Rhonda's Posts - Taylor Hicks2024-03-28T22:41:34ZRhondahttps://taylorhicks.ning.com/profile/Rhondahttps://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2794594995?profile=RESIZE_48X48&width=48&height=48&crop=1%3A1https://taylorhicks.ning.com/profiles/blog/feed?user=1bsn6wbdjz78s&xn_auth=noRonnie Milsap on Ray Charlestag:taylorhicks.ning.com,2013-10-15:3868652:BlogPost:2071892013-10-15T03:22:38.000ZRhondahttps://taylorhicks.ning.com/profile/Rhonda
<p>Country legend Ronnie Milsap came to our local state fairgrounds for a concert recently. He told the story of his first encounter with Brother Ray Charles. I have paraphrased the story as Mr. Milsap told it that night. <span class="userContent"> When Ronnie graduated from the school for the blind in North Carolina he'd had 12 years of classical musi<span class="text_exposed_show">cian training and had decided to be a musician-especially since he'd played the piano since the age of 8. His…</span></span></p>
<p>Country legend Ronnie Milsap came to our local state fairgrounds for a concert recently. He told the story of his first encounter with Brother Ray Charles. I have paraphrased the story as Mr. Milsap told it that night. <span class="userContent"> When Ronnie graduated from the school for the blind in North Carolina he'd had 12 years of classical musi<span class="text_exposed_show">cian training and had decided to be a musician-especially since he'd played the piano since the age of 8. His counselors suggested being a lawyer or a teacher would be more productive-since he'd be a failure as a musician. Of course, the first thing Ronnie did after graduation was head to Atlanta to a Ray Charles concert and got backstage for a Meet and Greet. At that meeting, Ronnie started playing the piano and Ray heard him and after the introductions they began talking. Ronnie mentioned his counselor's suggestions as to career-to which Ray replied (paraphrasing Ronnie Milsap)-"If music's in your heart and you got the itch-if you don't scratch it boy you're miserable-so always go with what's in your heart and you'll be fine". Soon after Ronnie Milsap became Ray Charles' opening act on tour and learned a lot of his bluesy sounds from Brother Ray. All this happened about the time Ray Charles came out with his "Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music". After telling this story, Ronnie went into a Ray Charles styled version of Hank Williams' "Your Cheatin' Heart". </span></span></p>
<p><span class="userContent"><span class="text_exposed_show">I later found a video on YouTube of Brother Ray and Ronnie doing that very song and posted it in my video collection here.</span></span></p>
<p><span class="userContent"><span class="text_exposed_show">I have included this story here because when I heard it the other night and heard Brother Ray's response to Ronnie's career dilemma it reminded me of Taylor and his situation and his decision to go into music-also of his love for Ray Charles and thought it appropriate for the story to be posted here.</span></span></p>Taylor Hicks' Biggest Fantag:taylorhicks.ning.com,2013-05-04:3868652:BlogPost:1988322013-05-04T17:00:00.000ZRhondahttps://taylorhicks.ning.com/profile/Rhonda
<p> As members of Taylor's fan club-the infamous "Soul Patrol" we all like to think of ourselves as one of the elite group of fans that support Taylor no matter what happens in his career and follow him wherever his career takes him. Yet our</p>
<p>BEST efforts fall way short of the woman that was, is and always will be Taylor's Biggest fan-his grandmother-affectionately known as "Grandma Joni" who recently passed away.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>In his autobiography "Heart Full of Soul" Taylor…</p>
<p> As members of Taylor's fan club-the infamous "Soul Patrol" we all like to think of ourselves as one of the elite group of fans that support Taylor no matter what happens in his career and follow him wherever his career takes him. Yet our</p>
<p>BEST efforts fall way short of the woman that was, is and always will be Taylor's Biggest fan-his grandmother-affectionately known as "Grandma Joni" who recently passed away.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>In his autobiography "Heart Full of Soul" Taylor affectionately mentions Grandma Joni in everything from her business acumen, her lack of domestic skills (twist ties in the green bean casserole and "Put ketchup on it") to her unflinching support and encouragement of him in his career from the earliest days until now. He recounts the famous story of</p>
<p>the flying ping pong balls launched over Birmingham that got blown across the highway and the many holiday dinners that didn't QUITE measure up. But no matter what happened in his life, Grandma Joni was ALWAYS there for Taylor.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>I was fortunate to meet her one time-and just from that ONE meeting I saw what Taylor was describing about her. It was 2008 and the Alabama Music Hall of Fame was giving Taylor a corner of their display area because of his accomplishments in the music industry..Since it was American Idol related, Ruben Studdard and Bo Bice were in the display as well-but it was TAYLOR's corner of the display that brought the fans to fill up that small room in Tuscumbia, Alabama that Saturday AM. Grandma Joni and one of Taylor's nieces represented the family for the ceremony. I had</p>
<p>arrived early for the ceremony with a friend and was touring the rest of the museum. As we emerged from the tour bus donated by the legendary group Alabama Grandma Joni came walking by. I recognized her immediately and she saw we were Soul Patrol because we were wearing clothing that ID'ed us as that. The greeting on both sides was instant, the bonding was immediate and the family tie became firmly planted as both Grandma Joni and I smiled and shared funny or heartwarming stories about Taylor. What I immediately noticed was the fact that even though I was a complete stranger to her, Grandma Joni KNEW I was a fan of her grandson (otherwise why would I be in the museum that morning!!!) and proceeded to tell me story after story of Taylor's frustrating babysitting efforts with his younger nieces. We both laughed, and she didn't mind posing for a pic or two. I sensed then that it was a very special moment-</p>
