Finding My Voice. Nita Whitaker LaFontaine
ection>
Finding My Voice
My Journey through Grief to Grace—
Living with the Loss of Don LaFontaine
Finding My Voice:
My Journey through Grief to Grace—Living with the Loss of Don LaFontaine
2012 First Printing
© 2012 Nita Whitaker LaFontaine
Print: ISBN-13: 978-0-985-26480-2
Print: ISBN-10: 0-985-26480-2
Ebook: 978-0-9852648-1-9
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the author and/or publisher. For information regarding permission to reprint materials from this book, please e-mail your request Nita Whitaker LaFontaine at [email protected]
Information on the butterfly totem is from “Butterfly, Power Animal, Symbol of Change, The Soul, Creativity, Freedom, Joy and Colour” available by Ina Woolcott at http:// www.shamanicjourney.com/article/5991/butterfly-power-animal-symbol-of-change- the-soul-creativity-freedom-joy-and-colour.
Use permitted courtesy of Jim Freeheart to reproduce Angel on the Beach. www. jimfreeheart.com
Library of Congress Control Number: 2012936537
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
Printed in the United States of America by King Printing Company, Inc. Jacket and interior design: Sara Dismukes, cusp-studio.com
Published by NitWhit, Incorporated, with Swift Ink Books
This book is dedicated to the memory and muse of my husband, Don, who taught me to love completely, cherish life, and revel in it; to my late mother, Ola Mae Whitaker, a librarian who first taught me to love books and inspired me to dream big; and to my father, Green Whitaker Sr., who is my hero, taught me that if I was kind and good, happiness would follow. He helped to lay the foundation for my faith journey because of his example. I would not be who I am without all of you. You blessed and enriched my life. Thank you.
Sounds, sounds all around us—the chirping of the birds,
the driving of a nail by the hammer’s head, the dull hum of the tires
moving across asphalt and pavement as the motor revs to move it along.
The sound of passing laughter or a half-caught conversation;
a rubber shoe sole on a concrete sidewalk, a distant baby’s cry,
the passing sound of music from a moving car or the whistle of a soft wind,
all remind us of life moving all around us affirming and agreeing
that life, like these ever-present sounds in varying volumes, keeps moving,
rolling, humming, crying, screaming, singing, and roaring along.
It is in these moments we know we must join the band.
—Nita Whitaker LaFontaine
CONTENTS
Foreword
Acknowledgments
Introduction
Chapter 1 WAKE UP EVERYBODY
Chapter 2 KISS ME IN THE RAIN
Chapter 3 HIS EYE IS ON THE SPARROW
Chapter 4 TIGHTROPE
Chapter 5 SOMEONE TO WATCH OVER ME
Chapter 6 WE ARE A FAMILY
Chapter 7 ARMS OF THE ANGELS
Chapter 8 HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU
Chapter 9 WHEN YOU BELIEVE
Chapter 10 A DREAM WITH YOUR NAME ON IT
Chapter 11 OUR LOVE
Chapter 12 BRING HIM HOME
Chapter 13 END OF THE ROAD
Chapter 14 DAY NINE / COLOUR OF MY LOVE
Chapter 15 SAY WHAT YOU NEED TO SAY
Chapter 16 ONE MOMENT IN TIME
Chapter 17 CELEBRATE GOOD TIMES
Chapter 18 BACK TO LIFE
Chapter 19 BYE AND BYE
Chapter 20 ON THE WINGS OF LOVE
Chapter 21 NOT A DAY GOES BY
Chapter 22 TWINKLE, TWINKLE LITTLE STAR
Chapter 23 HOW DO YOU KEEP THE MUSIC PLAYING?
Chapter 24 LOVE WILL BUILD A BRIDGE
Chapter 25 BUTTERFLY KISSES
Chapter 26 I’LL BE SEEING YOU
Chapter 27 THE GREATEST LOVE OF ALL
Chapter 28 TWENTY-ONE-MONTH-OLD BABY
Chapter 29 LOVELY DAY
Epilogue
Letters to Don
Letter from Don
Family Album
FOREWORD
My life has improved through my friendship with Don LaFontaine and Nita Whitaker LaFontaine, and it means a lot to me to be included in Finding My Voice. This book is a testament to both Nita’s spirituality and to the deep love that she and Don shared.
The first time I met them was at a charity event that music mogul and producer David Foster had invited me to attend. I was nervous, insecure, and—I think safe to say, with no record deal and only change in my pocket—on the outside looking in. Earlier that day I had gone to a rehearsal for a concert that David was musically directing for attendees later that night. I stood in awe as I watched some of the world’s biggest stars going through their musical numbers.
I watched an incredibly beautiful woman walk onto the stage (she was striking). When she opened her mouth to sing I was blown away instantly. I turned to one of David’s assistants to ask who this remarkable woman was. With a smile he said her name was Nita Whitaker. Even more remarkable to me was how humble, warm, and kind Nita was when I was introduced to her moments later—she simply glowed.
She is the kind of person who walks into a room and lights it up. This woman was, well, wow . . . perfect. Mary Poppins perfect. I wondered what man might be lucky enough to call her his own. Two minutes later I found out.
Don LaFontaine walked into the room and everyone immediately felt his presence. Though his charm and charisma were off the charts and he was dressed immaculately, I was overtaken by his rich, deep voice, but also surprised by how gentle he was with it.
At the event later that evening, both Don and Nita noticed my nervousness and took it upon themselves to make me feel welcome and more at ease. I feel lucky to have met them then, and even more fortunate to have continued my relationship with them over the years as they have invited me into their home and into their lives.
When I found out Don had passed I was devastated … devastated for his children, devastated for Nita, and devastated for anyone who had the privilege to know him. He was a good man and we lost both a huge talent and an irreplaceable friend when we said goodbye to Don LaFontaine.
I can’t imagine what it would feel like to lose my voice, just as I can’t imagine the depth of sadness that Nita and the kids felt losing Don. What I really can’t imagine is having the Nita’s courage and fortitude