Grandparents Day

 

For the Monday Music Moves Me theme it is a celebration of Grandparent’s Day. I never met my dad’s parents because my grandmom died, bleeding to death, after giving birth to another son( who also died) in October 1919 at the age of 39 and my granddad died in 1956 at the age of 86. I did know my mom’s parents and only met them a few times before my beloved Oma died on December 29th, 1986. I met her a few times, when they came here, back in 1968-69, in 1972, 1980 and 1982 when I brought them here for their 60th wedding anniversary. She was so tiny at just 4ft 8in. But she had a fierce will, a lovely way around her and such loving eyes. Opa came to live with us by June, 1987 when my mom’s sister had had enough of him. Opa was known for his quick temper, his artistic talent, and his incredible, I mean, incredible slowness. Where he was ultra slow,  Oma was the opposite…she must have been very concerned thinking that he was dead. Anyhow, I have listed 3 songs that for this theme, seems to fit the bill.

1. MUSS I DENN SUNG BY NANA MOUSKOURI-1978

This is a traditional German folk song published back in 1827 after being adapted by Friedrich Silcher. It gained major notice when Elvis sang it back in 1960. I know my Oma loved folk songs and Nana Mouskouri so this works on both counts. 

2. I LOVE LUCY AND SHE LOVES ME SUNG BY DESI ARNAZ-1953

My Oma loved this famous TV show and she would watch it every chance she could get. She often said that my mom, her youngest daughter, reminded her of Lucy and, I agree. My mom often got into some mischief and she also looked great in the hairstyle Lucy wore.

3. CARDINAL SUNG BY KASEY MUSGRAVES-2024

My Oma loved birds and would feed them near the window so she could watch them. She loved the little songbirds and, when her and Opa came to visit, in 1982,  she loved the bright red of the cardinal and the beautiful blue of the blue Jay. My mom, also, loved birds and would feed the birds and watch them congregate together naming many blue jays because each had a different pattern. Anyway, after Oma died, I just felt a little empty which was strange since there was an ocean between us. The few times I was able to be with her, I just felt a huge kinship and, I know, she felt the same. When I think of my Oma, I often hear the cardinal and just felt that was her speaking to me and this was way before the cardinal was linked to the spirit world. Almost every morning, I hear the cardinal sing and see him perched letting me know she is near. 

One more…

4. BREAKING AWAY THEME SONG BY PATRICK WILLIAMS-1979

This film was the sleeper hit of 1979 that was such a small film but ended up with many awards. The music was up for an Oscar, but didn’t win, but it’s often played on the Classical radio station. Why did I pick this film about a teen’s dream to be in the Tour De France?  Well, I found out that my Opa was in bicycle races when he was young. When my mom told me he raced, I just about fell off my chair. When Oma died, 6 months later, Opa came to live with us in 1987. My mom was the only one who could handle Opa. He was living with Tante Ilse but that did not work and he had no desire to live under the rules of Uncle Harry so my mom was the best choice…and only choice. She never put up with his bullshit or his anger. To say Opa was slow would be like saying the Pope is slightly Catholic. He was THE slowest man on earth! I’m not kidding! My best friend didn’t believe me until I made her sit and watch him eat breakfast. When he buttered his toast, very slowly, he would sit back, a little burp coming from his lips, taking a deep breath as if he just rode 10 miles, before beginning to butter his 2nd piece of toast. His slowness is legendary amongst my friends. 

Which songs remind you of your grandparents?

My Oma