SECOND WIND.....the story.

I recently saw a statistic that says studies show Americans get their “Second Wind” at age 56.  Well, guess who is turning 56 later this year?  :-) 

I have always been pretty much an “open book” with those around me. My husband sweetly suggests to me often that I might “over-share” a bit, especially on Facebook (HA!), but I pretty much report life as it is around me.  “Marcia, did you really just post that disgusting grey ruined hamburger meat on Facebook?”  Yep.  “Honey, did you really just post a picture of the cat puke?”  Yep. “Honey, did you really just post a video of the dog pooping?”  Yep.  “Wife, I fear I must unfriend you soon.”  Oh well….  I guess my posts aren’t for the faint of heart sometimes!  LoL

But seriously, for those of you who have followed me in life these last few years, you know it’s been a bumpy ride. I gave up writing songs several years ago, for many reasons, but mainly because my parents had gotten to an age where they needed my help and it was clear I needed to enter into a season of “caregiver” mode and my own career needed to take a backseat. I won’t lie and say it was easy, because it was not. But it WAS very rewarding and I wouldn’t change a thing about those last years close by my parent’s side. 

Mom passed first, in Feb. of 2013. Then Dad went to be with her and our sweet Lord in March of 2015. I was beside myself with grief. I had truly never known the deep, dark side of grief that engulfed me, and it stayed with me for many months.  We also lost Mike’s grandmother in the fall of 2013, and both of our beloved dogs, Django and Ellie in the spring of 2014.  We had some friends pass during those years too, and it seemed that we had suddenly entered into a period of keeping our funeral clothes freshly pressed way too often. This was new territory.  A new season of life. I wasn’t sure I was ready for this at all.  I was completely uncomfortable in my own skin and felt lost.  I needed to find myself again somehow. 

My friend Kim knew I wasn’t myself.  As good friends do, she could see what I couldn’t see. That I needed to create.  She gently encouraged me to start writing again.  She thought it would be therapeutic.  Of course I argued with her.  “Nope.  I’m done.  I’m empty.  I really don’t think I will ever write again.  I have written hundreds of songs, and I can’t imagine that there is anything else I need to say.” 

Fast forward to January 2016. My husband Mike and I were meeting Kim and our friend Christopher Cross for dinner in Nashville. I have been touring with Christopher for 3 years now and he has become a treasured colleague and a dear friend.  He has always been a musical mentor and inspiration to me and I still find myself amazed that I get to work with him.  This particular evening Christopher asked if we could stop by a little early so he could show me something before dinner.  When I walked in Kim’s house I could see a little mischievous gleam in her eye and CC had a big smile on his face too.  “What’s going on guys?” I said.  “Wellllll…..”, Kim said, “I told Christopher about our conversation, where you said you weren’t ever going to write again.  And then I told him that I thought if someone were to write you an inspiring piece of music that you could write some beautiful lyrics to, it might be just the thing to get you creating again.”  CC’s smile got bigger and then he blurted out, “So I wrote you something!”.  Let me tell you right now I don’t think I have ever been more stunned in my life.  What did he just say?  Did he just say he wrote something for ME?

Kim took my arm and motioned for me to walk back to the studio. CC immediately pulled up a chair for me to sit perfectly in between the speakers so I could hear the track and then he hit play.  I don’t think it was 2 measures in before tears started flowing down my cheeks!  It was one of the greatest gifts I had ever received. A beautiful piece of music from one of my musical heroes and now I get to write lyrics to it!  Oh wait…. Oh gosh…..Oh CRAP…. I HAVE TO WRITE LYRICS TO THIS!!!!!!!!!   I mean… GOOD LYRICS!!  Can I even DO that anymore??  The high of having this presented to me started sinking in to the reality that I actually had to find my “voice” again.  What if nothing came?  What if I really WAS empty?

The phone rang a couple of days later and it was Christopher.  “Have you worked on the song yet?”, he excitedly asked. “No,” I timidly said.  “You are going to have to give me a little time here.  It’s been awhile. I don’t write prolifically like you do.”  “No worries,” he sweetly said. “When the muse hits, it will come. Take your time.”  C’mon MUSE!  Where ARE you these days???

It was actually about six weeks later when the Muse decided to show up.  And she came at 4:30AM. Boy, that ol Muse picks GREAT times to appear, huh?  LoL  I literally woke up suddenly with lyrics floating around in my head… so I got up, put on a pot of coffee, grabbed my guitar and sat out in the sunroom letting the muse lead me into this lyric.  To be fair, CC had written most of the chorus, and had this wonderful title already.  He generously lead me in the right direction lyrically so I just let the rest flow out.  I typed out the lyrics - put them in an email to CC and hit send.  And then I went back to bed and fell back asleep.  

When I woke up again around 9am, my first thought was panic.  Oh man.. did I really just send Christopher Cross some lyrics at 5:00 in the morning??  What if he hates them?  I checked my email to see if he had responded. Nothing.  Deep breath.  Ok… well, now we just wait and see. Thankfully it he didn’t keep me waiting too long.  His beautiful and supportive email came in and the first three words were, “I love it!”.  I think i burst into tears… again!  (I cry a lot).  We had a song!!!!  I could still write… and create.  And it felt like I had found myself again.  That part of me that I had put away so I could tend to other things was now back in bloom and I knew that I was indeed starting to find my “Second Wind”.

Since then, I slowly started writing regularly again. Soon the beginnings of a new album began to emerge and the last few weeks I’ve been in the studio with amazing musicians, creating a new CD that I am EXTREMELY proud of.  That album, my first faith-based CD, won’t be ready until late spring/early summer of 2017, so while we are finishing that, I decided to release “Second Wind” as a single for a couple of reasons. One, because it is such an important part of my musical journey now, bringing me back full circle into my creative space. And two, because I’m so proud of this special song and I didn’t want to keep it to myself any longer!  

“Second Wind” is now available for download on I-tunes and all online music stores, as well as on Spotify, Apple Music, and all streaming services, featuring Christopher Cross on guitars, Wes Little on drums, Brian Allen on bass, Derek Wells on guitars, and Kim Parent and Britt Savage on background vocals.  Thanks for listening guys!  I hope you enjoy it! 

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SECOND WIND

C. Cross/M. Ramirez

I found my second wind

I think I found my second wind

 

The dawn is finally breaking

There is a new light in my sky

You know nothing lasts forever

We can get through the darkest night

Life is full of struggles

And everybody gets their share

But every end just means a new beginning

And I’m starting to get there

I take a breath and take a step

Walking my new path with no regrets

CH: I think I’ve found my second wind

Watch out world, here I come again

I think I’ve found my second wind

I got my friends, got my family

and I got my man

There’s nothing like a true love

reminding me to just lean on

The faith that always guides me

And the hope that keeps me strong

CH: I think I’ve found my second wind

Watch out world, here I come again

I think I’ve found my second wind

I got my friends, got my family

and I got my man

I take a breath and take a step

walking my new path with no regrets

CH: I think I’ve found my second wind

Watch out world, here I come again

I think I’ve found my second wind

And I’m playing to win

CHORUS