My Spirit smiled at the thought of you today

I was remembering something you said many years ago

We were in the park sipping cold tea

Planning our day and our future

Life was just beginning for us

We were best friends

We collected rocks and

Pretended they were diamonds

We made a pact

And promised to always remain close

You moved away five years and two kids later

The calls and cards arrived less and less

Different paths and different places

Your face became a memory

Still I never forgot your heart

Life is full of challenges

You made other friends

You gave them advice

They listened

And promised to oblige

I can still feel the pain of hearing the news of your mom

After all…she was like a mother to me

It was on the front page

The news of her accident

Life wasn’t always easy for her

But she was your mom

I can still taste her good cooking

Life never took away her smile

The whole neighborhood were her children

She gave us all advice

We listened and felt better

You told me you were going to “become a star”

I kept up with your career through the years

The first black female to do this and that..wow!

Sometimes though the tabloids

Weren’t so kind…

Reporting your divorces and such

But you seemed so strong

I never forgot your determination

Life never stripped you of your song

All your classmates admired your beauty

We never cared about the media gossip

We read it

But we didn’t care

And I stopped reading them period!

I was standing in the kitchen

Reading to my grandchildren

When the reporter announced your name

She said a singer died today

Just like that…and yet..

The news stung my ears like a bullet

Tears covered my face and I instantly regretted

All the calls I never made

At least the newspapers said you were

An International Singer

The radio echoed the same accolade

Damn that lady reporter…no respect

My mind took me back to those times in the park

Where we planned our days and our future

I remembered your beauty and fearlessness

For you…the rocks did turn into diamonds

I promise…I will always cherish

The memory of my first best friend

As a singer, actress, writer, and acting instructor, Diane Cameron has devoted her career to the Diasjazzpora movement and promotion of African Art forms. Originally from Chicago, Illinois Diane went on to be featured in Big River, Prelude to a Kiss, Merrily We Roll Along, and Midsummer's Night Dream. Visit Diane at dianecameronsings.com or myspace.com/dianecameron