How Ella finally stopped singing the blues.

As is my way on a Sunday morning I turn on a "lil Tisket and a lil Tasket" and get to work. I start by spraying everything down with some lemon water followed by filling a sink full of hot soapy dishwater. It's something about that heat that is just so soothing in the wee hours on the morning. A woman like me though, needs to have a swirl and twirl while I'm doing housework. This is just where my 8 year old fiery, Aries born, inquisitive, double dimpled, half of my heart makes her grand debut. She starts snapping her fingers and spinning around the kitchen singing oh so loudly "A tisket a tasket a brown and yellow basket"... off key of course but you can't tell her nothing. We curtsied and grab hands singing and spinning, laughing the whole time. Her face is flushed red and she is having the time of her life and I remember that feeling inside when I first heard Mrs. Ella Fitzgerald.

I was 19 years old and scared out of my mind. I am a Caribbean/Creole girl from a no name town in Eastern Massachusetts. One of many immigrants that made their way there from Florida to the North. I was going to culinary school on a hope and a prayer with 500 dollars tucked away in my 20 dollar purse. I was leaving the only place I had ever known, the only people I had ever been around and scared was the operative word.

Well what came across the speakers at the train station but Ella Fitzgerald accompanied by Louis Armstrong singing in perfect pitch "They can't take that away from me". As I tapped my toes and reflected back over the past 5 years that got me to be picked out of my whole class for a scholarship to Le Cordon Bleu, I knew that no matter what, the love I had for creating would see me through. I had come from a long line of take no nonsense women who fought for the right to simply be and be seen.

I had read and studied Mrs. Fitzgerald and related to her shyness and wonderment as to why people thought she was so great. I understood her illnesses better than anyone because what if I succeeded? What if my skills took me all over the world, opened doors I never knew possible? What if I was as good as they said? I felt like "The first Lady of Song" understood my inner demons having to fight many of her own. First with systemic racism to dealing with diabetes that would end up claiming both of her legs she still found the energy to continue singing and presenting. She cared for her half sister's family, even trying her best to raise her sister's son whilst touring 45 weeks out of the year.

In 1954 she met the incomparable Marilyn Monroe who changed her life and gave her breathing room to just be herself and sing in places she wasn't allowed simply because of her chocolate skin. Single mom, divorcee, singer, song creator, diabetes wellness campaigner Ella balanced many hats all the while being scared. Spinning around the kitchen slowly holding my future tight I feel a calm that takes over me. You see Mrs. Ella taught me that no matter what the show must and will go on. I know that whenever my daughter says "Mom I'm scared" I tell her there is no need to be because you come from a long line of take no nonsense women who will always have your back! My daughter smiles the biggest smile with both dimples showing and I know everything is going to be alright.