<p>meeting the woman who was then, and is today, and always will be, Taylor Hicks' biggest fan. Godspeed, Grandma Joni!!! We'll pick up the torch you lit and love Taylor no matter what happens. While we cannot replace you in Taylor's heart, we will do our best to carry on your legacy of love and support. Until we meet again in heaven, RIP Grandma Joni.</p>
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<p> </p>"He Got Here"-April 17-2010tag:taylorhicks.ning.com,2011-07-02:3868652:BlogPost:1688902011-07-02T02:56:33.000ZRhondahttps://taylorhicks.ning.com/profile/Rhonda
<p> </p>
<p>Through a dear friend, I had discovered something called "Honor Flight" in which local volunteers from the local American Legion and various other military related groups sponsored free flights to Washington, DC for WWII vets to see their memorial and spend the day in our nation's capital. Often these men were in wheel chairs and had to have volunteers wheeling them around and medical staff on standby to handle any problems. On these flights, these vets were sent off and greeted…</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Through a dear friend, I had discovered something called "Honor Flight" in which local volunteers from the local American Legion and various other military related groups sponsored free flights to Washington, DC for WWII vets to see their memorial and spend the day in our nation's capital. Often these men were in wheel chairs and had to have volunteers wheeling them around and medical staff on standby to handle any problems. On these flights, these vets were sent off and greeted home with military fanfare and crowds waving flags. This dear friend convinced me that my late father should be included-but how? Simple-the Honor FLight flag ceremony.<br/><br/>His flag. You see, whenever a veteran dies, the US Government sends the family a US flag to drape over the coffin and the flag is kept in the family. After my mother died in 2009, in sorting out her things, I came across my father's flag, still wrapped in the delivery plastic to preserve it. (My mom never got rid of anything and would often wrap everything in plastic with a rubber band around it!!!) Further research turned up my father's military records from WWII so with this friend's help I put in an application for my father's flag to be carried to Washington DC. <br/><br/>I also attended an Honor Flight ceremony prior to presenting MY father's flag to see how things were done and realized that this very personal remembrance would be honored and cherished and well-preserved in flight. The family writes a simple biography of the departed loved one and this bio is read as the family comes forward to present the flag. It is received by the local group taking the flag on the flight. After a ceremony in Washington DC, the flags are flown back and presented back to the families the next day. I was convinced that my father's flag needed to go.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>While the flag did not go on the Huntsville, Alabama Honor Flight I saw due to logistical problems (and the dear friend whom I wanted to take my father's flag was unable to go) a second chance presented itself about a month later. Through contacts from the Huntsville Honor Flight I found one of the three gentlemen who sponsored the LOCAL Honor Flight and found that they were making a trip in April of 2010. I called one of these gentlemen, met with him, explained my story and asked if he would take my father's flag on the next trip. He said he would be proud to do so.</p>
<p>The flight left on April 17, 2010. What happened next humbled my soul and made my father's memory more special.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>The local NBC affiliate station covered the story-sending one of the reporters to Washington. When her story aired, to my surprise, there was my father's flag being featured. The brave soldier who carried the flag openly wept as he told the reporter that I had called him and asked him to bring the flag. I later discovered through correspondence with the reporter that she saw the flag at the state portion of the memorial. Since it was the only flag on the trip, she asked about it and was told that flags could be carried for soldiers who had died before getting to come to the memorial. When the soldier was telling her about the flag he said "He got here". And so my father joined his comrades in arms once again through the efforts of this gentleman.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>On my video page here are links to both the story as it aired locally and the video I created.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>As we celebrate this 4th, let us not forget our vets and those who are still fighting so we can be free.</p>
<p></p>
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<p><br/></p>What Matters Most-James' Storytag:taylorhicks.ning.com,2009-11-07:3868652:BlogPost:156212009-11-07T21:44:16.000ZRhondahttps://taylorhicks.ning.com/profile/Rhonda
It was a chance encounter. I was grabbing a burger at Hardees, and the older gentleman (named James) at the table beside me, (like myself dining alone), began our conversation by asking the location of the nearest stores. He explained that he had come to town to visit the local Veterans' Hospital for some treatments, realized that the town had changed and needed to kill time before his appointment.<br />
<br />
Intrigued (and knowing about this availability here) I pursued the veterans' topic with him and…
It was a chance encounter. I was grabbing a burger at Hardees, and the older gentleman (named James) at the table beside me, (like myself dining alone), began our conversation by asking the location of the nearest stores. He explained that he had come to town to visit the local Veterans' Hospital for some treatments, realized that the town had changed and needed to kill time before his appointment.<br />
<br />
