A Cole to remember.....for Sentimental Reasons

Boy I love these songs by Natalie Cole. There was a time i had all her music either on Cassette or CD.

When I first met my hot tamale I remember his driving us to an art and wine festival in Los Gatos, or maybe it was Mountain View (he lived in Cupertino). I remember his singing pieces of a natalie cole song, I can't remember the song, however unbenounced to me the song had recycled. I was amazed he knew the words to the song. He later claimed it was a remake. He was a bit older....yet.... I was impressed....for about a second or two. I got sick that day back in 1989. His calamari pretty much sent me over the edge. I threw up several times that evening and spent the night in bed at his place. He took care of and was attentive to my needs during my 24 hour flu bug. I knew he was a keeper. He ended up moving in with me and we were happy, well, for the most part .

It was in 1992, before my life changing diagnosis he surprised me with tickets to THIS concert. We both loved Natalie Cole music and were thrilled to be able and witness this concert in Oakland. Downtown Oakland was scarry then, I can't imagine how it is now. There was a full big band. She wore long flowing gowns. She sang Unforgettable with her dad using a video. The first of its kind. It was magic and 8priceless.....and I got to see it in real time.

Never once did I consider the way the future would unfold. By this time we already knew he was HIV positive and we were making the best of what future we had together. It was all good then.....until it wasn't. That November, 30 years from next month, I was diagnosed with full blown AIDS. People were dropping off like flies. I knew AIDS to be the last stop before death.

It would be two years later my hot tamale would passaway. By then there was a lot of words and misfortunes said and done. We could not whether the storm and broke up earlier that June 4th of 1994 when he died. I thought I would be right behind him. Natalie, I mean, Miss Cole passed away years later at the end of 2015. She has been missed since but her music lives on in my playlist.

God has made me a survivor on many levels and continues to bless me even though it is I who is so undeserving. His grace is sufficient for me.