The Wanna B's Singing Group

The singing group I am in is called "The Wanna B's".

My brother-in-law started the group and asked my husband (his brother) and I to be a part of it. We played in a couple of bands together when we were young, and have continued to sing together on and off since then. It's a good way to give to the community while doing something we like to do.

The Wanna B's sing to soundtracks and donate all proceeds to local charities. We have a good group and enjoy working with each other. We started by giving weekend performances at a large venue, then added single nights at smaller places, and last week we branched out and did a three-hour dance. They enjoyed us so much that they asked us back at the end of the month.

I think we're on a roll!

My husband sang in the group before I decided to join. You see, after my cancer I felt uncomfortable around groups of people, except for our families. I avoided a couple of weddings and other gatherings because I just didn't have the energy, and I didn't feel up to all the small talk and questions.

My husband had a mini-stroke the same year I had cancer. He also is handicapped with post-polio, so just going to work took all his energy. But singing with his brother again was more important to him than the way he felt.

My brother-in-law still gets a little teary-eyed when he talks about how he thinks his group was the catalyst for our getting healthy again - and, you know, I think he's right.

God offers opportunities to help us in life, but we need to be ready to receive them - for God leaves it up to us to recognize and choose to accept these gifts in order to receive the blessings they offer.

Life Throws Us Curves

Our singing group, the "Wanna Be's", perform to raise money for local charities and other needs. Any money we make is donated, after some of our promotion costs. I'd like to show the character of those involved. Last night we had a practice.

The high point was that a former member stopped in to say she can sing with us again in some of our shows. She's in a band that was playing every weekend, so she had to stop for a while. One of her members had surgery, so the band does not play as often now. We've missed her and are glad to have her back, even on a limited basis. She hasn't been well, has gained weight, and has been fatigued. I could see it in her face. She finally found out it is a thyroid problem and is hoping the doctors will be able to help her now. But she still came out to be involved in our group.

The low point was that a woman who's battled cancer for about 13 years just found out her cancer is back. She's starting treatments again in two weeks. She is a cousin of one of our members, and enjoys our group so much that she comes to our practices on her motorized scooter, comes to all of our shows, helps put up posters, and even placed a local TV add for our show next Thursday. She's a true survivor.

I gave her a hug before she left. When you've experienced cancer, you understand what is involved and you automatically connect with another person who is struggling with it. My youngest sister just had a scare, and she called me often. Thank God she's ok. Another member of our group had to leave a short time ago because her cancer also came back.

What's up with this? I know so many people who have or are battling cancer.

Then we have another member who is blind. He does not let his handicap get in the way. He plays the guitar and has been in many other groups. But he was walking down the street with his dog when a woman pulled out of her driveway, obviously not looking, and banged right into him! He's in rehab now.

And I can't forget my husband. He has been handicapped all his life from polio. He has always bulled his way through things. He even was a Scout Master. Who knew that years later he would go through what they call post polio, and then suffer a mini stroke, which took away his ability to drive and to walk unsupported. He still works, using a motorized scooter to get around. He also is in our group.

Life throws us many curves. How we approach life and how we handle life's situations is what gets us through and make us survivors.

Christine

Interests

Today I'll talk about my interests, so that you can see if we share common ground.

• I like to write, especially children's stories. I am a member of a writing group. For a period of time I became the facilitator of their "Writing for Children/YA (young adults)" group. There were only a few of us, so we merged with the fiction/nonfiction group. Some of my stories have been published in their monthly newsletter.


• I like to sing. I have enjoyed singing all my life, in choirs, choruses, a band, and to sound tracks, recently in nursing homes. I also belong to a group called the "Wanna Be's". We sing to sound tracks to raise money for local charities.


• I am a Reiki II practitioner. Reiki is a hands-on energy healing which I give to my family and friends. In order to have a practice in my state, I would have to be a licensed massage therapist, which I am not. I can, however, send Distance Reiki to anyone who asks.


• I enjoy metaphysical subjects and have studied in Metaphysical Science. I would like to pursue this more.


• I love family. I have a son, daughter-in-law, an eight-year-old grandson, and two step-sons. My husband has only one brother. He is married and has two children and two grandchildren. We all get together most Saturdays for supper at either my sister-in-law's or my house. I have a mom and dad in their eighties, three brothers, and three sisters. I think when we counted everyone, there were 32 of us!
  

Well, I guess that's enough for now. Let me know what your interests are.

Christine