My new website is up and running - not totally complete yet, but most pages done.  Feel free to check it out.  sharonwickett.com

I finally have the video from I Am Woman, Hear Me and am busy making copies to use for promo to "get this show on the road".  Every day I am reminded, either by people asking or something in the media, that this story needs to be told over and over to educate people to the realities that, not only women, but, all minority groups, are still not "equal".  If we don't speak out, we never will be.  This is just my small contribution to the cause of equality among all human beings.  

I Am Woman, Hear Me...

With the first two shows under my belt, now it's time to start looking at promotion and getting it on the road.  I was absolutely overwhelmed and amazed by the response from the audiences - all of them giving me a hug following the shows.  It was a very emotional performance for me, as well as empowering, but to have such an outpouring from the audiences made it even more special.  This is a story done before the performance in one of our local newspapers.  If you can't read it here, go to my facebook page, I Am Woman, Hear Me, and you will be able to read this, along with a review that was published after the show in another local newspaper.

Thank You

June has turned out to be a busy month, and now it is almost over.  My 97 year old mom was hospitalized on June 10 - severe shortness of breath, nausea, vomiting, fever, and some chest pain.  She was in very critical condition for a few hours, but rallied and stabilized by the early evening.  That night she had a slight 'episode', but the hospital staff, who were so wonderful with her, got it under control.




She seemed to be doing quite well the next day and arrangements were made to move her to Kingston General Hospital in Kingston, Ontario, for an angioplasty and stent placement on June 13.  Well, the best laid plans of mice and men and all that.....I got a call from the hospital at 1 in the morning of June 12.  I had not even gone to bed that night - just couldn't seem to get in the mood for sleep.  To make a long story short, the doctor decided to send her first thing in the morning to KGH.  She stabilized by about 3 a.m., thankfully.
She had the procedure at about 11 that morning, and, true to form when they were wheeling her from the surgical ward to the recovery ward, she looked up at us and said, "nothing to it".  She spent the next couple of days in hospital, then, on June 15 (Father's Day), was released and got to go home.  At this point she is doing very well, considering her ordeal  She had 2 stents put in, and, honestly, from my observations, is breathing better than she had for months.  At her follow-up check-up with the cardiologist today, he remarked on how well she is doing.




On Father's Day, I had planned to sing Bridge Over Troubled Water in church, where I am musical director, in honour of my dad who passed away 35 years ago, but it became a tribute to both of my wonderful, loving, caring parents.  I was tired and had a sore throat, but thanks to amazing training in my early years, I can always sing, in spite of obstacles.  The congregation gave me a standing ovation, which is unusual in a church service, but, I think they caught the depth of emotion as I sang.



I am so grateful for everything in my life - I really have so much.  Every day is a new beginning, a new page to write on.  Every day I wake up and say to myself, and also to the universe, how very grateful I am to be alive in this wonderful world.  If I were to list everything I am grateful for, it would be a large book, but gratitude is really a form of love. 


Most of all, I am just so thankful to be privileged to live in this wonderful world and to experience so many amazing things.  To the spirit of the universe I say, thank you, thank you, thank you.

New Song for Mother's Day

At the church where I am musical director, the minister asked if I could sing something for Mother's Day.  I hardly ever say no, so, of course, said yes, then set about looking up songs, but nothing seemed to inspire me.  So, on Friday night, I sat down and started writing my own Mother's Day Song, and here are the lyrics:


A Mother's Love


Like a mountain rising up so high,
To be safe within your shadow,
Like a garden so full of new life,
Each new day dawning we will grow


Like an island in the ocean of life,
A peaceful, quiet shelter,
Like a light in the darkest night,
This is the heart of a mother.


Chorus:
Her love is like the air of heaven,
Her fingers touch your soul,
Her dreams for you will never end,
Your heart she'll always hold


Like a river flowing down to the sea,
Ever changing, ever new,
The love of a mother will be
Ever constant, ever true.


