I can’t remember a time when music wasn’t a part of my life.
Some of my earliest memories are of riding in a VW Van with an assortment of
young people that my parents were in a gospel group with. Others are of music
playing on the record player or the radio in the house. Mom sang often while I
was growing up. Her soft airy soprano voice wove harmony to the alto and
soprano voices of we children as we sang in the car on the way to church.
I sang in the choir in middle school and high school. My
voice has changed since then but I still love remembering the music. The joy of
being in the high school music room during lunch hour and listening to the
piano or the radio with other students was incomparable. It was a time of freedom and laughter and
acceptance.
When my daughter was first born, I sang to her from the
start. Her first lullaby was actually Silent Night. She still gets sleepy when
she hears it. (smile) Many miles were walked up and down the hallway in our
little home as I sang her songs to sooth her. She was not a difficult baby but
hearing music made her that much easier.
My radio plays in my car all the time. I have eclectic taste
when it comes to music. Often I prefer country music and would love to hear the
older country more often… things with Johnny Cash and Waylon Jennings, Dolly
Parton and Loretta Lynn. Fortunately for me, the station I listen to the most
plays a lot of these artists on Saturday nights.
Family gatherings often include music. When all 4 sisters
and Mom are together it is guaranteed to have music going on. We love to do the
karaoke thing, but will sing just about anything that we can. To hear us do
some of the old gospel rounds is amazing. I have video of my next sister after
me singing with me and Mama as we were entertaining the toddlers while we got
dinner together. Erinne had a lower voice than I did for a while so she tended
to do the lower while I did higher and Mom wove around us. I wish I had more recordings of these times.
I often play jazz on the radio at work for a soft background
noise. It is soothing to the ear and helps to make the day go faster. I seem to
get a lot more work done with the music playing than when I don’t have it on.
I can’t imagine my life without music. I am thankful for the
memories I have of it and smile at them.
3 comments:
Music hath charms to soothe the savage beast ! Problem is when I sing, people want to attack. LOL
Ben, I think the same thing sometimes now that I haven't been singing as often and my voice has deepened. I can hit low notes taht I would never have been able to hit in High School but the high notes I used to hit are a memory only =)
Nice writing, Kerry! Thanks....and the next time you come here, please bring the video of us singing...would love to see/hear it !
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