Angels in the Snow

My moms birthday was last week so I finally get to post this.  I didn't want any leaks so I didn't even tell my brothers about this song.

This was written with the help of Marvin Payne.  I thought of him while writing the lyrics because I knew she liked him back in the time period of when this takes place.  When I emailed Marvin, I told him that back in the day when this event happened, she might have given away one of those two boys to have you write a song for her.  

Marvin was amazing to work with.  He gave me some great pointers with the lyrics that mad the song better than it would have been.  When we got around to making the music, I told him the type of music my mom liked to play on the guitar.  I listed a few of the favorite bands of the day and described the type of music that I was looking for.  He said, "like this?" and started to play.  I couldn't believe how well he nailed what I was hoping to hear. 

Mom came over for dinner on her birthday.  While she waited for us to finish cooking things, I told her I wanted to play a song that reminded me of her.

After the first few words, she asked if I wrote it.  I just shrugged and she stared crying.  She does that.


Let me know what you think.

Clark

Fall – Photo Set 6 of 6 – Snow

This was taken on the first snow day of the year.  I was headed back to the office after a meeting.  I was on the freeway and kept looking up at the mountains and the snow and the way the sun came through the clouds and lit up the snow and rocks and trees.  The mountain was calling me and I couldn't resist a little side trip up the canyon to take a few photos.  I never did get that perfect shot of the light on the new snow, but I had to get back to work so I left.  What a blessing it is to have mountains like this so close to home. 

I took this a week or so later, the same morning as the school bus photo (post 5 of 6).  Nancy and the kids had spent fall break at the family cabin.  I drove up separately and then left a day early to make it to work about three hours away.  It doesn't take much ice on the road and a brewing storm like this to make me wish I had just taken the day off.  On top of this exciting drive, the heater in my car was acting up, so I had to endure temperatures inside the car in the 30's and 40's.  I drove most of the way with one hand on the wheel, while the other warmed up in my coat pocket.  Then, when I couldn't feel the one I was driving with, I switched hands.

This was taken later that same snowy morning.  A few days earlier at about this same spot, I pulled over and made a post on Facebook that said something like, "Evanston Wyoming in the rear view mirror means I'm headed someplace else."  I lived in Evanston the last two and a half years of high school.  I was always happiest when Evanston was in the rear view mirror and I left for the last time the very day of graduation. 

A storm like this can strike in Evanston anytime of the year.  In fact, it snowed there on the 4th of July both summers I lived there.  I once got stuck in a storm like this while on my bicycle.  I was several miles from home with no jacket.  It was not a happy day. 

This photo was taken specifically for my friends from Evanston, especially those that right now are shrugging their shoulders and saying, "Yah, so?"

How about you?  What kind of places have you lived where you were either super happy to be there or super happy to see it fading in the rear view?

Clark