So I wrapped up 2013 with the usual suspects for the holiday (my tribe). Thanksgiving dinner lasted for about ten minutes after it took me 2 days to cook all the recipes I wanted to try. I did manage to get up on Thanksgiving morning and get in a 5k Turkey Trot. I set a goal to beat my last 5k time of 41 minutes. I also had a goal to run the whole 3 miles without needing a walking break. I ran the whole way but finished at about 43 minutes.
December found me with my usual holiday blues as I am on the outs with my relatives . . . maybe. During the holidays I especially mourn my losses as the New Year approaches. The first song on my holiday playlist is always by Prince of course. His song, Another Lonely Christmas makes me think of my deceased best friend Tarsha.
Well one day while I was praying and meditating, I asked God to send me comfort and he answered my prayer. The two days a week of church and spiritual service were helping but they were just not putting me over the edge back into bliss land until the answered prayer came in the form of Beyoncé's new visual album . . . OMG!!!!
My daughter, who keeps me flyer than I would normally be, alerted me on Thursday night that the album was dropping that Friday morning. But for some reason the joy of such news did not push past my fog until Friday after meditation.
The best money I have ever spent has been on some form of a Beyonce' product. She makes me happy to be a black girl in America. I reclaim my lost childhood when I dance around in my underwear pretending I am Mrs. Carter on stage in her leotards.
Well this album not only soothed my hurt soul, it sparked action and that is what this life coach loves most. I went to Stub Hub and bought 4 tickets to the Mrs. Carter concert which was rolling through St. Louis that Saturday, how divinely timely.
So I listened to her new album on repeat all day in between watching her videos which were a huge bonus that I would have gladly paid extra for. I got 4 tickets for my daughter and me; and then I invited my trainer, and my daughter invited a classmate.
This made for the 3rd Beyonce' concert for this Mogul Mom this year, and I enjoyed it as if it was my first. Mrs. Carter is indeed flawless in her performance. BTW, Flawless is the name of one of her new songs that feature the heavily critiqued lyrics, "Bow Down Bitches." Turns out that is just one line is a superbly perfect song aka Flawless.
So the breakdown of her album goes like this for me. This album celebrates a grown up and happily married Beyonce' Carter, mommy to Blue Ivy. Do not listen if you have delicate sensibilities; it is for grown women who will appreciate Beyonce' sharing her vulnerabilities and strengths so we Mogul Moms do not feel the full brunt of, "Another Lonely Christmas."
I wrote a whole review of the visual album on post its to put up on this blog; but I don't have time for all that, just trust me, it is awesome. My favorite song is Drunk In Love. Which prompted me to get drunk after the concert at home in my kitchen while I continued my own personal Beyonce' concert and dance session (yep in my underwear). I was the driver for the night so at the concert I could not indulge. I certainly made up for it with Grey Goose, drunk emails to my sisters, and sexy texts to my hubby.
Her song, Heaven just picked up where Prince left off and actually helped me to go ahead and get over the edge of mourning the loss of my best friend. Her line, "heaven couldn't wait for you" summed up the hole in my heart perfectly.
The last song I will mention is entitled Blue named for her baby girl hence the particular color of this font. It is a perfect love song from a mother to her child. My own baby girl said the concert was the best night of her life. She and her friend were hand picked to go to the front of the stage to populate the Beyhive. I saw her up on the giant screens 3x holding hands with the Queen Bey herself.
I, like Beyonce', live this life to make it better for my baby girl and then to relive it through her happy eyes is the bonus I get for doing a great job.
My baby girl is 20; my best friend was 20 when she died; and I have spent 20 lonely Christmases crying in my kitchen in between holiday hits. This year, my tears will be more joy than sorrow coupled with the release that comes with freedom. I cry tears of joy for a life well lived, my daughter's and mine despite heartache, tragedy, and setbacks.
2013 was my lucky year.
In 2014, you will find this Mogul Mom enjoying her life as a proper Queen.
Bow down indeed.
