"No, it can't be true," I thought after seeing the news blurb drift across my laptop screen. "Whitney Houston? Dead? This is probably another Twitter RIP hoax."
Clicking the bookmark to my news affiliate, the headline populated my screen, it was no hoax. Stunned, I perused the story in search of the basic facts. Though I suspected, the question begged an answer, "What happened to Whitney Houston?"
Having asked myself that question, I recalled a younger Whitney Houston, whose presence on the stage was always so elegant and graceful. The beautiful, slender vocalist, would step center stage, raise the microphone, and with a commanding presence, take you on a musical journey that could only stir the deepest of emotions. The music would start, her soft voice beginning in a slight whisper. Then, as the dynamic's of the arrangement erupt, so to does Whitney's musical talents as she sailed from one end of the spectrum to the other, displaying a dominating vocal talent untouched by any other.
Unfortunately, in more recent years, many of us come to see a part of Whitney's life that was painfully unbearable. The ongoing domestic issues followed by the never ending drug use caused each and every one of us to reach deep down inside and root for her much as if she were a close friend or family member just trying to get through a hard time that life tends to throw our way. But, it was never meant to be. While regarded as one of the most talented vocalists in my lifetime, Whitney’s private life would be splashed across the media and tabloids for all to see.
While I've never met anyone whose private matters were such an interest to a large segment of the public, I have met many people who struggled with the same issues that plagued Whitney. When dealing with such people, I have learned a valuable lesson; 'there before the grace of God go I.' The downward spiral that Whitney experienced could have struck any one of us. And, in fact, strikes many people across this nation, week after week, resulting with the same consequences. Broken promises and lost dreams open the doors to despair, and before long, hope is lost.
The loss of Whitney Houston was devastating. There will be no more raising the curtain, walking into the spotlight, electrifying the audience, or encore calls. Though she’s gone, and a legacy has ended, Whitney will always be loved.
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Ken Lang is a former homicide detective and an award-winning author of several true crime books, including Walking Among the Dead: True Stories from a Homicide Detective. In 2011 he was named one of 50 Great Writers You Should Be Reading by The Author’s Show. He resides in North East, Maryland with his wife and three children. To learn more about his true crime books and upcoming crime novels visit his website at www.kenlangstudios.com.
Clicking the bookmark to my news affiliate, the headline populated my screen, it was no hoax. Stunned, I perused the story in search of the basic facts. Though I suspected, the question begged an answer, "What happened to Whitney Houston?"
Having asked myself that question, I recalled a younger Whitney Houston, whose presence on the stage was always so elegant and graceful. The beautiful, slender vocalist, would step center stage, raise the microphone, and with a commanding presence, take you on a musical journey that could only stir the deepest of emotions. The music would start, her soft voice beginning in a slight whisper. Then, as the dynamic's of the arrangement erupt, so to does Whitney's musical talents as she sailed from one end of the spectrum to the other, displaying a dominating vocal talent untouched by any other.
Unfortunately, in more recent years, many of us come to see a part of Whitney's life that was painfully unbearable. The ongoing domestic issues followed by the never ending drug use caused each and every one of us to reach deep down inside and root for her much as if she were a close friend or family member just trying to get through a hard time that life tends to throw our way. But, it was never meant to be. While regarded as one of the most talented vocalists in my lifetime, Whitney’s private life would be splashed across the media and tabloids for all to see.
While I've never met anyone whose private matters were such an interest to a large segment of the public, I have met many people who struggled with the same issues that plagued Whitney. When dealing with such people, I have learned a valuable lesson; 'there before the grace of God go I.' The downward spiral that Whitney experienced could have struck any one of us. And, in fact, strikes many people across this nation, week after week, resulting with the same consequences. Broken promises and lost dreams open the doors to despair, and before long, hope is lost.
The loss of Whitney Houston was devastating. There will be no more raising the curtain, walking into the spotlight, electrifying the audience, or encore calls. Though she’s gone, and a legacy has ended, Whitney will always be loved.
--
Ken Lang is a former homicide detective and an award-winning author of several true crime books, including Walking Among the Dead: True Stories from a Homicide Detective. In 2011 he was named one of 50 Great Writers You Should Be Reading by The Author’s Show. He resides in North East, Maryland with his wife and three children. To learn more about his true crime books and upcoming crime novels visit his website at www.kenlangstudios.com.
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