Loving you...

A few months ago, I couldn't sleep so I stayed up watching an "Unsung" marathon on TV One.  For those of you that have never heard of it (and truth be told, I had never heard of it before that night), "Unsung" is a documentary that profiles old R&B artists, telling the story of their rise and fall from fame.  One episode really captivated me and totally left me in tears.  It was the story of Minnie Riperton.  Minnie was an amazing singer best known for her song "Loving you".  In more recent years, she was known for being the mother of awesome Saturday Night Live actress, Maya Rudolph (also co-star of one my favorite movies, Away We Go).  The documentary told the story of Minnie's singing career in the seventies, her beautiful love story of her and her husband and the love they shared for their two children.  I felt this kinship to her for a number of reasons.  One, Minnie's writing partner was her husband and my husband and I love writing together.  Also, she had this enormous love for her two children.  Tragically, Minnie was diagnosed with breast cancer and died at 31, when her children were still little.  I felt so sad for her - she was so young, her children were so young, she was so in love with her husband and if she had the same diagnosis today, she probably would still be alive.  Obviously, I didn't know her personally but she had a such a BEAUTIFUL voice and an amazing spirit.  I couldn't help but be really saddened that she had such a short life and was unable to spend more time on earth with her husband and children.  Sometimes these things just don't make sense, but if you give a listen to her beautiful voice, maybe God just wanted his angel back. 

During the documentary, they also told the story of "Loving you", her most famous hit.  She wrote it with her husband.  The song beautifully captures the intimacy and excitement of being in love.  What I didn't know was the song also served as a lullaby for her little daughter, Maya.  In the original, you can hear her saying "Maya" over and over at the end.  I played this for Wesley before he went to bed tonight and ever since I saw the documentary, I hum it to him and Isaiah all the time.  Every time I do, they get these HUGE smiles on their faces.  I know I sound awful singing it, haha, but it is such a beautiful, sweet, simple song.  I know I am a few decades late but Mama to Mama... Wife to Wife... Thank you, Minnie.  If my life had a soundtrack, this would be track 1.

Enjoy.