Society's Child (Tara Taylor Quinn)

In true ttq fashion I stumbled upon something new this week. And someone. Back in the sixties I was too young to know that there was a world outside of the one in which my parents lived. I remember JFK's assassination only in that my mother was doing laundry that day and she stopped. Something had to be really wrong for her to stop laundry to stand in front of the television set.

And in the seventies, I discovered Harlequin Romances. I was fourteen and just becoming aware of the world outside of my parents' world. It frightened me, mostly because I never quite felt like I fit in, and I escaped, instead, to far away places where knights in shining armor always rode up and saved the sweet young maiden. I learned a lot about islands (mostly Greek) and sunshine and love everlasting.

I completely missed what was going on around me.

Last week, on a published authors loop, there was mention of a singer's autobiography that was out this summer. They were discussing her music and how, in the seventies, it defined them. I was in the middle of revisions that weren't revising and just kind of segued out to the Internet - didn't even have to take a side step or get out of my chair to get there. I searched the singer's name and discovered the world outside of my parents'.

There were some free downloads. I listened. And then had to have the two disc CD that was released in conjunction with the autobiography. Like most of the country, I'm in a drought right now and buying next to nothing, but I had to have this CD. (We've been eating bizarre things here as a result - I was feeling guilty for money spent and have been making up for it in grocery money! Thankfully my sweetie has been amenable to my guilt imposed meal choices. And to the CD!)

As soon as I could open the CD's I was listening. To every word of every song. I could feel them. I felt as though I'd lived them. But it wasn't until the singer pointed out in an email to me that there was a relationship between her biggest hit - she has nine Grammy nominations and won three Grammies - and my book, Behind Closed Doors, that I realized something. Most of what she sings about is written in my books. She sings about the things that I see.

We're conduits, she and I and so many of us who spend our days siphoning ourselves to share what we see with the world. And I see now, clearly, why we do it. We've been given the chance to help others see, to bring us closer, to connect us all to each other and the truths that are inside of us.

Anyone ever get left standing there when they were choosing sides for basketball? Yeah, that was me. Our hearts are broken over the sight of a maimed soldier, and yet the drums of battle still sound. And have you ever been in love, lost, and still needed to hold on to the love? Have you ever loved someone who hurt you - physically - and had to walk away even though the person was sorry, was damaged, needed help? We talk about equality, but our world is filled with racial issues. And sometimes, we have to let go of someone we love because they need to be free. Can we do that and still wish them joy? And love? And a safe haven to come home to?

Two of the songs I so badly needed to send to my daughter, but I think I'll wait and get her the CD.

The singer, by the way, is Janis Ian. Society's Child is not only me - and probably you. It's her. It's her biggest hit, it's the name of her autobiography. We're all, at least somewhat, products of our environment. And what do you do when your environment tells you one thing, and does another? Or teaches you about one value, but expects you to live another?

In addition to great musicality and a voice that evokes so much more than music, Janis writes all of her own lyrics. And her writing is wonderful. Trying to change a man who has the law in his hand is like trying to 'drown the rain.' I think I paraphrased the first part. And another song talks about having 'arms around my life.' The imagery is beautiful.

This has been my week: Revisions on my March '09 release, Sophie's Choice. Making corrections on the printout for my April release, The Mechanic's of Love (a novella written as part of a More Than Words anthology where all profits go to charity) and writing the proposal for a September '09 release (the book is due November 1)...and Janis Ian. Every moment I can spare I'm listening to her songs. To her gift.

So, for putting me consciously in touch with the life within me, for showing me my world, for making me feel as though I'm not alone in here, thank you, Janis.