Cinnamon Man!

This was taken on the trip to the beach in Crescent city. I am on the bottom kneeling with pony tails. My aunt Kim is next to me, and my mom is standing behind us with my sister, Jessica, on her shoulder's! I look at this picture and it makes me absolutely nervous.

Sinner Man

o sinnerman where will you run to
sinnerman where will you run to
sinnerman where will you run to
all on that day

run to the mountain
the mountain wont hide you
run to the sea
the sea will not have you
and run to your grave
your grave will not hold you
all on that day

see sinnerman
mountains are falling
sinnerman
the sea it rages
sinnerman
the grave will not hold you
all on that day
run to the lord
lord please hide me
run to the lord

sinnerman
sinnerman
sinnerman

where you gonna run to
all on that day
run to the mountain
the mountain wont hide you
and run to the sea
the sea will not hold you
and run to your grave
the grave will not hide you
all on that day

sinnerman
the mountain is falling
and sinnerman
the sea it rages
and sinnerman
sinnerman
sinnerman
where will you run to
all on that day

the mountain wont hide you
the sea wont have you
and the grave will not hold you
all on that day

When I was about 5 yrs old, my family took a visit to see my Grandma B.J. (short for Bennie Jo, my moms mom) in Crescent City where she lived for a short time with one of my aunt's, Kimmy (whom I also adored and looked up to), who is two years older than I am. When we were little, nothing pleased her more than to tell me the truths about life's little mysteries... like there isn't a Santa, or Easter Bunny just to name a few.

On one of our many road trips together, we loved to sing songs. We'd sing some favorite childhood songs like "The ants go marching one by one, Hurrah! Hurrah!", "There's a hole in the bucket!", and "This old man." We would sing them with a lot of drama and with much enthusiasm. Another song that we would sing was called "Sinnerman,"(also a favorite). Instead of "Sinnerman," I thought it was "Cinnamon Man," but would say "Cinna man." I loved cinnamon toast, and thought 'okay, why not, there is a 'muffin man.' In my mind, this was all okay, songs didn't always have to make sense... Humpty Dumpty (an egg) sat on a wall and had a great fall. Our family was on our way to the beach, where we were going to spend the day. Well, I remember singing this song at the top of our lungs in the back of an old station wagon, with my aunt Kimmy sitting next to me. Next thing I knew she stopped singing and just looked pleased to tell me I was singing it wrong... "it's not cinnamon man! It's Sinner man!" I said "No it's not! It's cinnamon man!" She then crossed her arms and demanded that I ask my mom. "Humph!" I said "I will! Mom! Is it Cinnamon man or what did you say Kimmy?" She said, "Sinner man!" I said, "Yeah, that Mom! Sinner man?" My Mom gave her little sister a look, and then looked at me with apologetic eyes.. "Yes, honey. It is sinnerman." That song took on a whole new meaning for me. As we sang it... the drama and enthusiasm were gone. I had so many questions and was asking them as we sang each line. I needed to understand WHO was the sinnerman and WHY was he hiding. Needless to say, when we sang that song it gave me the chills. It also gave me a reverent fear and I'd always try to be good, even at that young age. It wasn't because of Santa Claus or the Easter Bunny either.

**NOTE** Dear readers, In regards to my aunt Kimmy. In all fairness, she grew up, and actually helped me with a LOT of life's little mysteries, was one of my biggest cheer leaders and defenders and I do not know what I would have done without her! But, she was a stinker when we were little! My aunt Kimmy would be the first to admit it and adding some stories about me no doubt. *wink