ritaelise

John Prine & Bonnie Raitt | Angel From Montgomery | via: twitchyspastic

it all started with this. i heard this on the radio this morning and instantly felt sad. you see, growing up we always listened to miss bonnie raitt in my mamas minnie van. there are so many feelings associated with her music. she would sing of love. good love, broken love. i grew up in a home where my parents had their fair share of ups and downs. more downs than ups if i were to be honest. i remember my mom would belt out the lyrics alongside the music and her voice would crack in sadness up there in the drivers seat. and then there were the times we’d listen to her with my uncle. my uncle loved him some bonnie raitt.

he was the most amazing southern man. he has been one of the most influential people on my life to date. my uncle passed away just over two months ago from stage four melanoma. he was a life long smoker. when an old friend asked him what he did for a living he responded “blue collar shit.” he was just that kind of dude. tan, leathery texas skin, and a raspy voice. he was someone who lived with nearly nothing and would always say “you can’t take it with ya.” he was so incredibly intelligent. he had a wider vocabulary, knowledge, and understanding of thoughts, ideas, and people than anyone i’ve met in my twenty-four years. he listened to me speak even though i was just some uninformed little yankee. he valued my opinions and thoughts and encouraged me to pursue my dreams and aspirations. he taught me many, many things. but if i had to think of one that stands out, its to live more freely. he never judged people or held pre conceived notions about who they were. instead, he lived without even the slightest chip on his shoulder. even though he lived with very few “things,” he would give a complete stranger the clothes off his back had he been given the opportunity. (and lets be honest, he probably did a time or two.) not only was he kind & intelligent, he always knew how to bring roaring belly laughter to a long dinner table. i guess today was the moment when it really hit me. when i couldn’t pick up the phone and talk to him.

i miss him dearly. and after that bonnie raitt song this morning i’ve been feeling mighty sad in his absence.