I Will Always Love You

On Saturday afternoon a text appeared on my cell phone that read, "Whitney Houston died. Wtf?" I assumed it was some stupid rumor. After the recent tragic death of the legendary Don Cornelius the Twitterverse had declared Eddie Murphy to be pushing up daisies. That prompted me to tweet RIP Eddie Murphy -- We must really all look alike to white people when Don Cornelius dies and they think he's Eddie Murphy.

Fortunately, Mr. Murphy is still with us. Unfortunately, Whitney is not.

I only met Whitney Houston once. It was several years ago after the Oscars at the Vanity Fair party. She walked up to me and said, "I love your work and you're cute. Let's dance." And we did. She had an amazing smile. We shared some drinks and laughs. Bobby greeted me with a hug and we all had a fun night. I have always remembered that night. Hollywood didn't feel like Hollywood that evening. It was a special moment for me. Important, even. That woman set a benchmark for how you treat people. Like everyone else, I've heard a lot of crazy stories about Whitney. I saw the reality show with her ex, Bobby. I don't know if that was an act. I do know that the Whitney Houston I met treated me with nothing but warmth and affection.

I watched Bobby snuggled up to Whitney. They kissed the way couples in love do. That was my cue. I smiled and said goodbye as I'm sure many others have. I turned to Whitney and said in a total dead pan voice:

If I could stay. I would only be in your way.
So I'll go, but I know
I'll think of you ev'ry step of the way.

She and Bobby were staring at me trying to figure out the hell I was saying. I continued:

And I will always remember you.
I will always remember you.
You, and Bobby too.

Bittersweet memories.
That is all I'm taking with me.
So, goodbye. Please, don't cry.

She burst out laughing, realizing I was saying the lyrics to her hit song "I Will Always Love You," written by Dolly Parton.

We both know I'm bout to go,
I hope life treats you kind
And I hope you have all you've dreamed of.
And I wish to you, joy and happiness.
But above all this, I wish you both good night.

It was corny. It was dumb. But it was really fun. Whitney, I really will miss you. Thanks for that evening and all the others where the sound of your voice healed my ailing heart. I truly will always love you.

Join me on Facebook to share your memories of Ms. Houston.

 

Follow Orlando Jones on Twitter: www.twitter.com/TheOrlandoJones

Comments

[tc71087]

07:04 PM on 02/13/2012

Finally, a happy memory of Whitney Houston. I get sick of hearing about her addiction. Yes, she had them, but she was also a talented singer, a passionate actress, an empowering producer, a loving daughter and a caring mother.

[vaf112675]

04:21 PM on 02/13/2012

Thank you for sharing that memory Mr. Jones.

Your kind words are exactly what everyone should be tryig to share, instead of speculating of how she died, we should all celebrate the beauty and love that we were all able to share through her life and her music.

[Darren Christman]

03:40 PM on 02/13/2012

She was a wonderful, brilliant and beautiful woman. I am so appalled that many of those (TMZ, Joan Rivers, Kathy Griffin, etc) who made fun of her are all so sorry she's gone. I am sure Whitney is a better person and forgives them. I think they are awful. We will still have her music and her image to remind us of her.

[jaycee3]

02:43 PM on 02/13/2012

Thanks for Sharing... I wasnt a HUGE Whitney fan... but her talent was UNDENIABLE.

She'll be missed.

[Phaedrah Ellison]

02:42 PM on 02/13/2012

A nice memory, thank you for sharing. She will be missed.

[DogDancer]

02:01 PM on 02/13/2012

Thank you for sharing this memory with us, Orlando. It's clear that you treasure it. We ALL loved Whitney, and I so wish that she were still with us. She had the sort of voice that comes along only two or three times in a century in any one culture, and clearly she had the heart and soul to drive it.

Whitney, we never stopped loving you. Rest well, beautiful girl.

[Memissmck Mckenzie]

01:55 PM on 02/13/2012

Nice article Orlando and love your wit.

[jstall8332]

01:29 PM on 02/13/2012

She will defintely be missed!

[Fogcatcher]

12:59 PM on 02/13/2012

Perfection doesn't come easily.... this was one moment in time where it not only came to us, it inspired us as a Nation....

http://www.capitalnewyork.com/article/culture/2012/02/5259590/anatomy-performance-whitney-houston-sings-star-spangled-banner-jan-1

[moelarrythecheese]

12:46 PM on 02/13/2012

Orlando, you are a class act. And I love your work!

[Sharon Beavers]

12:30 PM on 02/13/2012

What a wonderful story and tribute to Whitney; so refreshing to come to a place where the posts are so positive. Thanks so much for sharing. Whitney, may you now find the peace that eluded you when you were with us here on earth - fortunately through your body of work, you will always be with us.

[dgrown]

12:28 PM on 02/13/2012

What a beautiful memory, I would like to add Whitney had a certain elegance and style. When she came out you knew you were there to be entertained by a class act not these tightrope rope flying saucer acts. Thank You Whitney for Beauty and Grace.

[TheFabOne]

11:59 AM on 02/13/2012

RIP Whitney.

You are a legend of elegance and grace and for all the funny times, there were moments of glory and dignity.

You are forever our princess, and you will truly be missed.

[Mary Davila]

11:57 AM on 02/13/2012

Great story... made me laugh instead of crying after reading other stories about her. Thanks Orlando.

[Buster OMalley]

11:43 AM on 02/13/2012

May be those of the music performance industries, especially such as Whitney Houston, are able to pour out that quality so abundantly, because there's so much of it within them that we the audiences demand, and such performers aspire to deliver continually greater as times after their former work, together with living with such as these situations, some of them -burn out, like going supper-nova!