Mar. 22, 2022

SING, SING A SONG--SING OUT LOUD---SING OUT STRONG.

FORGET THE THEATRE IS DARK AND THE SEATS ARE EMPTY.  I'M STILL READY TO SING. 

I NEVER PLANNED ON BEING A STRONG WOMAN. I GREW UP WANTING A SINGING CAREER--TO SING WITH STYLE AND ELEGANCE--TO BE A GREAT SINGER WHO ENTERTAINED--WHO SPREAD LOVE TO ALL THE AUDIENCES AROUND THE WORLD. MY LIFE HAD PROMISE AND THERE WERE SO-MANY OPPORTUNITIES. THE TIMING WAS RIGHT AND JUST WHEN I HAD ONE-FOOT-INSIDE THE THEATRE DOOR---MY MOTHER SLAMMED IT SHUT.

FROM CHILDHOOD, I TRAINED WITH MUSIC TEACHERS AND VOCAL COACHES. I SPENT YEARS SINGING, VOCALIZING, TRAINING, WINNING COMPETITIONS---AND KEPT PRACTICING-- BUT--I NEVER SPENT EVEN ONE DAY--LEARNING TO BE A "STRONG" OR "INDEPENDENT WOMAN."  I HAD "ZERO" EXPERIENCE IN THE BUSINESS WORLD BUT I KNEW MY TALENT WAS MY BIGGEST ASSET. IT WOULD PROVIDE ME WITH A SUBSTANTIAL INCOME---FOR LIFE.

ALL THESE YEARS LATER I'M A STRONG,CONFIDENT, AND INDEPENDENT WOMAN WHO IS EXTREMELY FRUGAL-- BECAUSE I'VE ALWAYS HAD TO BE.  TODAY, MY YEARS OF PROMISE, HOPE, AND ENDLESS OPPORTUNITIES ARE ALL IN THE PAST YET---THE LITTLE GIRL IN ME CONTINUES TO HOLD-TIGHT TO THE ELEGANTLY-BEADED GOWNS; THE NEVER-WORN SILK SLIPPERS; THE GORGEOUS PEARLS AND RHINESTONE JEWELRY AND----THE MANY BOXES OF SONG BOOKS AND SHEET MUSIC. MY BELOVED STEINWAY GRAND PIANO IS GONE BUT--THE MELODIES NEVER LEAVE ME.

A LONG TIME AGO, I WAS FORCED TO END MY DREAM OF A SINGING CAREER.  YET--THE LITTLE GIRL IN ME---NEVER SAID  "GOODBYE" TO THE GOWNS, THE ELEGANCE, THE LIFETIME DREAM OR---MOST OF ALL---- TO THE MANY SONGS THAT CONTINUE TO LIVE IN MY HEART.

Sally Miller