Description

Love, laughter and lessons learned

MIDDLESBORO — Everyone can relate to sitting down with friends and reminiscing about old times. No matter how young or how old you may be, everybody has a story of “back in the day.” Memories of love, laughter and lessons learned are what makes us unique in who we are. Simply put, those memories are our life.

The story of life for Middlesboro native and highly acclaimed author Johnnie Sue Bridges in her second biographical release, Motown Girl Sister Golden Hair is one that cannot go unnoticed. Motown Girl is a book that breaks your heart, mends it back together, brings a smile to your face, tears to your eyes and ultimately gives you a sense of serenity, knowing that we are not our own keeper.

Motown Girl Sister Golden Hair is set in the 1970’s and depicts Bridges’ life as an adolescent. Growing up in the inner city of Detroit, Mich. was rough for Bridges and she often resorts to violence to protect herself, her siblings, and her reputation.

As a girl, Bridges struggles to cope with relocating and adapting to life in the big city, following her family’s move from Middlesboro. She constantly wrestles with the loss of her mother and continually tries to hide her grief. Due to her mother’s passing, Bridges is forced to live with her grandmother — a woman who continually expresses her emotions through “tough love.”

While still a teen, Bridges turned to drugs to fit in with her environment and as a coping mechanism. Several times, Bridges refers to getting high or drunk, alongside her friends and family members. But in the end, Bridges discovers that she wants more out of life.

“No one told us that stuff would kill ya,” states Bridges in Motown Girl: Sister Golden Hair.

Nearing the end of the book, Bridges learns the devastating outcome of drug abuse as she watches those near and dear to her heart begin to fall away as a result of “hard life.” At that point, Bridges seeks change — she gives her life to God. She turns to a higher power for the questions, answers and success of her career.

After reading Motown Girl, I felt a close connection with Bridges: A sympathy and a similarity. The stories she writes about are in-depth and personal; they are heartfelt and moving; they are honest, emotional and nothing but the truth. God is in control! I feel as if I’ve known Bridges my entire life, and would recommend everyone else to know her, too, by reading Motown Girl: Sister Golden Hair.