Debra Basham

Living and Loving

Tag: Wicked For Good

  • A Handprint on My Heart

    Christmas Day was enjoyed at Blue House with Linda and Larry and homeowners, Jim and Mary. Everything was delicious and when you are not with your beloved family it means so much to be with friends who are family in every sense except blood. John was grateful our five dollar (11 pound) turkey did not look like a capon. Larry marinated it and it was beautiful, moist, delicious — and we came home with enough white meat and plans for a pot pie made and enjoyed today!

    Friday John and I rode bikes on an 11-mile adventure from Lazy Days Village in North Fort Myers. It takes heads-up riding to stay safe here because of traffic, and whatever you do that demands your full attention is an excellent spiritual practice of mindfulness and concentration. It has been said that the goal of 2026 is INTENTION and ATTENTION. We had lots of both. As we crossed the last of the major intersections, this one at Tamiami Trail and Littleton Road, John said, “Well, we survived.”

    At that exact moment, I saw a butterfly and thought of Doug’s mom, Gail, who visits us with wings and heard, “We all survived.”

    If you aren’t new to Yellow Brick Road you are familiar with this idea. The metaphor that makes the most sense with experience is recognizing the difference between a car and a driver: The driver still exists after leaving the car.

    Yesterday, John and I drove up to Arcadia to attend the Heartland -Southwest Florida Bluegrass Association monthly music event with our music friend, Paula. She dances in her chair and helps me feel our beloved Molly from Michigan. Weather was perfect and John won $125 in the 50/50 raffle. A great day!

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    Thus far, this winter’s seasonal life has been rife with newness. Christmas Eve John and I went to the theater to see Wicked For Good. Only about a dozen people at the 7:45 pm showing, and I confess to dozing off a bit. I had to spend some time reading a really good plot summary on Christmas morning, but during the singing of “For Good” I was wide awake.

      Who can say if I’ve been changed for the better? I do believe I have been changed for the better. Because I knew you, I have been changed for good.

      You’ll be with me like a handprint on my heart….

    May the echoes of Christmas sing truth to your heart as you prepare to welcome the New Year.

    “For Good” as sung by Ariana Grande (Glinda) and Cynthia Erivo (Elphaba) with the full lyrics below:

    FOR GOOD
    From “WICKED”
    (sung by two people)
    I’m limited *just look at me*
    I’m limited
    And just look at you
    You can do all I couldn’t do
    Glinda
    Because now it’s up to you *for both
    of us*
    Now it’s up to you
    (Glinda)
    I’ve heard it said
    That people come into our lives
    For a reason
    Bringing something we must learn
    And we are led to those
    Who help us most to grow
    If we let them
    And we help them in return
    Well I don’t know if I believe that’s
    true
    But I know I’m who I am today
    Because I knew you
    Like a comet pulled from orbit
    As it passes a Sun
    Like a stream that meets a boulder
    Halfway through the wood
    Who can say if I’ve been changed for
    the better?
    Because I knew you
    I have been changed for good
    (Elphaba)
    It well may be
    That we may never meet again
    In this lifetime
    So let me say before we part
    So much of me
    Is made of what I learn from you
    You’ll be with me
    Like a handprint on my heart
    And now whatever way our stories
    end
    I know you have rewritten mine
    By being my friend
    Like a ship blown from its mooring
    By a wind of the sea
    Like a seed dropped by a sky bird
    In a distant wood
    Who can say if I’ve been changed for
    the better?
    But
    Because I knew you
    Because I knew you
    I have been changed for good
    And just to clear the air
    I ask forgiveness
    For the things I’ve done you’ve
    blamed me for
    But then, I guess
    We know there’s blame to share
    And none of it seems to matter
    anymore
    Like a comet pulled from orbit Like a
    ship blown from its mooring
    As it passes a Sun By a wind of the
    sea
    Like a stream that meets a boulder
    Like a seed dropped by a bird
    Halfway through the wood In the
    wood
    (Both)
    Who can say if I’ve been changed for
    the better?
    I do believe I have been changed for
    the better
    (Glinda)
    And
    Because I knew you
    (Elphaba)
    Because I knew you
    (Both)
    Because I knew you
    I have been changed
    For good

  • It’s ALL Better En Masse

    Merry Christmas & Happy New Year

    So here we are it’s Christmas,
    The most wonderful time of year,
    When our minds turn to our loved ones,
    And those we hold most dear,
    May the memories and traditions,
    That have always played a part,
    Make this season special,
    Bringing joy into your heart.

    I had intended to post this on Facebook, in fact, I thought I had, but we were navigating lengthy internet outages on Sunday and Monday morning. I just now found the unpublished post, so it will launch today’s Merry Christmas and Happy New Year message.

    Yesterday a precious Jewish friend sent an email wishing me a Merry Christmas. When I asked Google to search, “What is Christmas to non-Christians?” this was the response: For many, it’s an opportunity to connect with family and friends, enjoy festive traditions, and embrace the warm atmosphere of the season. The appeal of decorations, music, and shared meals transcends religious boundaries, making Christmas a celebration of human connection.

    The days leading up to Christmas this year are filled with more raw emotion than any I recall. On Sunday Jane Foster surprised me with a telephone call after her major complications following a 12-hour ileostomy surgery in late September. She has been hospitalized for weeks now. When she was not able to talk on the phone we figured out I could send brief text messages recorded with Voice Memos.

    Our beloved Florida friends are still in Canada as they continue to navigate her having been diagnosed in June with glioblastoma, one of the deadliest forms of brain cancer.

    Yesterday, Stacey’s dear friends made one of life’s toughest decisions and removed life-support for their wife and mother following a severe stroke this past weekend. She passed 8 hours later.

    Also, yesterday, John’s cousin posted on Facebook that his beloved wife passed the previous evening.

    Tonight, on Christmas Eve 2025, John and I have tickets to attend the 7:45 pm showing of the film Wicked For Good. When I selected our seats online late last evening, we were the only seats purchased for this time and date. My only other “private” showing at a cinema was for Lion King in 1994. It is bittersweet because last year we were with our grand children when we saw Wicked in Smyrna, Tennessee, and then met the rest of the family (including our great-grandson Jackson) for Mexican food afterwards.

    Zan Henigan Lombardo is a beloved artist friend here on Pine Island I have mentioned many times over the years because she paints amazingly significant ginormous (30-foot!) water color paintings. She hosted a Flash Mob Art event for her current project “Swimming Towards the Light” this past Saturday. I would have loved to attend but we were going to the magical musical launch for Bonnie Makepeace with Rochelle Morris that day. This morning I saw a video of Zan’s group and this is what I replied: This looks like a visual-version of a group meditation or a concert by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir — the good stuff is all better en masse!

    As all are wished a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year, my heart holds the pleasant and the unpleasant life events happening simultaneously. Perhaps the simplest truth may be the same for everyone: It’s ALL better en masse….