Chorus:
Her love is like the air of heaven,
Her fingers touch your soul,
Her dreams for you will never end,
Your heart she'll always hold.

New Year

Isn't it funny where life leads you?  I had a crazy fall with many ups and downs, and sometimes the downs seemed to be winning, but I somehow stayed positive throughout.  Every day is a new beginning.  2014 is going to be an amazing year - I can feel the positive vibes all around me.  I have more goals, more dreams, more plans.  I've already kind of committed to do another community theatre show, after vowing I would not - the best laid plans of mice and men.....etc.  But, I thrive on being busy and am at my best when my life is full.  Not that my life is ever empty!  There is always something to do, some new project to work on. 


Some might say that I am too old to continue on this crazy path I have carved thus far in life, but, to that I say, you can never be too old to change your goals and dreams and follow your star.  From where I sit, I cannot imagine a life of just going to a job you don't particularly like, raising a normal family, then retiring from it all.  There has to be something more.  There is something more.  There is a whole lot more!  In spite of all the ups and downs, I love my life and I know that more wonderful times are ahead.


I hope that everyone feels excited with anticipation for 2014 and that you all look on every day as a new page to be written on.  Happy New Year!  Wonderful Life!  Go for everything you want!

My Oldest Daughter's Upcoming Wedding

My oldest daughter, Spring, will be marrying a wonderful young man named Karl on August 24.  Of course, I am doing the ceremony music, but also making the wedding dress and groom's shirt.  First trial run of wedding dress did not turn out well, but have it all in hand now, and will even manage to put together the 3 flower girl dresses, since it is so hard to find things in stores.  I even found my daughter's shoes for her in Toronto, which involved much texting and sending pictures via e-mail.  Thank goodness the store staff did not mind my taking pictures of the merchandise!

The processional song is going to be Fields of Gold, written by Sting, and the signing of the register music and processional are songs I have written.  For the signing of the register, I was inspired by their wedding invitation.  The processional song is one I wrote many years ago, but, one day I was playing through my book of old original songs, and this just stood out as so fitting with Fields of Gold to round out the ceremony.

I am posting the words to both.  I played the songs for them a few days ago, and the groom even began to have tears in his eyes, which, of course, gave me a lump in my throat. 

Signing of Register:

May Your Love See You Through

 

As we come together

For this celebration of love

With friends and family smiling

As the sun shines from above

With words you seal your vows

With hope and faith you walk

Forward from this moment

On a journey filled with love

 

May your love see you through

All the happiness and sorrow

Look into each other's hearts for strength

Today and in all of your tomorrows

 

May all good things be yours

May love shine on your journey

Cherish every moment

Of deepest unity

Giving to each other

The best of all you'll be

With trust and understanding

And love-filled harmony

 

May your love see you through

All the happiness and sorrow

Look into each other's hearts for strength

Today and in all of your tomorrows

 

 

 

Recessional

 

In the Same Grass

 

Now, let me tell you

That it's love that makes us such

An ancient tale gone searching

For those who have not much

Oh, yes, we lie in the same grass

Oh, yes, we lie in the same grass

Oh, yes, we lie in the same grass

As many who have lain here before

 

Come, let me love you

And do not weep in the rain

I have no gold to give you

But, if we touch again

Oh, yes, we love in the same grass

Oh, yes, we love in the same grass

Oh, yes, we love in the same grass

As many who have loved here before

 

Though time passes on

Oh, do not look back sadly

Eyes of memory in the sun

Shadows dancing lightly

Oh, yes, we dance in the same grass

Oh, yes, we dance in the same grass

Oh, yes, we dance in the same grass

As many who have danced here before

 

Come, let me take you

Where sun and moon chance to meet

The field is growing greener

It waits for lovers' feet

Oh, yes, we walk in the same grass

Oh, yes, we walk in the same grass

Oh, yes, we walk in the same grass

As many who have walked here before