V is for Van

Van Morrison that is! Where would I be without the music of Van Morrison? Nobody makes me cry like Van. Yet when I am crying, he's the only one who can make it all better. Some say he's grumpy. Others say he cannot sing. I don't care. For me, his music is a religious experience.

The man has released scores of albums. In fact, just this month he released Keep it Simple. He writes love songs; he sings the blues; he's recorded some of the most wonderful hymns; he rocks. He has music for all of my moods!

Several years ago Van came to Nashville. It was my friend Shannon who told me he was coming to Dallas, but tickets had sold out. I waited for weeks for the Nashville tickets to go on sale. They were $85 each. But I'd always wanted to see Van. The tickets went on sale at 10:00 a.m. I picked up the phone and called. The gal who answered explained that it was only 9:58 and that I would need to call back. I reached her at 10:04 and they had sold out. I was miserable. Folks were selling his tickets on e-Bay for hundreds of dollars. No, I didn't go. But I will. Some day.

Picking a favorite Van song would be just about as hard as picking my favorite children's book. But I would have to say that of my many favorites, the following are definitely at the top: Have I Told You Lately, Tupelo Honey, I'm Tired Joey Boy, Enlightenment, When Will I Ever Learn to Live in God, Melancholia, and Brown Eyed Girl.

Van, your music makes my soul sigh and my heart sing! Thank you!