You Are The Sunshine of My Life

Pook, it's not often that your mommy allows me to ghostwrite for her, so I thought I'd inhabit her spirit for a second and contribute this post.

During my last conversation with your mommy she couldn't stop gushing about you Pook. I haven't her sound this animated when talking about someone since the first time I mentioned Maxwell's name in her presence. You haven't heard of Maxwell, you will soon enough, your mommy will make sure of that.

As she talked about you and all the ways in which you make her happy, from you cute little nose to the way you poop on people's sofas I was reminded of the Stevie Wonder song, "You Are the Sunshine of My Life." Your mommy probably has sung this song for you countless times already and she'll definitely be singing along to it as the video plays.



Pook, Stevie Wonder is one of the most accomplished artists of the last fifty years, and he grew up in Michigan, not too far from where you were born--and where you have quite a bit of fam.

"You Are The Sunshine of My Life" appeared on Stevie's (Yes pook I know he's a grown up but everyone calls him Stevie) 1972 album talking book. Look at the cover, don't you just love those cornrows?

Talking Book is one of Stevie's finest albums. It was released in 1972--yes Pook--we had music back then. Me and your mommy didn't believe it but that's what all your gran's and tante's say so we'll believe them. Talking Book is heady, which is another way of saying that he does a lot of smart and innovative things musically on it. When mommy plays it for you listen to how he weaves in the piano and guitar, try to follow the harmonies and you'll often see that you can't Pook. No it's not because they're offbeat, but it's because they're hidden, one behind each other, one minute it's a chorus the next it's a guitar riff, then it's Stevie, chorus and all the while the keyboard is still going strong. That's kind of like how one minute you're playing your feet Pook, then the next you're rubbing your eyes and the next you're giggling--before anyone even says a joke.

Pook, you know how mommy likes Poetry right? Listen to the lyrics, you see how tenderly those words sound. "You are the sunshine of my life" and "You are the apple of my eye." Who doesn't like apples poo? And we all need sunshine, so anyone listening to the song understands the great love that Stevie has for the person who he's singing about, just as anyone who's seen your mommy with you or heard her talk about you knows of the great love that she has for you.

Ok, Pook, I could see you reaching for the computer screen and trying to get a closer look at the video, so I'll stop here and let your mom get back to singing the song for you.

Pook, when you get up tomorrow morning and every morning after that know that you're going out into the world supported by the love of someone who cares for you more than you'll ever know and she's backed up by hundreds of other people who are supporting her love for you. Do you know how much love that is Pook? Yes, flash your fingers a million times and you're still not close...That's just a lot of love Pook, don't try to count, just know that long after you're too grown for her to carry you around like a backpack, the person that's holding you in her arms right now thinks that you are the sunshine of her life...

with love....

ps. pook uncle ferentz is writing a book about stevie. i hope yo'll take the time to read it some day because your grace is one of his inspirations....