Angel on my Shoulder post 4

This week, Natalie Cole writes about her experiences after going to rehab in Hazelden. Her life became so bad that she had to go to rehab. When she got out, she writes, “Recovery is a lot like life. You’re always growing but never fully grown” (233). I think this is an interesting comparison because it is true. One can not expect to go to one day of rehab and be immediately clean. He or she must slowly learn how to limit the drug or alcohol use. Eventually, he or she can go through a long period without the drug or alcohol. Also, Cole said “And you don’t say you’re “healed” or “cured”, you just say “Today I did not use by the grace of God” (233). This is also interesting because one doesn’t use the words “healed” or “cured”. I don’t think they can, because one may be clean for a week, and use again on the eighth day. What do you call him? If he didn’t use for a week, is he cured? I don’t think so. I guess there isn’t a time limit one must be clean for them to be “healed”.

One of the biggest accomplishments in Natalie Cole’s life, in my opinion, is singing with her father in Unforgettable. This is the first and, I believe, the last time anyone has sung with someone who is dead. For so many years Cole refused to sing her father’s songs. She writes, “The only sour note at this beautiful time was my father’s absence” (272). I think the reason why she did this was she wanted to feel close to him again. She didn’t want to be forever remembered as ‘The daughter of’, but that was long forgotten. She was Natalie Cole, an independent singer. Now the title was forgotten, Natalie wanted to feel close to her father again, the solution, singing one of his songs with him. The fans of Natalie Cole loved it. A review in the newspaper describes it as being the “best album of remakes ever made” (305). I believe this was a win-win situation for Cole. She felt closer to her father, and audiences everywhere loved the album.