Finding Music

FINDING MUSIC:  ♪

“Good Morning, Mom!”

She looks at me, but doesn’t register the fact that I am speaking to her.  In her eyes is a far away look.  Maybe she’s not quite ready to “wake up.”  I grab my banana and sit down at the table to eat with she and my dad. 

My dad.  He has taken pain-staking efforts to provide her with a healthy breakfast. Hopefully she’ll actually eat it.  Some orange slices and a piece of toast; finger foods are simplest. Utensils are highly over-rated, anyway. His continued devotion to her is a moving life lesson in itself.

“So how did you sleep last night, Mom?”  Her eyes shift, she smiles a little, then looks at my dad to provide the answer.

With a light note of sarcasm in his voice, dad responds, “Not bad, except for the 5 times she got up to wander.”  This strikes her as funny, and she starts to chuckle.  We all join her.  What else can we do? 

**Flashback** Mom throwing together a lunch for dad as he gets ready to head out the door for work.  Leftovers---I remember thinking “I’m glad Dad gets those, because then she won’t make me try to eat them for dinner.”  My siblings probably agreed.  Mom was always so efficient and ready to get the morning going.

She picks at her breakfast, sometimes dozing in her chair at the kitchen table. She stirs as the kids come up to eat.  Soon she’s watching in amusement. Or is it bemusement; this part of the day can be chaotic. They seem to have an affect on her mood, and she becomes more aware.  Kylee (12) sees Meme is looking a little “lost” and reaches out for a hug.  Meme loves hugs!  The other kids follow, and soon she’s grinning.

As my kids start their “chores and getting ready for the day” routine, Mom disappears up into her bedroom.  Dad’s gone outside to work on our 5 acres—his freedom!  He’s a farmer at heart.

 After helping the kids with a few things, I run up the stairs to check on Mom, only to find her dancing around the room to the non-stop stream of music.  Today it’s some of her favorite music.  The Sound of Music!  Who can resist Maria with the “Hills Alive?”  We love the effect of music…when it works.  We aren’t always so lucky.  It’s a good morning.

Mom has always LOVED music. 

**FLASHBACK**  Becky taught piano lessons, led music, loved to ballroom dance, and required all 7 of us to sing together on road trips.  “This Land is Your Land,” and other patriotic songs are forever etched into my mind.

Now that magical meter of music is still magnificently medicinal for her mediocre mind.  And with the use of my awesome alliteration, I will make it known that Meme, Mom, Rebecca, BECKY, is still Finding Music!

For Memorial Day 2017, my sister, Camille, is singing with Mom…one of her all-time favorites, “My Country 'Tis of thee”!  The video can be viewed via the following URL on Camille’s Facebook page:

https://www.facebook.com/37mill/videos/10156314179719698/