Wham! with Impact!
I recently watch a documentary on the band #Wham! on #Netflix. Watching this story began a period of reflection on my life. In the early 80s I was part of a youth ministry and had the opportunity of traveling around the United States. One of these trips included a trip to San Jose where I became friends with a guy that would play a role in my life a year later.
Back home in Tulsa, I considered these ministry years as gap years and decided to continue my college education. I lived at home with my mom, dad, and sister and I started attending college during the day and working at night. Life was pretty normal and uneventful, but I enjoyed the periodic letters I would receive from friends I met while traveling with the ministry (old-time social media).
Everything changed when I received a call that my dad was being taken to the hospital. My dad had problems with kidney stones so I figured this was another of those sudden attacks. Upon arriving at the hospital, I was greeted with the grim news that my father had passed from a massive heart attack at 58 (April 1985). Needless to say, my life was turned upside down.
In May of 1985, I received a graduation announcement and personal invitation from one such friend from my travels, the one from San Jose want me to attend his graduation in June. Since I was looking for any reason to leave the pains of my dad’s loss, I accepted the invitation and went to the graduation. My friend had a very spiritual and praying mother, after a couple of nights of deep conversations, I was asked to come and stay with their family for a bit.
After reflecting on this time, I realized that, I was numb and oblivious, I was hurting, lost, and looking for an escape from the pains at home. I met a key individual the first week of my time in California that would become a major part of my healing process and a dear friend. Her family accepted me a a part of theirs, and I don’t believe they will ever know how much healing they provided.
My friend and I would go to a popular dance club on Friday and Saturday nights and church Sunday morning and evening. These dance nights is where Wham! enters the picture. One of the lasting memories of that time is the impact of that song, Careless Whispers was to become a port in my life, a key destination on my life’s map. Not only did that become our favorite songs, I was with friend when I recorded it at a studio on one of our regular trips to Pier 39 in San Fransico.
Now, every time I hear that song, I am transported back to the 1980s and how that year helped me work through the death of my father, develop life-long friendships, and how negative events can blossom into beautiful gardens.
“Wake me up before you go go!”
Christopher