Tuesday, April 24, 2012

ALONE IN THE OLD ROCKING CHAIR ENJOYING PRECIOUS MEMORIES

                                                              
As I have mentioned so often, I love to rock. The old rocking chair is one of my favorite friends. I guess I will be pretend traveling again some day, but meanwhile I am enjoying precious memories as I rock in the old rocking chair.



Ben and I both come from families who loved music and loved to sing. His family came from western Kentucky on the Ohio River. Mine came from a rural community near Ripley, Tn. called Flippin. But from all I have heard our families loved much of the same music.


I have precious memories of sitting on the steps of the front porch of my special Langley cousins who were very musical. Dot was several years older than me and a fine singer. OB was one year older, and Wayne was one year younger. We were all of grammar school age. Most of those precious memories involve our harmonizing together as OB played the guitar as a beginner. 

Later the boys became accomplished on the electric guitar and electric bass and even toured with a gospel quartet. But that isn't this memory. We sang our hearts out...old hymns, mostly. We loved this one. WHEN THE ROLL IN CALLED UP YONDER.









 I remember Aunt Altie and Uncle Oscoe would treat us to light bread and "bolony" sandwiches,  because they were so used to country cooking that they didn't think it was special.And sandwiches WERE special!! Of course that is what we wanted the, county cooking!!!   






I'LL FLY AWAY was popular with both of our families. Dot, OB, Wayne and I sang with gusto hitting that high note...I'LL... (3 beats) with all the volume we could.


My cousins were sort of shy when conversing; but they really let go when singing. OB has died and Wayne is no longer in good health. But my precious memory of them and our times together singing remain forever strong!


One song I especially remember. We thought it was a fun song because the harmony part was especially good. 


After Aunt Altie's funeral many years later, the cousins and I were talking outside the chapel and agreed that the song wasn't fun anymore. My own mother had died a few years before Altie; now every word of the hymn was so moving and true to what we felt.

 IF I COULD HEAR MY MOTHER PRAY AGAIN.


So it is time to get out of the rocking chair and pretend to do a little work around here.


 But I am singing; you bet I am singing.


Love, annie in memphis    


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1 comment:

  1. Here it is September 27, 2012. I just read this again. It was such a pleasure to relive a memory of such wonderful relatives!!!! All TRUE..NOTHING FICTION HERE. LOVE, ANNIE

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