Well, here’s the Best Thing That Ever Happened To Me story.

I first heard the song on our local radio station in Sussex County, NJ, way back in the mid 70s. I don’t know why the Rainy Day Singers version was on the play list, especially since it was a relatively unknown Canadian group. I introduced it to Karen in the car when I cranked up the volume and told her to just listen.

I’ve had my share of life’s ups and downs
But fate’s been kind, the downs have been few
I guess you could say that I’ve been lucky
Well, I guess you could say that it’s all because of you

As play lists come and play lists go, it was just a matter of weeks before the cycle ended. But I did remember telling Karen how much I liked that song and how I considered it an anthem for our lives.

If you know me, I seldom, if ever, ask for anything at Christmas or for my birthday. So this was a big deal for her. She decided the album would make a good Christmas present. The problem was, no one carried it. She had a terrible time trying to locate a copy and had to go to desperate measures to track it down. She contacted the radio station … who referred her to the publisher … who directed her to the distributor … who finally shipped the LP from Canada. It arrived, she said, the day before Christmas.

If anyone should ever write my life story
For whatever reason there might be
You’ll be there between each line of pain and glory
‘Cause you’re the best thing that ever happened to me
Ah, you’re the best thing that ever happened to me

There have been many versions of the song. In fact there was 121 artists who recorded the Jim Weatherly song. Gladys Knight & the Pips and Ray Price brought the song to the top of the charts, while The Persuaders also had a successful run with the song. It crossed genres, from pop to rhythm & blues to country to Christian and instrumental. Others recording the song included 101 Strings, Acker Bilk, Andy Williams, B. J. Thomas, Danny Thomas, Dean Martin, Dionne Warwick, Frankie Laine, Hissong, Ray Boltz, Ray Price, Richard Clayderman, Roger Williams and Steve Lawrence. I’ve heard the Gladys Knight & the Pips, 101 Strings, Acker Bilk and Roger Williams versions — all good and with just as much impact. But I’m partial to the Rainy Day Singers, who blended the melody just right … not too loud and not too sappy.

Oh, there have been times when times were hard
But always somehow I made it, I made it through
‘Cause for every moment that I’ve spent hurting
There was a moment that I spent, ah, just loving you

I always tried to tell Karen she was so special to me, my muse, the wind under my wing. I may not have always gotten it right — or said it enough — but she was the beat in my heart, the affirmation in my soul, the imagination in my mind. Truly, if anyone should ever write my life story, for whatever reason there might be, she’ll be there between each line of pain and glory, because she was and is the best thing that ever happened to me.

If anyone should ever write my life story
For whatever reason there might be
Oh, you’ll be there between each line of pain and glory
‘Cause you’re the best thing that ever happened to me
Oh, you’re the best thing that ever happened to me
I know, you’re the best thing, oh, that ever happened to me

That was one of the best presents I ever received, made even better and special because of the effort Karen had to go through. And that original, long gone LP lives on in a new media.

THOUGHT TO REMEMBER: You have the ability to stir up someone’s dreams by giving them permission to succeed.