In every life we have some trouble
But when you worry you make it double,
Don’t worry, Be happy. Bobby McFerrin
VST loved music. His main genre was Country Western. It was there he felt the most relaxed, remembering times with his Grandfather and parents, enjoying Bob Wills and His Texas Playboys. When I met VST, he knew no other kind of music. Just the singing guitar and songs like “Bill Ball’s in Cowtown” or “Drop Kick Me, Jesus,Through The Goal Posts of Life”. But, with five children, ages pre-teen down to six, and me, his musical life was to change.
As a child, I was raised on musicals, dreamy girl songs from South Pacific or Oklahoma were always playing. When VST and I our blended our families into one, an eclectic combination of musical taste emerged. My youngest son would be taken over over by Michael Jackson’s, Bad, while VST’s son was enjoying M.C.Hammer. The kids and I were always listening to music of one kind or another, with my taste staying near the 70’s or 80’s pop.
Somewhere in this mix, VST was exposed to the song, Don’t Worry, Be Happy by Bobby McFerrin. It was then, his mom began to worry about him. VST loved this song and would listen to it often, never missing a single word. He would even nail the whistling. The important point was, he got the message. VST chose to be happy whenever possible. Optimism was his superpower, lightening dark moments with a joke, or just a look in which he would raise one eyebrow higher than the other. I love laughing with him and happiness infected and brightened our days.
Soon the song was the favorite of all the kids, as well as VST and me. A coffee cup with the inscription Don’t Worry, Be Happy, sat on his desk as a reminder. Everyone knew this was VST’s theme song.
One day, his mom took him aside, after he had played the song repeatedly for her.
“Don’t you still like Country Western?” intently, she asked as she awaited the answer.
He just laughed and that became a joke tied to the entire subject of music. VST WAS Country at his core. One reggae song couldn’t change that and never did. As Terry lay still and gravely ill, I sang “On The Wings of A Dove” to him. One of his favorites, I know he forgave my quivering voice as I sang the entire song. I know those wings carried him to heaven as he left us.
Sweet K gave me a printed version of the words to Don’t Worry, Be Happy in the shape of a heart. Adorable, and a reminder that VST is hoping we are all happy and doing well. He is in heaven singing, his bass voice complimenting all the soprano angels. Keep singing VST. Keep smiling. We will all be together again someday.
Until then, I’ll remember, Don’t Worry, Be Happy.
For other boosts of happiness, Try—
The Happy Song — Pharrell Williams
Fireworks — Katy Perry
Can’t Stop the Feeling –Justin Timberlake.
That should get you in the mood for happiness!!!