Simone

Greetings all, 

How have you been since my last blog? I write you from a plane headed from Atlanta to my next gig in Utah. I still have to make a concerted effort to remember what day this is….Saturday, 1 August, 2009.  

I’ve been journalizing less due to keeping you abreast of my peripatetic life and in so doing have created my own “simone’s Blogs” folder which will now become my new journal. That’s a huge change as I’ve been journalizing since 1992.  The digital age has now crossed over into a very personal area and I’m really cool with that.  Mind you, I can’t share every nuance of my life, but I can include you as I traverse a path long desired with regards to my career and the ripple effects it has in various areas of my life.

Having said that, I will begin with today’s clash of two important areas: motherhood and career. In order to make this flight I said “see you soon” to my daughter amidst tears (which still threaten) on both sides and a promise to reunite in 10 days.  As I was driven away I held up 10 fingers as a reminder to countdown each day.  She stood there with two people who have been mainstays throughout my life and I’ve chosen to call my “earth angels”; Al schackman, my mother’s longtime friend and MD and my cousin, Joyce stroud. I was flooded with images of myself at her age with so many emotions and memories to juggle while I did my best to maintain my game face lest we lose it altogether.  Saying goodbye has never been and will never get any easier when it comes to my family.  Two days ago, reanna and I said “see you soon” to her father and I fought the tears that threatened as I watched him leave, as well.  Such is the life of a performer who is also a wife and mother.  When I prayed to become a superstar I didn’t take any of this into consideration such was my desire.  Now that I’m on the road to fame, the last thing I will do is complain but I can acknowledge an aspect of this life that never gets any easier.  Remember, I was once the daughter (as the “child in me” so aptly describes), now, I’m the mother and I’ve written and recorded a song which is slated for the new cd (HOORAY!!) called “The hardest part” which deals with this very subject.

Last night lizz wright, Dianne reeves and I, together with my mother’s band once again paid tribute to NINA.  We were joined by two new positive, energetic talented ladies: joi and geri allen as Angelique kidjo and Jeremy berlin could not be with us.  The audience at the woodruff center in downtown atlanta welcomed us from the first word spoken and the first note sung.  I say the first word spoken because much to our surprise 3 distinguished ladies spoke about the event and my mother prior to the actual show, as we know it, beginning.  I’m not good with names and I meet so many people at the same time amidst so much – look I’m still trying remember what day it is – that I don’t remember their names.  These ladies are well known and much respected in the industry, so check out the websites connected with the “ATLANTA BLACK ARTS FESTIVAL” and I’m sure you’ll see pictures and captions.  I’ll look as well because I need to brush up in this area as well.  

Anyway, the evening was a whirlwind of activity, song and celebration.  My daughter got a chance to see the show for the first time and I’ve a picture Dianne reeves took of her watching me from the wings which evoked another flood of memories when I saw it….geez!!  speaking of reanna, she was a hit last night with everyone she came in contact with for she is a happy child and her joy is contagious.  For those of you who know of her ability to “see” and “hear” from her appearance on Psychic kids, larry king and tyra banks, may I share what she shared with me during last night’s show.  And for those of you who don’t believe in “that kind of stuff” skip to the next paragraph…..  ReAnna whispered in my ear that my mother was onstage with us last night dressed in a black gown with gold sandals and a golden headwrap that stood high like joi’s hair was done.  Actually, when joi was singing her first song, Dianne and a couple of other adults commented there was a brief shadow behind her that has become a familiar symbol of Nina – the profile with the high headdress.  It didn’t appear again, but ReAnna shared Mommy was present for the rest of the night at times playing piano beside geri and at one point laying down in front of the monitors as Lizz sang “images” and sitting in front of paul robinson and leopoldo fleming as they kept time.  I can’t “see”, so it was a real treat to hear my daughter share this with me.  I “feel” and am aware of Mommy always but I sure do wish I could “see” her!!!  I use to pray to see her until I realized if that happens I’ll be able to see things I don’t want to as well, so I stopped praying for that.

We received a standing ovation and the hubbub backstage was crazy!!  I met people who knew my grandmother, saw my favorite nanny, coquita (and told her she made the best cream of wheat of them all), hugged one of my godmothers and earth angels, Hannah Ferguson, who attended allen high school for girls alongside Mommy when she was Eunice, passed out flyers for the upcoming NSF fundraiser (which I’ll share more about in another blog) and kept track of my child throughout as we took pictures, reminisced, made introductions and swapped contact information……whew!!!  By the time ReAnna and I got back to the hotel room we had just enough energy to change, brush our teeth and eat a little something we’d been saving for that very moment. 

You’ve traveled the world with me as I paid tribute to my mother alongside some pretty amazing people.  From the Divas, to my mother’s band, as well as the behind the scenes - but equally important - production crew and the promoter!!  Together we laughed, cried, complained, got on each other’s nerves, broke bread, sang, danced, cheered each other on and supported each other throughout to ensure we always brought our best game to the stage.  No matter the circumstances, we did not let it affect our show nor did we forget for one second who we were there to celebrate.  If I had to do it all again, I would!  

I have not forgotten about the photos, so stay on the lookout.  Some future blogs will simply be pictures from the tour which will tell their own story.  I hope you enjoyed the trip as I experienced it and I look forward to continuing our journey together.

STAY WELL -

Simone