The Ghost’s Perfume

Last fall I wrote a blog about my son-in-law, Sutton’s, appearance at a high-end venue in San Diego, California.  He opened for the group Air Supply, and Elizabeth appeared on stage with him, just as she did during an eighteen-month cross-country musical performance tour that began in the summer of 2018.   They were Sutton and the Beez once again.  The following is a portion of that story.  It was fresh in my mind when I wrote, and I’ve found that if I write about things as they come to me, it serves the writer – me- and the reader -you – well.  Many of you commented positively regarding this tale.

If you read my blog on a regular basis, you know that Ruth stops in my life from time to time.  While I believe her spirit is always near one of us, we don’t always recognize her presence.  Several weeks before the show, BZ told me of a night that Ruth visited her.

Elizabeth was having trouble sleeping, so she got up.  As soon as she hit the hallway outside her bedroom door, she could smell her mom’s perfume.  I don’t know if she was surprised, or not, because we’ve come to expect the unexpected.  In fact, we welcome it.

She walked further into the house and the scent grew stronger.  She thought she saw a shadow dancing beneath the moon.  Sutton woke up and joined her.  Elizabeth asked Sutton if he smelled the perfume.  He didn’t, and said, “It must be ghost perfume.” Shortly after, he returned to bed.  The scent stayed with Elizabeth until she fell asleep.

The next morning, as they were walking their dogs, Sutton directed Elizabeth to “Give me a word”.  He wanted to write a new song and he was seeking his wife’s support.  Simple words and phrases inspire people to write.  Song writers, poets, and yes, even blog writers sometimes find their inspiration in other people’s words.

Elizabeth offered two.  Ghost perfume.  When Sutton asked where she came up with those words, she recounted their conversation from the night before and Ruth’s visit.  Sutton didn’t remember any of it, but he loved the words, and he wrote this song.

The Ghost’s Perfume

The dancin’ light, in the middle of the night

Tell me was it her or was it just the moon?

Cause I feel like she’s here, and I know that she’s near

I can tell, by the smell of the ghost’s perfume

Been a year or more, since she walked through that door

What I would give to see her one more time

We’d laugh and cry, I’d look her in the eye

And tell her that everything’s alright

Now the vail is thin

She follows where I’ve been

And now she’s here somewhere in the room

The dancin’ light, in the middle of the night

Tell me was it her or was it just the moon?

Cause I feel like she’s here, and I know that she’s near

I can tell, by the smell of the ghost’s perfume

Everywhere I look around, there’s an image or a sound

That convinces me that all of this is true

I just want to call and say “I love you”

No chance to say goodbye, can she hear me when I cry

I hope she sees how much she means to me

When the love is real the people never die

:

The dancin’ light, in the middle of the night

Tell me was it her or was it just the moon?

Cause I feel like she’s here, and I know that she’s near

I can tell, by the smell of the ghost’s perfume

Though It’s comforting, it stings like an open wound, yeah.

And I hope that the ghost don’t leave too soon.

It’s written from Elizabeth’s point of view, but from Sutton’s heart.  That’s where words of inspiration come from.  Your heart.

Sutton invited Elizabeth to join him for the final three songs that he sang.  They were Sutton and the Beez just like they were on the road. Elizabeth made a tribute to her mom by wearing Ruth’s black, shiny gold buttoned, Nehru collared jacket on stage.  It was one of her favorites and her go to outfit for special occasions.  She drew everyone’s attention when she wore it.  She looked spectacular.

The Ghost’s Perfume made its public debut at 7:35 p.m. on October 27, 2023.  It was the second song in Sutton’s seven-song set. He could have chosen to sing it first, or last, or not at all, but it was his second song and exactly thirteen months to the minute since Ruth’s accident.  You can’t make things like this up.

To be honest, I didn’t make the final connection until I started writing this story.  That night as Sutton began to sing The Ghost’s Perfume, only three people, and one spirit, out of the over one-thousand people in attendance, knew of its origin.  Tears welled in my eyes that night when I heard his words.  And they’ve returned this morning as I write mine.

Writing this story was a very emotional experience.  Six months have passed since I originally wrote the tale.  Ruth continues to stop in from time to time and I continue to welcome her visits.  There’s no pattern to her appearance but I seem more open to it when the 27th of each month rolls around.  Perhaps I’m more sensitive to that date on the calendar.

In any case, Sutton has recorded The Ghost’s Perfume and I’ve included a link for you to take a listen.  It tells an emotional tale about a special lady that we all miss.  Please listen, share with people you love, and repeat.

The Ghost’s Perfume (youtube.com)