In Memory of Two of my Heroes, Mr. Johnny  Cash and Ms. June Carter Cash.

I heard today, September 12, 2003, with great personal sadness, of the passing of Johnny Cash yesterday. He and Ms June have been  heroes of mine from as far back as I can remember. His wearing black for those who've been abused/neglected and mistreated was something I admired greatly. He seemed to have clear values, and when he made a mistake, he owned up to it, admitted he'd been wrong and worked hard to change and do better.

Country music was such a great part of my childhood (which also had horrible things) but listening to Mother May Belle Carter and the Carter Family after the Grand Ole Opry, was the high point of many Saturday nights. (Memory shared here)

Ms June was a member of the Singing Carter Family, and her family is considered by many to be the First Family of Country Music. Her singing, strong and clear the songs of the Gospel and of Faith was a memory from many childhood nights, listening on our old crank radio to the 'Old Time Gospel Hour'..

Back in my early 20's ( a lot of years ago. *smile* ) I did a stint singing with a county band that was forever changing names. I really enjoyed singing, traveling and meeting lots of people. We sang in honky tonks with nets over the stage to keep things from hitting us, and sang in country churches for donations on Sunday mornings. Occasionally we were Blessed to open for 'big name acts', and one majickal , never to be forgotten night, it was for Mr. Cash and his Lady, June.

When one opens for a big name entertainer, it's a sad thing in lots of ways, as everyone is there to see THEM not you and the thing that they want most at that moment is for you to do   your thing and get off the stage so they can see who they came to see. Some crowds are not in the least shy about making their sentiments known, loudly and often. Makes it hard to get into the joy of the music if you're the person they don't want to see!

Mr. Cash and Ms June  put on a wonderful show, and I had a great view as I watched form the wings of the stage.

They sang all their 'hit's, to tremendous response. People threw flowers on the stage, and often Mr. Cash would ask who had sent them, their name and say thank you. Some folks pushed their children on stage to have their hands shaken, or receive a hug or a song sung to them. They were so gracious, had the politeness and good manners of a generation ago, when such things truly counted.

Later they  began a set of Gospel Songs, like 'Washed in the Blood', 'I Saw the Light', 'God and Glory', 'He Sees the Sparrow', 'I've Got a Friend in Jesus' and other old time hymns and gospel songs. Songs they hadn't recorded but had a personal significance to them. At various times they both gave credit and appreciation to God for His Blessings and mentioned in soft and gentle ways how important their faith was to each of them. No preaching, just simple. honest, heart warming testimony.

They closed the evening (much too soon) with 'We Got Married in a Fever', and let me tell you there wasn't a man there who wouldn't have gladly run off with Ms June, she was some sexy lady! But she only had eyes for "John"!  And he only had eyes for 'his Lady, June'.

I never heard him call her anything except that, and it stuck in my mind that this was how marriage ought to be, love and sharing, and dedication and compassion and respect.. and.. well, you get the idea. Up to that point in my life I didn't have a lot of positive role models when it came to marriages! And wasn't quite sure that I wanted any. I thought men, were for the most part a waste of skin and air! (Editorial Note from the Mormon: Thankfully, the Mohawk has now changed her opinion somewhat on this point.)

They stood for almost two hours after the show's end, signing autographs, shaking hands, giving hugs and 'Thank You So much for coming to see us' to those who sought them out. After all the folks had left, we were all invited back to the big bus they traveled in.

Everyone then sat around chatting, eating chips, and other salty things. Ms June said that there were two major 'holes' in the Food Guide: "Salt and CRUNCH!" Silently I agreed and enjoyed the munchies and various drinks set out for us. (No alcohol was allowed anywhere at all! which also impressed me greatly.)

Then various folks started picking up instruments and singing their favorite songs, one at a time or in pairs.

If I sit quietly, I can still hear the quiet of the night, it was early spring and the mosquitoes weren't yet 'out'.

(Have I mentioned lately that Canada has far TOO many mosquitoes?)

There was a light breeze blowing through the open windows of the bus. We were parked quite a distance from the highway, and being late at night and in a more remote part of Canada, there weren't a lot of other sounds. The bus had no A/C, as that hadn't yet gotten readily available or economical.

Awestruck, I sat back against a wall of the bus, listening to two of my heroes talking, sharing, singing, telling jokes, in silence (and this folks is a RARE occupancies, I can tell you!).

I wanted to remember every sound, sight, smell, voice, face and expression to keep as a special treasure in my mind forever. Never in my younger years could I have imagined that I'd have such an experience!

In my mind's eye, I can see Ms June, with her incredibly long, luxurious hair, in a half pony tail, embroidered blouse with sequins and flowers, and the gold of her wedding ring. As we settled in to our seats, she took off her stage shoes and put on a pair of well worn and intricately beaded moccasins, letting out a big sigh of relief. She radiated a peace of soul seldom seen, and often as not, seldom noticed. She smelled of lavender.

