Love is constant: It was over fifty years ago when I placed that kiss on my daughter’s cheek. Happiness filled the air as we prepared to “head-off” to her wedding. It was a day of celebration! Never in a million years did I think my daughter would one day die of breast cancer. Life has a way of throwing darts and curves. We spend our days on earth trying to dodge and maneuver them. To the extent we do so, we find peace. As the months stretched into years, my love expanded and reached the ultimate . . . unconditional love.
THE DEMANDS OF LOVE
During the 1970s and 80s, Shirley Washington Then was “blazing her trail” on the Hollywood Scene as an actress. Young, energetic and feisty, she was making sure no one left her behind! Shirley appeared in several movies and TV shows. Among them: Mission Impossible as a stewardess; Maggie in Wonder Woman; Travel agent in The Puppet; Theda in Darktown Strutters and Mrs. Jefferson in Bamboo Gods. She also starred in a film called Disco. Did Shirley Washington Then have other talents?
Shirley the Dancer
This writer knew Shirley Washington Then…but had no idea what hidden talents she had. Here’s an example of one:
Wow! Now that Shirley has revealed her talent as a dancer, let’s explore her history and discover other talents. In the following video, her talk show ability is questioned and challenged.
Darktown Strutters
According to Wikipedia, Darktown Stutters was a musical comedy about four (4) female gang bikers named Syreeno, Carmen, Miranda and Theba (Shirley). A synopsis of the storyline reveals numerous episodes that challenge one’s ability to determine the movie’s plot. The sequence of events as described by Wikipedia, did not allow this writer to follow the story. The focus of the movie simply eluded me. I have no idea what the writer was trying to achieve, nor the message he was seeking to deliver. Therefore, you are directed to Wikipedia for your own personal “read.”
However, from Shirley’s perspective, let’s recognize that launching an artistic career is not easy, and can lead to accepting roles that successful actresses may not choose. Ms. Washington was not born with a “silver spoon in her mouth,” and receives high marks for her courage, determination, tenacity and ingenuity for getting the roles she received. Hooray Shirley!
Shirley Washington Now. . .
What is Ms. Washington doing these days? She spends much of her time traveling between her apartment in Los Angeles and home in Las Vegas to musical events. Hearsay says . . . she is still very much involved in the music industry–setting up and negotiating contracts for clients’ musicals, plays, book deals and musical events. That is . . . when she is not “flying and cruising” from one country/continent to another with longtime friend and Motown Songwriter Eddie Holland. Hometown Detroit also welcomes her for special Motown events.
Recently, Shirley attended an event in L.A. that honored friend Smokey Robinson and Motown Mogul Berry Gordy. Some of the attendees are shown in the photo below:
Whether you are looking at “Shirley Washington Then” or “Shirley Washington Now,” the picture will be crystal clear, progressive, busy and spectacular! And . . . you will not need a magnifying glass!
After my daughter’s death, I settled into trying to function without her. It was hard, painful and questioned every ounce of my faith in God. Two years of striving to come to grips with death, I was forced to change course, and seek an understanding of Life–Life as God, and we as “children of God.”
Divine Love Purifies
Love is a funny thing. It demands harmony–harmony in concert with itself. That unity entails letting go of what you believe and accepting divine understanding . . . totally different from human knowledge and understanding. It took two years to gain a semblance of that wisdom. Purification of thought commanded Truth and Truth required denouncing human will. That took a while . . . eventually it happened.
LOVE IS CONSTANT
Because Love never deserts, Meta’s life and story resulted in my first book: The Unfolding of a Rose. The reader is introduced to her faith and mine and how the “hand of God” guided us above the storms of human existence. Today, September 27, 2021, I was inspired to write this article when accidentally, I found a memorial to Meta. Take a look! I was overwhelmed by the many people who shared a “rose” with the world in her honor. I am so-o-o grateful! It was and is truly an act of Love–a love that inspires and moves us onward as we travel the roads of life! Thank you Alisohn with all my heart!
