Grandma's First Experience

It’s hard to recall our first experiences with music because music is everywhere and is something that we often don’t even think about. However, for my Grandma, this was a very memorable moment in her life and is something I must share! I had not talked to my grandma in a few months (shame on me) and I randomly received an email from her, with the subject title: “THE MUSIC IN ME.” Ironically I was starting this blog about music at the same time ( I had not told her I was starting this blog)...This is the email she sent me.

Photo taken by Betty Waterford

I had my first musical experience when I was four year sold, in the year 1942. Nobody knew I couldn’t hear, I think everyone thought I was dumb.  I also had slurred speech and stopped talking because I did not want to get made fun of.  School was in a few months and if I could not hear by then, I was going to have to attend a school for the deaf. My mother took me to see several doctors and one doctor said they could perform surgery in my ear canal. After the surgery, I still could not hear. I could still see the sad look on my mother’s face.  After she took me home I remember sleeping a lot and one morning, or maybe it was an afternoon I woke up with static in my ears. Then I felt water dripping and more static. I then remember being sleep in the bedroom by myself and there was a radio on the table (where it had always been). I was sleep but I could hear a voice. I loved the voice I was hearing. In my sleep, I saw a man, He was the size of a puppet and there were strings in his hands. I was on the end of the strings controlling him. For some reason I could not see his face but when I heard his voice I felt so much love in my heart. The voice was……….. Frank Sinatra, I’ve got the world on a string!


SENDING LOTS OF LOVE AND GOOD THOUGHTS YOUR WAY.
- GRANDMA

Music can be a beautiful thing. As you can see for my Grandma, this changed her life and also helped shape her views towards music for the rest of her life.  We all have our own story and some are more impactful than others. However, one thing we generally all share is OUR LOVE FOR MUSIC!