns that people with dementia often have vivid memories of past events. Still not wanting to believe what her grandmother has told her, she finds her biological father online. The resemblance between them is undeniable. Not knowing what else to do, she shows his photo and website to her parents.

Natalie realizes she has some growing up to do. Scared and confused, she reaches out to her biological father, and they start corresponding.

Her younger sister, Sarah, senses their parents’ marital difficulties. At Thanksgiving, when she has an opportunity to see Santa Claus, she asks him to bring them together again. Can the jolly old elf grant her request?