On Thanksgiving, one of the things we did was go through my mother's records and tapes (at her request) as she doesn't listen to them and decided to get rid of them. Amber, Mike & I went through the records first. Amber got the Kingston Trio, Mike took some Sinatra and the Willie Nelson. I took the Mickie Finn's album and a few other things. No one took the Julio Iglesias (surprise.)

Then we hit the box of audio cassettes. Lots of seminar/sermon tapes and stuff about homosexuality in the Bible. Ironically, a few k.d. lang and Basia tapes. Some other homemade tapes of WWII songs I put together for Dad to play for his friend, Col. Bill Barber* when he was in the hospital.

Also in the box were a few tapes lightly marked with pencil that said "Charlene - organ" and "from Charlene." These piqued my interest and I grabbed 'em! After getting them home and listening to them on Friday I can't believe they almost ended up in the trash! One was a recording Grandma Charlene (my mom's mom) made of herself playing her new Hammond Organ. "Ain't Misbehavin,'" "You Gotta Have Heart," and one song I can't identify that sounds like roller rink music! Like a flood came the tears as I stood in the back doorway in my pajamas, listening to the music and remembering the way Grandma sat on the bench and seemed to rock back from side to side as she played the foot peddles.

I attached the first song on the tape; you'll have to turn your sound up to hear it.

I think she sounds pretty darn good, and it's no wonder that she was also a fan of music by organists. Among the records of hers I got after she passed away was a signed Ethel Smith album. Grandma could read music, but also played by ear, and when she bought the organ in 1977 she took a few lessons. I discovered this information from another tape I took from Mom.

This one turned out to be a 90 minute audio letter from her to her mother (my Great Grama Pete) in September of 1977. What a find! She covered all kinds of family news: the trip with Grandpa Virgil to Minnesota, their visit to Catalina, taking care of the 4 of us during Labor Day so my folks could have a break, and all the gossip ad goings-on at Rancho Valley Estates. (It's a Mobile Home Estate, NOT a trailer park!) I know my family will be as touched as I when they hear it. (Merry Christmas, everyone!)