Carole King has been a part of my life since first grade. It was then that my tenth-grade sister brought the album home. Tapestry. From the first song, ‘I Feel the Earth Move,’ I was hooked. I had just learned to read, and this album came with lyrics, and I took my reading to a new level.

Reading words with the rhythm of the piano and singing was new to me. I had played my Elvis albums over and over when my sister was there to “drop the needle,” and I already knew the words by heart. I didn’t have to read the words as I was more of an interpreter of his songs, and he was my declared soul mate back then, and it felt like he was singing only to me. As a great listener, it didn’t take me long to remember every single word.

Now, I had a woman's voice with words that I felt were made for my King. I sang them back as if Elvis was sitting at the dining room table, clinging to my Goody Hairbrush with a death grip and the album sleeve in my other hand, I poured my heart out to the King across the room, in my mind’s eye.

‘So Far Away’ - Glancing at my King across the room, I sang, “Doesn’t anyone stay in one place anymore? It would be so fine to see your face at my door.”

‘It’s Too Late’ - The words I would sing if my King ever wanted to leave me…For first grade, I knew love. Ms. King was inside of my worries now.

‘Home Again’ - “I won't be happy 'til I see you alone again
'Til I'm home again and feeling right.”

‘Beautiful’ - “You've got to get up every morning with a smile on your face and show the world all the love in your heart.
Then people gonna treat you better
You're gonna find, yes, you will
That you're beautiful, you're beautiful
You're beautiful as you feel”

‘Way Over Yonder’- “And the sweet tasting good life is so easily found a way over yonder, that’s where I’m bound”

Lastly, for tonight, ‘Where You Lead’ -

“Loving you the way I do
I only wanna be with you
And I would go to the ends of the earth
'Cause darling, to me that's what you're worth.”

Ms. King gave me a voice to my King. She helped me find words to love someone with, and I will be forever grateful.

This week, Saturday, October 11th, “Getting Ready” for Kari Marie, our Ambassador Member of Frosty’s Spirits & Social Club, is bringing the whole 11-piece band, horns and all, to the Batcher Block Opera House Grand Stage! She has roots here in Staples, as her family has kept her Grandmother’s place.

Please make plans to bring your best friends, and let’s party like it’s 1971 and ‘Feel the Earth Move’!

Saturdays are for “Getting Ready”! Dress up or not. But dress up!