I love to sing!  It is one of my favorite things to do.  When I was little, I just knew that I was going to be a famous singer when I grew up.  I loved Olivia Newton-John and Leslie Gore.  Don’t know who Leslie Gore is?  She sang “It’s My Party” (and I’ll cry if I want to, cry if I want to…) and my mom had her album.  I played it over and over growing up.

I made my singing debut around the age of 8 during my 3rd grade Halloween Carnival talent show.  I sang “Don’t Cry Out Loud” for two shows.  I look back at that and wonder that no one laughed Out Loud at an 8 year singing:

Don’t cry out loud

Just keep it inside and learn how to hide your feelings

Fly high and proud

And if you should fall, remember you almost had it all

I mean, seriously….

My next singing performance was about the same year at the Glendale Springs Missionary Baptist Church, where I sang “Just Build My Mansion (Next Door to Jesus)”.  I still remember what I wore — a blue pleated skirt with a matching blue top, that had a white pilgrim collar with a rose at the throat.  I belted out “It doesn’t matter who lives around me, just so my mansion sets near the throne.”

But here’s the thing:  I can’t sing.  Not a lick.  I think I may be tone deaf.  I didn’t know it (obviously) during my talent show performance nor during singing in church, but my friend, Melissa Sheets, told me soon after the church performance that I couldn’t sing very well.

And other friends continued to give me feedback.  My best friend in high school, Becki, only allowed me to sing on my birthday and prom night, i.e. special occasions.  When I sing now, Matt says that he can hear dogs howling.

Thank goodness for long commutes in my car and my iPhone app Songify.  This app allows me to “produce” myself.  Check it out–I recorded my haiku tribute to Diet Coke.  It rocks.