(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman

Today is a day upon which, for many years, I celebrated the birth of an incredible man. Why should this year be any different, just because we're no longer married?

This song came to me as the tribute to him for several reasons:

1) He was the first man to truly make me feel like a natural woman.

2) He loves this song, and used to sing it to me frequently. He has a beautiful singing voice, and can even hit all the high notes.

3) This song was co-written by Carole King and was recorded on Tapestry, the first album he ever purchased. This, I think, is one of the most awesome things about loving someone -- learning these little facts about their lives.

It's true -- he stopped making me feel like a natural woman -- but all of the things that made him marriage material for me are still there -- with a little extra sprinkling of wisdom and yeah, a few more wounds. May this be the year he finds someone else to whom he feels like belting out this beautiful song...

I'm afraid youtube lacks a recording of my ex-husband singing this song, so you'll have to make do with Aretha Franklin, Mary J. Blige, or Carole herself, back in the day...