I think I’ve got a soul sister on my hands.  Possibly even a Diva in the making.

From the first time Two rode in the car with me, the only music that would settle her was the Etta James At Last! cd.  No joke. We’ve got a six-cd changer, sometimes an iPod hooked up, and for over a year now, whenever Two has started to holler – from sleepiness, hunger, whatever – it’s been Etta and only Etta, singing about how blue she is, who can calm her.  No Dan Zanes for our Two.  No Jack Johnson or Putumayo Playgrounds.  Not even Hank Williams, one of the Hobbit’s favorites.  Just Etta, Etta, Etta.

Or so I thought.  Then, last Wednesday, we were driving home after dropping off the Hobbit at school and I reached a limit.  Hosni Mubarak had just stepped down as the President of Egypt and happy little me was happily driving along, happily listening to the incredible news.  Then, suddenly, Two started to fuss.  I winced.  ”Not much longer, darlin,” I said weakly.

She started to holler.

No!!!  I thought.  Please!  Not more Etta!

As she started to get really loud, I reached toward the Play button, toward that cd number 4.  But I just couldn’t do it.  I couldn’t listen to any more Etta.

So what did I do?  I mustered some cheer and said, “All right, all right.  How about this?”  And I held my breath, switched from NPR to KISS FM – our local 70s and 80s funk, soul, R&B station – and waited.  As a funky beat came through the speakers, I checked the rearview mirror.  It was a real, groovy, chikkawakka, bell-bottoms and big afro sound.  And…

Two was settling!

No way, I thought.  That’s hilarious.  I checked the rearview mirror again and found:

A smile!  Full-on Stevie Wonder head weaving!

Praise God Almighty!  I’m free at last.