I post this in honor of my mom and all the other WASP mom's out there, who share certain characteristics, not the least of which is DETERMINATION!
by Nancy Parrish,
(Daughter of WASP Deanie Bishop Parrish)
(Daughter of WASP Deanie Bishop Parrish)
I’ve been writing and sharing stories online
about my mother, the WASP, for 16 years. It is her fault. She is
interesting, she is inspirational, and she has set the bar so high, I’m still
striving to reach it!
After my dad passed away in 1993, my mother
became my partner. Together, we created Wings Across America, have
traveled to 19 states, and have interviewed over 100 WASP. It is a partnership
of common purpose, love, respect and faith.
I share a story--NOT about the good old days of the 1940‘s. This is a
story I witnessed, but trust me when I say that it is absolutely a ‘WASP story’.
This is about one WASP’ determination, persistence, hard work and faith that, ‘With God’s help, nothing is impossible’. It
is about my mother, the WASP, who did something extraordinary in 1992 that she
had never done before--in fact, no WASP had ever done before-- or has
since.
The WASP were planning their 50th
reunion, to be held at the Officer’s
Club at Lackland AFB in San Antonio. As part of the festivities, mom
had volunteered to head up the “LUNCHEON ENTERTAINMENT”.
Several weeks before the big event, mom had
one of her ‘lightbulb moments’. When she gets that sparkle in her
eye--something small is going to turn into a much bigger deal. This was
no exception.
“Why don’t you write a song for the luncheon,”
she asked me. “In fact, why don’t you write a ‘RAP’? Pause.
I was processing where in the heck she had ever heard the term ‘RAP’ when she
continued. “A WASP RAP!” Then,
there was mom’s “look”. It is a special look, known only to WASP and
their children. When you experience it, you instantly feel like you are about
to disappoint a WASP. “You’re the songwriter”, she said. (To be fair, I
am a song writer and was a member of the musician’s union back in the days of
harmony and music that didn’t sound so angry.) But-- not this--not RAP!)
I made a small mistake. I spoke before
thinking: “Mom, RAP is NOT music.” I instantly sensed I was about to
disappoint her--so I quickly added, “but, if you want a rap song, why don’t you
write it yourself?” Pause. “I’ll give you the background
beat--and you can put words to it.” I had thrown down the gauntlet.
I had challenged her. She picked up her pencil. “How do I do this?”
I got out my little drum machine and laid down a
rhythm track. After I handed it to her and left the room, I heard the
tape recorder over and over--play, reverse, play, reverse, over and over as she
tried to put words to the beat. It took hours. It took many,
many hours. She worked very, very hard.
Dad and I were not completely convinced she could
do it, but, from the moment I challenged her, she was absolutely determined
that she would do it. NO GOING BACK for her!
Finally, she found the rhyme
pattern and a good solid line for the chorus.
A few hours later, the RAP “WE GOT THE STUFF, THE RIGHT STUFF’ was born.
Not only did she write a RAP song, the lyrics
told the entire history of the WASP--in RAP, and it does it in just about 4 minutes!
Then, she asked, ‘Will you sing this?’ Never mind my original ‘rap is not music' argument. This time, I was NOT going to disappoint my mother, the WASP. Yes, I arranged it, ‘sang’ it, and recorded it!
Mom contacted WASP Julie Stegge, a former
Zigfield Follies dancer. Julie put on her sequined hat and danced to the WASP
RAP. Boy, could Julie kick high! Ask any
WASP who attended that convention and she will tell you that it was that single
semi- musical moment that was the hit of the entire convention! The rap was
"sung", Julie kicked, and mom smiled.
Talk about your standing ovations--it was awesome!
It has now been TWENTY years, and WASP still talk
about the only WASP rap ever written: “We Got the Stuff, the RightStuff.” When you read the lyrics, you may be surprised by mom’s ‘frank’
lyrics. “But that’s the way it was,” she says, so that’s the way she
wrote it. However, she admits that she had a little help. She
believes absolutely that, ‘With God’s help, ANYTHING is possible.’ Yes, indeed it is!
HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY, MOM!
Nancy Parrish
Article originally shared with NPR -- 2010
