I can’t stop thinking about all the fun that came out of performing with The Embers Thursday night at the North Hills Commons.   These mighty musicians really know how to put on a show!  They go big and even though I know they’ve played some of their songs over and over and over again… they perform them as if they’re new.  That is an effort that deserves major kudos!

You could not find a warmer, kinder group of gentlemen.  I had nothing to worry about. Nothing.  I knew before I touched the stage, that they had my back and that they wouldn’t let me fail. Oh, the comfort in those things.

That said, before the show I found myself fretting about the little things.. such as:  what shoes would work best with a red dress, and what kind of lip gloss would blend best with red lip stick, and accessories.  Stuff like that.

I have to give props to my beautiful and talented daughter Ashley Marie.  She hooked her mommy up.  We had this long distance phone call, with me in my closet, throwing shoes here and there… hunting for the ones that she described.  This young fashionista knows her stuff, I must say.  I was able to go comfortably into the night.

One day soon, I’ll learn to post pictures and all this describing won’t even be necessary: Red dress, black sling backs, black bold bangles, gold earrings.

So the show went on.

I was awed by the staging.. all the big electronics all over the place, the lights on top of the stage.. in the back and front.  This was a huge production… nothing I’ve been exposed to on this musical journey. In a word, WOW.

The people at North Hills could not have been nicer to me– before, during and after my performance.

They had a great night and so did I.  "A-plus", one woman said to me as I stood back stage.

I am up early and blogging, because I am still taking all of this in.  I can’t stop thinking about all the little moments that have made my heart so happy.  Little moments matter. Trust.

The vibe from The Embers is so positive…   And what they do– they do so well.  There’s nothing deep or  heavy or political about their shows.  They make happy music– fun songs that leave you lifted.  It works well for them.

Final note: I like what author Sam Parker writes about the essential fundamental of effort in his book: 212 The Extra Degree.

The bottom line goes like this:  It takes 211 degrees to heat water, but 212 to make it boil.  One degree makes all the difference… and in life, can separate the good from the great.  From where I stand, The Embers have that extra degree.

I am striving for that, too!

Onward and Upward and Loving !!!

See for yourself what I mean:

www.theembersband.net

What a weekend I had!  Busy as heck, but I loved her single minute of it. I jammed with the Embers on Saturday.. and got to sing the National Anthem at the Durham Bulls game Sunday.

No complaints. None at all.

I am actually developing a "relationship" with the Embers.  The Embers! North Carolina’s Official Musical Ambassadors.
I am blown away by their  talent and professionalism… and if that doesn’t beat the band– these men are downright friendly and just so down to earth.  They’re entertainers, so of course they have egos, but their fame certainly hasn’t gone to their heads.

So, my Saturday plans started out simple enough.  I thought I’d be stepping out to see The Color Purple at the Durham Performing Arts Center, and then calling it a night. Not so.  Wayne Free of the Embers contacted me about possibly dropping by their gig at Loafers in Raleigh to run through the songs that we’re going to do at the North Hills Commons this Thursday evening.  Sounded great to me. So I did it.

The band was in full band mode when I arrived—bright lights-big sounds- the musicians all suited up in gray and black. They sounded and looked terrific.

Then it was my time to shine.  Wayne called me to the stage.  My first song was My Guy by Mary Wells and then Wayne and I performed our duet Precious Love by Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell.

I could have been better. I know this.  Right out of the gate, I forgot the words to the beginning of the first verse to My Guy..  and started singing parts of the second verse.  I just kept smiling and singing as if nothing had happened  I think I pulled it off.

Precious Love was smooth sailing, and a lot of fun.

We received warm applause, and I got to see and hear the areas where I’m weak and have to work harder to nail.  It was a fantastic dry run because it exposed my flaws.

I am confident I will be better on Thursday.  I have one more rehearsal with the "ambassadors" to prove it.

Onward and Upward and Loving It!

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