Intrigued (and knowing about this availability here) I pursued the veterans' topic with him and found out a lot of interesting but little known facts about WWII. He had a buddy who survived the Bataan Death March and ended up becoming a slave-type worker in the Japanese auto industry manufacturing subcompact cars later sold in the US, another one who survived D-Day by lying under another soldier who had sacrificed his life, a younger brother who died in Vietnam, among others. I mentioned my late father, who was in the medical corps in both WWII and Korea, and was in Japan during the post-war time under General MacArthur aiding in the rebuilding of Japan and by the grace of God came home uninjured and not emotionally scarred by the experience.<br />
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James' best tale came last-about how he learned the proper set of values that would serve him later in life as a man, father, husband and American. It is this story that I share here.<br />
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James' father was a policeman locally in Newnan, Georgia, but had served in WWI and been wounded. HIS father had been in several earlier wars, including the Spanish American War with Theodore Roosevelt. Coming from a military family, James experienced the strict discipline of his father growing up and two months before his 17th birthday decided to enlist in the Army-mainly "to shut Dad up". His original intent was to desert once the opportunity arose and live his own life elsewhere, thus getting away from his father's stern ways. James emphasized that while his father was strict, he was NOT abusive, just organized and structured. His mother presented a united front with his father, and James felt in order to "get his freedom" he had to leave home and devised the enlistment as a way to do that.<br />
<br />
It backfired. Yes, James DID manage to go AWOL, but mistakenly called upon relatives in Chickasaw, Alabama to give him a room and place to live. He figured that Chickasaw, Alabama was far enough away from Newnan, Georgia so that no one could find him. Unfortunately, these Alabama relatives were ALSO both militarily and police connected, and so made the proper contacts, found out James had gone AWOL and after conversations with his father, turned James in to the nearest Army base for desertion "to teach me a lesson".<br />
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The Army promptly court martialed the young teen, and as per standard military procedure, put him in the "brig" on the "bread and water" wing for 15 days. James described this in some detail, which I have paraphrased.<br />
<br />
When a soldier was in the "brig" for desertion, not only was the soldier limited to bread and water, but at 5AM daily<br />
his mattress was removed from the cell so that he couldn't lie on it during the day. There was no TV, no radio, no video games, no air conditioning, and no soft rugs-just a cement floor, and one window with bars so that the soldier could watch the outside world go by. Upon request, the soldier could read the daily newspaper, but had to return it when done. The soldier was allowed a full meal once every three days and a bath once a week. Each meal was one slice of bread and a cup of water. He noted that "if you got the end crust of bread, that didn't count-you got another piece of bread. I tried to trade off with other deserters for their end pieces, but it didn't work". Clothes were washed once a week.<br />
<br />
After the 15 day sentence, the soldier was released into his regular unit, and the court martial was of course recorded to his military records. James recalls that the day before his release, his father obtained special permission to visit his son and asked him a question similar to this:<br />
<br />
"Well son, what have you learned out of all this?" James recalled that at first he was still angry with his father for "doing this to me" and tried to act tough but as usual it did not work. By the end of the visit James' bravado had broken and he became the scared teen age boy who only wanted to go home. His father then softened his toughness and the two began bonding as father and son. James relented his attitude and told his father that he understood that "God, country, family and freedom" are the four reasons he should serve his country and make it a safer place to live and that a boy couldn't be a true American male without realizing that fact. He also understood that Americans who get captured in other countries often get treated worse than he did and that these Americans endured these hardships willingly so that others could stay free. He ended by saying:<br />
<br />
"I left home and joined the Army to get away from my father's rules and to have my freedom. I learned the hard way that freedom isn't free and that it must be protected. I also learned that if I don't do my part to protect our freedoms that I shouldn't complain about what happens to me or my family . I also learned that I can't be a man without being willing to fight for these things and that if I don't, then others may suffer because of my lack of concern."<br />
<br />
At that point, James paused, He then said,"People today don't understand how much we went through so that they can have their video games and TVs and fancy houses and good meals on the table and football games and such.<br />
I just wish more people like you could appreciate our sacrifices".<br />
<br />
I just smiled and softly said "Well I can't speak for others, sir, but I can assure you I heard similar stories from my father, and he instilled a strong sense of patriotism and gratitude in me, and I DO appreciate what you guys did and I'm not ashamed to say thank you".<br />
<br />
Before I left James at the restaurant, I asked if I could tell his story here, and explained this project. He gave his permission.<br />
<br />
On this Veterans' Day, let us all thank James and those we know for protecting this country like they did and may we never take them for granted.<br />
<br />
Thanks to Taylor for giving me the opportunity to tell this soldier's story here. God Bless America!