lottie & lucille

i was walking around my neighborhood today trying to shake off the remains of a sunny, but blue monday when i was suddenly touched by an angel.

make that two.



i was 5 years old when judy garland and barbra streisand sang this melody on garland's old cbs variety show. i don't remember if i actually saw the show that night but i have always loved this collaboration.

garland and streisand, however, are not the angels i was referring to. that distinction belongs to two very special women who helped mold me professionally and personally.

lottie knight was my former hampton institute professor and mentor who passed away two years ago this fall. i never made a career move without consulting her. lucille deview was my former writing coach who would always take my good copy and make it great. she died just two weeks before mrs. knight.

losing them in such close succession was extremely jarring but oddly inspiring.

still is.

they never met and that's really a shame. mrs. knight was all pepper while lucille, who was about 10 years older, was the salt of this earth when she was still breathing. had their paths ever crossed they would have had some amazing conversations about life, craft, politics and perhaps, me.

maybe they're doing that right now.

maybe that's why i thought of them today when i heard these lyrics.

the sun is shining c'mon get happy
the lord is waiting to take your hand
shout hallelujah c'mon get happy
we're gonna be going to the promised land

thank you ladies. rest in peace. the meaning of your lives is still unfolding in me.