Me on Monday

As I begin this, the memories are coming fast and furious. This most likely will be a long post. So, if you are not interested in a 74 yr. old woman who has fallen in love with a man who is not her husband—just skip it. You’ve been warned!! 

I started paying attention to music in the 5th grade. I fell in love with the Beatles and their big hit, “I wanna’ hold your hand!” After seeing them on the Ed Sullivan show in 1964, I was hooked! Bad! Really bad! Three of my friends and I started our own Beatles group. I was George. We were 12 years old and stretchy headbands were in style. We’d flip our hair over the top of the band to get the appearance of those long-haired boys. We strummed tennis rackets and sang our little hearts out 3 or 4 four times a week after school!

Next came Peter Noone from Herman’s Hermits. I was so in love with him that I smooched the back of the record album which had a full-size face of him. I remember being so in love with him that I thought I might die! Dramatic, I know, but that’s how I learned how to kiss!

There were others that I loved through the years, David Cassidy, Michael Jackson and so many more. I surely could easily have been a groupie—except, I had no money, no records and no transportation. So, there was no going to concerts or following them around. 

Fast forward to NKOTB. For those of you who are not “blockheads,” that stands for New Kids on the Block. I have Stephanie to thank for that. She fell hard for them when she was in 6th grade. She and her best friend, Malinda were consumed with everything NKOTB. They had it all: bedding, dolls, records, t-shirts—anything and everything. Since I totally related to her and her adolescent, all encompassing LOVE, I was all “in” helping her to get as close to them as she could. I convinced Malinda’s mom, Connie to camp out with us to be the first in line at Turtles Records to get the best seats at their concert when they first came to Nashville. 

As we were sitting on the sidewalk outside the store, Channel 2 News showed up and were interviewing Connie. She was so nervous, she told the reporter that I watched them every afternoon! What? What did that even mean! They turned their cameras to me and, I don’t know, I probably said some stupid stuff. Add to the fact that it was cold out and I had the hood of my coat tied tightly around my head and looked completely ridiculous! When the cameras were turned off, Connie turned to me and said, “I am so sorry!!” Yeah, she made me look like an idiot on local tv!! We were joined by other friends, Pam and Bruce—about 11 of us—and ordered pizza delivery on the sidewalk. We turned it in to a party! I was always about creating memories—and this was a good one for me too!

So all of that music history brings us up to now—62 years later. I have fallen in love with another musician! His name is Patrick Murphy. He is a vocalist at our church. There was no sneaking around. Right in front of Butch, one Sunday I said, “I have to go and talk to him!” I darted off and introduced myself. I told him how much I loved his voice and music. I just knew he had to be in the music business. I asked about that. He told me he was and that he appreciated me letting him know how I felt. Okay, I did use the “L” word, but only related to his voice! He is in the music business, so I went to his website and signed up to find out where he was appearing around town. Occasionally, I get an email when he cuts a new record. 

Just goes to show that you are never too old to fall in love! Even though, this love of another musician will remain unrequited, I can at least listen to his music and see him at church every Sunday! Luckily, Butch isn't the jealous type!

Enjoy! Just click on his name and then the link that appears.

Patrick Murphy