Well, I just got back from a most wonderful 2 weeks away ’on tour’ and I must say I am tired and still reeling from all the events!  All 3 concerts were a real joy to do.  The St. Paul United Church of Christ and the MCC of Greater St. Louis were more than gracious and generous.  I want to thank all who got these two concerts organized and those who help work out all the details.  A very special Thank You from the bottom of my heart to my dear friends, M.S. and Celeste for their tireless efforts to make this happen - you are indeed ’wonder women!’  They even showed me the town - on a Segway! (courtesy of Glide St. Louis Tours) What fun that was!  Oh, the looks we got as we were buzzing up and down the streets of downtown St. Louis.  If you are ever in St. Louis, I highly recommend this 3 hour tour (sing along with me... a three hour tour...) 

     M.S. and Celeste also took me to see a St. Louis Cardinals / Chicago Cubs baseball game at the new stadium - St. Louis won, but we were so distracted by the guy in front of us who kept getting out of his seat sporting a very nauseating ’plumber’s crack’ each time, that we forgot who we were rooting for! 

     The orchestra group from St. Paul’s UCC (headed up by M.S.) gave a wonderful concert at a local nursing home.  They invited me to do a few songs as well - we all got a ’sitting ovation...’ 

     I did Special Music, singing 4 songs from my CD at both morning services at the MCC of Greater St. Louis on Sunday, May 4th.  There were approximately 70 people for the first service and about 300 in the second.  I met Rev. Carol, who came from my home church (Joy MCC) in Orlando to my former church in St. Louis (I was a member there 25 years ago.)  Jerry, the music director was awesome, thank you both for making me feel welcomed.  On a side note, at the second service they had a young man, Jim, who was signing for those with hearing disabilities.  Each time I sang one of my original songs, he followed along and translated my words and music into a beautiful visual presentation.  I became enthralled as I tried to get a glimpse of him as he signed (and distracted, as I missed a line or two in a couple of songs!)  I had to pause before I sang my 3rd song and ask his name.  He said and signed - J I M.  I then told him that this was the first time that my songs had been translated into a different language, and then I thanked him for making my songs ’look’ beautiful.

     A few hours later, I was heading down to Ft. Worth for my next gig.  I was picked up at the airport by Jay, the chauffeur my Uncle Bill sent to deliver me to his home.  When I arrived at the airport, Jay had called me to let me know he was at the baggage claim waiting for me.  I too was in the baggage claim area and I asked where exactly he was.   He told me that he was standing next to 2 guys in wheelchairs.  I told Jay to turn around as I was about 3 feet behind him!  Nice guy, that Jay! 

     I got to play a little golf with my uncle Bill, aunt Gloria, and brother, Robert on Monday, although the weather was rainy the whole time I was there.   My uncle Bill is a member of the Dirty Dozen at the Colonial Country Club - a bunch of guys who play golf together every week, and once a month, they have a dinner so that the wives can come out and play too.  Robert and I were the night’s entertainment, hosted by my uncle and aunt.  Robert did about 15 minutes of his Stand-up act (he is a very funny, and well known comedian) and then he introduced me.  "...Now ladies and gentlemen, direct from the front page of AARP.ORG - C. Diane Hawkins!  They all laughed, but it was the truth! 

     As soon as I said the first words into the microphone, there was a loud POP.  The sound system went dead!  Of all the things that could happen!  Thankfully, I turned the amp off and on and it came back, so I was able to swallow my heart back down out of my throat!

     The Dirty Dozen and their wives were just great!  Everyone seemed to have a good time, singing along with me on some familiar songs and were good sports when there was a glitch or two with the audio.  The main thing to me was to honor my uncle for hosting this event to show his buddies a good time - and we all did.  Thank you so very much uncle Bill, for allowing me the opportunity to entertain all your good friends.  I will definitely be keeping this night in my memory bank. 

     So now, the tour is over, I am home trying to catch up on the business side of things - need to get myself out there marketing for future concerts.  But for now - I think I will just say, "Amen!"

I go to prove that you are never too old to keep trying.   Although I have been writing songs and making music for over 50 years, it has only been in the last year that I have been able to have my dream come true - to record a CD and share my songs.  

As a self taught guitarist, I come from an incredibly talented family - each with our own style, but where the competition is fierce!  I have 5 brothers and 2 half-sisters who have music and comedy running through their veins.  The Hawkins brood of 8 first performed in our living room in what became a weekly family hour gathering.  We were allowed to do ‘anything’ we wanted - when it was our turn.  When it was not your turn, you were to sit and listen quietly to the sibling ‘on stage.’  We are still as respectful today.

I joined the Air Force in 1976, and soon began putting on my own little USO shows, ”entertaining the troops, one dayroom at a time!”  In my last year of duty, I got up enough nerve to enter the Air Force Talent Competition, a precursor to “Tops In Blue.”  I won both the Base level and the Command level in my category and found it thrilling to be good enough to participate.  Participating to me carries just as much warmth in my heart as in winning.  I also had the opportunity to sing with Harry Chapin on stage when he came to Torrejon AB, Spain.  Although I thought no one took pictures of the event, 30 years later, an Air Force buddy of mine just sent me the pictures.  You can see them on my website:  www.cdianehawkins.net, under the BLOG page.

After the Air Force, I found myself settling into the real world, working for corporations doing what I was trained to do in the service: telecommunications, networking, and other geeky computer stuff.  The security of having a ‘real day job’ took away from my desire to pursue doing anything with my music. I stopped writing for over 15 years.  After some life changing events, I found my passion to write songs again.  My style has changed just as my life has.  I am on a more spiritual journey, trying to find a better communion with God, and accepting life as ‘an older person.’  My songs are more reflective and inspirational today.  

Because I was terminated from my ’day job’ and because I am “never too old to keep trying,” I released my debut CD in 2007, entitled, SEASONS OF YOUR LIFE and am kicking off a concert tour, March 30, 2008, at Joy MCC in Orlando, FL.  Future dates are listed on my website:  www.cdianehawkins.net.  You can also listen to tracks from my CD and see what other projects I am doing under media productions.  With the amount of time I have been putting into my new career, I don’t know when I ever had the time to do a real job!

OK, so maybe not a Rock Star... Here’s to life after 50!