Book Of Likes Faces

On March 21st, 1939 the legendary Kate Smith recorded the song that, in my opinion, Should have been the United States' national anthem. "God Bless America" written by the legendary composer and Russian immigrant Irving Berlin, is easier to sing for untrained singers. The lyrics are much easier to learn than The Star Spangled Banner. The national anthem is about out our flag, which is a symbol of our nation. God Bless America It's about the land and the people that our flag stands for. I hope it doesn't make me see unpatriotic, but God-bless America has always gotten me more fired up than singing the national anthem, and vocally it's a lot easier to handle. And if it upsets you that I would rather sing this then the star spangled banner at sporting events, come and fight me lol.

R.I.P. Tiffini Talia Hale ~ Thinking today of perhaps my most precious memories with my teacher, Mrs. Susan Taylor as she introduced me to Tiffini. It was March of 1991, the night she personally introduced me to one of my favorite movie stars and singers, Tiffini Hale,. She was in town that night for a concert at the Civic Center. I was so excited to go see her. After the show Mrs. Taylor asked me to wait around in the lobby for a while. I didn't know why but if Mrs. Taylor told you to do something you DID IT, with no questions, as any of her students can testify. So I waited in the lobby until she came for me. She took me by the hand and led me down beneath the civic center to the catacombs where the dressing rooms were and introduced me to a woman I had admired since the 1st time I saw Singing in the Rain.. And when Mrs. Taylor introduced me to one of my movie idols, as I stood there, a starstruck 16 year old, trembling as I shook her hand, Mrs. Taylor said "Ms. Hale, I'm proud to say that Amber Baker is one of my former students and she is going to be a famous writer someday." And she said it like she believed it.. And apparently she made Tiffini, believe it, which is why my autographed picture says "Good Luck." And just in case anyone is curious, Tiffini really was darling, and treated a 16 year old tongue tied idiot who spent her spare time scribbling short stories in a notebook like I was a QUEEN. Mrs. Taylor told me often that she thought I had the writing ability to be famous. I thought about that when I walked past The New York Times building in New York many years ago. I wanted so much to make her proud because she had a lot of faith in me. What eases my grief now is now I know she was proud of me. I am going to write again, not just for myself, but for her.