Traveling the Rock Road

I once had the good fortune to sit in a couple of times as the drummer for an up and coming young lady that I was sure someday would make the big time. Besides being incredibly beautiful she was a gifted song writer, piano player, guitar player and vocalist.  Performing with Patti (her name) could be quite demanding as she insisted on as near perfection as could be achieved when we hit the stage. If you made a mistake during a set she’d let you know at the break. If you made more during the evening; pack you gear, you were done. At the end of one show she took me aside, explained her objective for performing and the record she planned to record. I was flattered when Patti offered me to be her full time drummer. I told her that would be awesome but it wasn’t what I was looking for in the music; but if she ever needed a stand in let me know. Patti gave one of her beautiful smiles, thanked me, then said I’d never play for her again. Oh well. I never saw her again after that night but figured one day I’d hear her voice on the radio with some chart busting hit. It’s just been recently I learned that wouldn’t be the case for pretty Patti.

Patti hired a bass player she became intimate with and they had a baby. Shortly after the birth of the little girl the father left leaving her and Patti to fend for themselves. She would later state how she didn’t want this child but there was much responsibility that had to be met so music would have to wait. Over time Patti worked numerous jobs to make ends meet with the end goal being to get back to her dream. As we all know time waits for no one; as the little girl grew older there were more needs. Braces, clubs, school and the list just continued on of financial matters to tend to for her daughter. The longer Patti stayed away from the industry the more her talent and beauty faded. One friend described her as becoming hard with everyone, including her little girl. Perhaps as she dwelled on the things that didn’t go as planned, the career that didn’t materialize; was it that when her dream vanished so did all happiness of life?

Nearly 25 years past while Patti was walking home from work she felt the grip around her heart that drove her to the ground where she was found and rushed to the hospital. The heart attack had been so severe she would never be able to work again and she would need someone to care for her. Enter an unwanted child that loved this woman unconditionally. Patti moved in with her daughter and family and I understand, experienced more happiness and love than she had ever found in her life and she wouldn’t have traded a minute of it for the world.

Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

Here’s another “Traveler of the Rock Road” that saw their life journey going in one direction when God had one picked in another. He knew the day was coming when Patti would need someone to care for and love her like no one else could; that’s the gift of a child.

Patti’s music career did have a resurgence; she started attending the church where her daughter went and ended up singing in the choir. As I hear her most crowning point was when her granddaughter released her own music CD recording some of the songs Patti wrote. Awesome! You may even have heard of the girl by now, but I only recently was given this story and I don’t have permission to use names. I think a certain Grandma would put knots on my head if I did anyway. Patti no longer seeks fans and fame; she’s got all she desires from her family and loves every minute of it.

As others have put and I believe Patti would also, “My entire life can be summed up in one sentence; it didn’t go as planned, and that’s okay.”  Thanks for sharing Patti.

See ya next time.