Mr. Cash was wearing his usual black pants and a tailored, black shirt. He had a bolo tie with a huge piece of turquoise in it's center. It was Navajo silver work, and I wondered what the story of it was and how it had found him. He had on well worn cowboy boots that had seen better days, which Ms June gently removed from his feet, as he settled back into his chair, with his own sigh of relief.

I noticed that more often than not, Ms June kept her eyes on Mr Cash, and often was touching his side, his arm, shoulder, face or holding his hand. One song he sang, he sang without a guitar, as he didn't want to let go of 'my Lady, June'. And Mr Cash had eyes for only her, even when speaking to the rest of us. The only time he took his eyes off her was to perform and then he gave every ounce of his energy into doing the best he could!

Mr. Cash has this rugged charm, and even tho I know that  he suffered horribly from chronic pain and was just out of detox for addiction to pain killers, he smiled often, especially when he looked at 'his Lady, June'. His eyes glowed! With so much love, it was almost like an intrusion to watch them. His rich voice rose. up and down, as he sang, or told jokes (bad ones!), or shared of his love for God and how Blessed he was, or how he had been brought through some trial in his life by Faith, God and 'my Lady, June'.

His voice rumbled in that deep, wonderful and rich tone that only partly comes across when he sings. All the ladies were 'Ma'am' and men were 'Sir', if they were older than he, or 'cowboy' if they were not. He spoke with pride about his children, making no distinction between his children, Ms June's and their son, John Carter. Mr. Cash was so proud that his marriage to June had produced such a great child, with such talent, inherited from the First Family of Country Music, the Singing Carter Family, also of whom he spoke with such pride. His intense love brought him almost to tears at times.

Everyone else was talking up a storm at various times, but I sat back, just listening, intent on committing every moment to memory so that I could take them out and share once more in this incredible experience, no matter where I went or what I did after this night.

At some point during that wonderful night, Mr Cash looked over at me and asked : "Hey little lady, (I'm pretty short, compared to him!) what's on your mind? You're far too quiet for this bunch!"

After I got over the surprise of him talking directly to me, (me? was he truly talking to me?), I wasn't sure what to say, so I mentioned how much the Grand Ole Opry had meant to me as a child and how often I'd listened to Mother May Belle and the Carter Family.

His response was, "Well, what's the song they sang that you liked most?"

I was quiet for a little bit, and answered "The full version of Amazing Grace".

His eyes lit up and he said: "I knew it, you have the Faith, I could hear it tonight in your voice when you sang".

He picked up his guitar, gently took my hand with one of his rough, calloused, work hardened ones, and said: "Come here my girl, let's share the song together." His hands were so strong, yet so very gentle, as he pulled me up from my corner, and over to sit in a chair on the other side of him.

He began strumming the music, softly, went through one entire verse to give me the timing an rhythm, his foot tapping softly on the floor to keep his own rhythm, and then began singing, "Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound.. " ......waiting for me to join in..

With a trembling voice that gradually got stronger as I 'found my voice,' and shaky hands, I began the next line: "That saved a wretch like me". All the while not believing that here I was, singing with Mr. Johnny Cash!!!! It had to be a dream!!!

We sang the first verse, a chorus, and moved on.. on verse three, Ms June began to sing soft harmony.. My band mates sat watching incredulously, as the three of us sang verse after verse, and chorus after chorus of that glorious hymn. When we got to the last verse,

'When we've been there, ten thousand years, bright slinging as the Sun, we'll have no less days to sing His praise, than when we first began,'

I had tears streaming down my face, imagining the glory it would be to get to Heaven and hear such beautiful music sung by loved ones and angels, and sure that Mr Cash and Ms June would be there for sure. I could barely finish the last chorus.

My eyes looked over at Mr. Cash and, to my surprise, I  saw tears streaming down his rugged and scarred face. Ms June had her hand on his shoulder, as she sang the last lines only for him.

At the end, I heard him whisper in Ms June's ear: "I'll be SO glad to get there, my Lady. No more pain and no more sorrow".

As the song ended, everyone seemed to feel the night was over.

I wanted to tell them, "No, please, don't let it end yet, I'm not done!", but I once more retreated into silence and watched everyone drift away to where ever they had to go.

Ms June gave me a great big old hug, not the kind you give a stranger, but one you give a beloved family member, and kissed me on the forehead, with a Blessing of "May the Good Lord watch over you and keep you safe, my child".

Mr. Cash took my hand, bent over it like a gentleman of olden days, and kissed the back of my hand, saying softly: "Thank you for doing me the honor of singing with me".

All I could think of to say was "It was my honor, Sir," and leave, slipping away to resume my life.. which was to get up FAR too early to go sing at a local country church for donations to get us home. (Have I mentioned recently how much I HATE getting up early?)

In the years since that wonderful night, each time I've seen or heard either of them singing or on TV, I remember with warmth, down to my very most secret self, that special, majick filled night, when I was privileged to sit with them, and witness the depth of the love they had for each other and for God.

And, in my own heart of hearts,  I just know that today, he's once more with his beloved, Lady June, and they're likely singing together just now, and all that love is shining for all the angels to see, with Mother May Belle looking on.

Respectfully,
-Deedee