The Inimitable Christine Lavin. (Credit: Christine Lavin)

Back at the turn of the century, Hubby #2 and I split up. My self esteem was in the toilet and my friend Karen asked me to go to a musical performance by Christine Lavin. She is a folksinger songwriter with quirky fun way about her. When I was a DJ on Public Radio, I played a lot of her songs. While I wasn’t really up for it, I made myself go…and I’m so glad I did.

Christine loves to gather with her audience before her shows. She’ll sit in the lobby and paint your nails or have a knitting circle as she asks about you and your story. I’ve only seen her twice, but we have spoken a few times since. She is just a sheer delight and I’d really like to see her again someday. 

Christine Lavin and Friends at a knitting circle. (Credit: Christine Lavin)

Mr. FixIt was gone most of the afternoon, so while I cleaned house and made a double batch of granola, I watched YouTube videos. One popped up that I hadn’t seen. Christine Lavin on CBS Sunday Morning when Charles Kuralt was the host. I was tickled to death to see this and it captures the artist exactly as I remembered her. 

Those were hard times for me during the first stages of divorce. Listening to Christine sing “What Was I Thinking” and “Harrison Ford” and “Cold Pizza for Breakfast”….”Bald Headed Men,” “Regretting What I Said,” and “Good Thing He Can’t Read My Mind” lifted my heart and made me start to find myself again. 

Credit: Christine Lavin

There are moments in your life that you will always remember and many of them are associated with music. The Coca Cola Summer of Stars when the lead singer of The Temptations held my hand, looked in my eyes and sang “My Girl.” Or James Taylor singing “Up On The Roof” at Red Rocks as a full moon rose over Denver. Or John Denver singing “Country Roads” to this little West Virginia gal who was so homesick. Then there was Christine Lavin singing “Shining My Flashlight on the Moon” in the auditorium of Carbondale High School when I started to put the pieces of my heart back together.

“Where words fail, music speaks.” Hans Christian Andersen

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“Whoever sings songs to a heavy heart is like one who takes off a garment on a cold day, and like vinegar on soda.” ‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭25‬:‭20‬ ‭ESV‬‬

***Gratitude Journal***   
Today I am grateful for the music in my life that soothes, heals, and uplifts a weary heart.