Remembering in the Quiet
Wow!
Here I've been sitting on this story because I thought it would only be of interest to my family... and boy, was I wrong! I'm glad so many of you thought it was touching and fun listening to that old-time gospel music.
Maybe next time I need to make a slide show, I'll use more of their music!
It's amazing how some of that has filtered down through the years... Mom would sing songs on occasion, ones I'm sure she learned with her parents and at church... and sometimes I can hear a song... and say, "Hey! I know that song!" and I can sing the chorus... or at least hum along.
I used to try to get her to sing to my kids once they were teenagers and could remember her voice, but by then, her voice shook and she'd say it sounded too bad. She stopped her occasional singing in the church choir... the only way they could hear her was to stand next to her in church... which didn't happen very often.
Her voice was very clear and "clean". I really don't know how to describe it, but I'm wondering if I have her singing on any video. I haven't tried to watch old movies or videos yet... I'm still not ready. But I do know I made a point of filming her playing jacks!
Of all the things I could have put on film, and I chose that.
She could whistle just as pure as she could sing. My whistle is more air than tune, and I asked her once how she learned so well... She said, no recordplayers, cds, walkmans, ipods... just tunes in your head.
I have tunes in my head... every morning I awake with a song sounding like it is coming from a radio... but I've never learned to whistle like she could!
Boy, I didn't really plan on rambling along about my mom... but it's coming up on a year now... and late at night when I write... it's too easy to remember in the quiet.
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December 14, 2009 Wood Fires Comin' Up!
December 14, 2008 The Boys' Toy
yes I miss my mom; she was my best friend.
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It's fine with me ramble on. I love, love in all it's forms. Sending happiness to you and your family as you enter these holidays with hard anniversary approaching.
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Rambling~reminiscing~remembering your wonderful Mom should be a part of Christmas memories. My oldest Grandmother passed away on Christmas Eve at age 97. At first I thought that Christmas Eve would always be a sad night for me - then a friend said, "What a night to go to Heaven! All the angels are really rejoicing at welcoming Grandma Beth." And so, Christmas Eve has never been sad!
Just thought I'd share that with you today.
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Thanks so much! The one that helped me... think of it as a ship going across the sea... as we are waving goodbye and sad as they sail out of sight, everyone on the other side is rejoicing and waving at their arrival including my dad and grandparents. It's all in your attitude, isn't it?
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Yes, we used that imagery at my Dad's service. He loved sailing.
Here is the wonderful poem:
"A Parable of Immortality"
by Henry van Dyke.
I am standing by the seashore.
A ship at my side spreads her white sails to the morning breeze and starts for the blue ocean.
She is an object of beauty and strength,
and I stand and watch until at last she hangs like a speck of white cloud
just where the sun and sky come down to mingle with each other.
Then someone at my side says, 'There she goes! Gone where? Gone from my sight - that is all.
She is just as large in mast and hull and spar as she was when she left my side and just as able to bear her load of living freight to the places of destination.
Her diminished size is in me, not in her.
And just at the moment when someone at my side says,'There she goes!'
there are other eyes watching her coming, and other voices ready to take up the glad shout: 'Here she comes!'
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What a wonderful video to have of your mom. Card games bring out laughter, certain sayings and good times. It will be great to watch in years to come when you and your family are ready to watch it.
Christmas can be a sad time but it can also be a time to remember and past down the traditions your mother taught you. For me it's baking or cooking items. If Grand hadn't taught me to make cinnamon rolls with sweet potatoe dough then I would not be able to pass them on. And one of the most wonderful gifts I have is my grandmothers cookbook from school which was when they had to write it out. So here I am in 2010 following recipes from the 1920's and rembering all the good times I shared in her kitchen with her.
And as always your photo was great. So ramble on. It's part of why we follow your blog
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Remembering and rambling are good. My mom passed over in 2003. We had a tumultuous relationship, but I still miss her. Im just now able to read some of her journals. My dad passed away on Christmas, which was his favorite holiday because he could DECORATE - ours was the house with all of the lights, giant Santa, reindeer and candy canes. To this day, tacky Christmas decorations are my favorite. lol
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Thanks for sharing - memories are a sweet treasure indeed.
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