I am one of those people who grew up on Easy Listening + 80's Rock. (I know all the words to every song... ;)) My Dad had records in his collection from before the 80's, like: Earth, Wind + Fire, Peter, Paul + Mary, + of course, Stevie Wonder.
When I was in high school, I couldn't believe my friend Sibel knew all the words to all the Stevie Wonder songs too... and so, my closeted love for Stevie Wonder came out of the closet, + became "cool." (I thought it was some kind of oldies only my parents listened to ;)).
Then, with my first boyfriend in high school, Stevie's songs became the music we fell "in love" to.... I started my album collection, 90's CD-style.
And then I moved to Atlanta, immersed in the holistic African-American community, + feeling the Stevie influence strong. In fact, working at Lov'n It Live, Stevie's music sometimes played ALL DAY. And I LOVED it.
When I started making Hot Love Chocolate Truffles, I played Stevie Wonder music while I made them. Singing my heart out in hopes of finding Love, expressing Love, being Love, sharing Love.
I sung to the Chocolate, I sung to myself, I celebrated Love + Life + put that "good energy" into the food.
In my mind, the real magic surrounding Stevie Wonder, is that I won two sets of VIP tickets to his shows in Atlanta, TWICE.
Those are the only two times I've seen him in concert! The first time, I brought Shira (my collaborator on Open-Eyed Heart-Wide Haggadah) with me. The second time, I scored the tickets last minute, + was on an Artist's Date with myself. ;)
I've been daydreaming about Stevie lately. Seeing pictures of my friends backstage with him at concerts, + touring with India Arie. Here is a really cool clip from his Seattle concert, speaking to the crowd about the recent tragedies + injustices. #BlackLivesMatter
For those of you who have been buying packs of Hot Love Chocolate Truffles, you'll see I wrote, playfully, on the back, that the ingredients include Stevie Wonder songs.
And now you know why! :)
Stevie is coming to LA December 20th, but I'm missing the show, as I'll be in Maui! (I'm hoping to run into him there... I mean, what is he REALLY doing between his December 5th show in Oakland, + the 20th in LA???!!! ;))
When the time is right, I know we'll meet + I'll give him a pack of Hot Love Chocolate Truffles to taste. I hear he is, more + more, into vegan + raw foods.
Do you have a musician, or artist, you're absolutely in LOVE with? Where hearing their music (especially live) makes you cry tears of joy?
Share your thoughts + experience in the comments below!
+ In the meantime, Happy Holidays + Lots of Love!!
x
Debra.
P.S. I know it's not REALLY a P.S., but I'm vending THREE events this weekend in LA! (Listed as a P.S. to be location-inclusive ;))
Flights of Fancy tonight (Friday) in Culver City, at Yoga on 3rd + Native Sol Boutique in Long Beach on Saturday (tomorrow). There will be truffles there, along with mini Pizzas, + some other treats!
Also, in other exciting news...
Ecstatic Dance LA is expanding in the New Year, to twice a month, instead of once a month. So, I'll be there with my pop-up Raw Cafe every 1st + 3rd Sunday of the month. (LA people seem to be really into saying the 1st or 3rd of the month, + expecting you to figure out the dates! ... along with not numbering the freeway exits, ha ha... ;)) Anyway, more information is on the Ecstatic Dance LA website + facebook page. :)
Sending so much LOVE + if you need extra GIFT ideas for the Holidays, head on over to my Etsy page (did you even know I had one???), Debralicious, for all my handwritten books, ritual guide, + more....
"Take good Care!
Take a Bath!
+ Light some candles when you eat..."
~ from my book, New Raw
P.P.S. (I know, was that really just one P.S?) As someone of the caucasian persuasion, I just want to say, it's so important to get out of our comfort zones, + get to know people of all races + cultures. I feel like this is how prejudice + stereotypes get broken down... Here's a song I love by India Arie. LOVE!