For Colt

Sometime in the early morning hours of July 11, 2010, God called our beloved grandson Colt home.  We are heartbroken to be without him, but we also rejoice that he is now free from the constraints of his wheelchair, physical limitations and pain.

Colt was the consummate sports fan.  He loved anything and everything sports and was studying for a career in teaching or coaching.  Heaven's football team has a new QB today, and the Detroit Red Wings have the best guardian angel they could possibly hope for.

We will miss you terribly, Colt, but we'll see you again one day soon.  In the meantime we will carry you in our hearts.  We love you.

This song was one of Colt's favorites.  Tell all your loved ones how much you love them every day, just in case tomorrow never comes.

For Jason

I just learned that a dear 'online brother' went home to the Lord one month ago today. Jason was a tremendous inspiration to everyone who knew him; his loving, generous spirit could not be bound by disabilities or wheelchairs. Now he is released from his pain and I picture him dancing for joy. Good-bye for now, Jason. I'll miss you, but we'll meet again soon.

If you didn't know Jason, learn more about his extraordinary life here.

R.I.P. Levi Stubbs

The soulful, evocative voice of Levi Stubbs has been silenced. Mr. Stubbs died yesterday at home in Detroit. He was 72.

This proud daughter of Detroit is lucky enough to have The Four Tops in the soundtrack of her childhood. No boy band, pop tart princess or rapper performing today can touch the range of human emotions Levi could express with his haunting voice. Thank you, Mr. Stubbs, for the music and the memories. You were a class act, and you will be missed. God bless.

The Four Tops perform in 1966. If this doesn't send shivers down your spine, check your pulse!

This is perhaps my personal favorite Four Tops song, recorded live in Miami, including Levi Stubbs on lead vocals. The date of this performance is in question; it has been widely reported as 2004, but that is unlikely since Mr. Stubbs had suffered a stroke by then. It was more likely recorded a year or two earlier. He was in his mid-60's then, and still had a voice that could break your heart. Bernadette:

The Detroit News has a wonderful tribute, including fabulous old photos, in today's edition: 'At Motown, Levi Stubb's Voice Was Tops'