Aunt Ruby’s party was a long and hearty party. We started socializing about 11:00AM and I had to drag Mother/Dena away at 9:15 PM! As always, I had my guitar strapped to my back. So, all of the talent in the room couldn’t wiggle out of sharing with people who loved them. Bart, Aunt Inez’ son, played a great guffaw song that he wrote called, I Just Don’t Look Good Naked Anymore. We laughed so hard that the tears that had been brought to the surface earlier by heart-touching songs, turned into tears of joy. Donna’s husband, Chuck Robinson, played some great instrumental pieces on the guitar. Aunt Ruby requested, I Can’t Help Falling in Love with You. So Chuck and I muddled through it and were finally joined by all the voices in the room for the last chorus.
I shared the song about Grandma Mamie Kleinsorge, 1894, (click on 1894 to hear the song) and couldn’t help but be covered in “chicken skin”, my daughter’s name for goose bumps, knowing that Uncle Paul and Aunt Ruby are 2 of the 6 children that Mamie had and the rest of the room was filled with Mamie’s grandchildren that never got to meet her. Tears ran down our cheeks as I sang a song to Daddy, Oh, Daddy, missing from our lives for the past 11 years. I think that everyone was missing and their father and remembering Dad at that moment. If My Nose Was Runnin’ Money, I’d Blow It All on You and Baby Sings the Blues, moved the seriousness of the moment to the rest of the evening which moved the room to laughter and shared giggles.
But, the height of the entertainment came at the end of the whole day when Uncle Paul, after a great deal of insistence from us all, agreed to recite/sing. First he did a piece that MY father, Earl Kleinsorge, used to do all of the time and had taught me to do when I was about 11. The Old Maid and the Burglar was a wonderful addition to the party and reminded us all of earlier times in our childhood when people didn’t spend as much time staring at the television and had to come up with ways to entertain each other. Uncle Paul also shared another on that I’d never heard about an old FORD that wouldn’t die.
It was a once-in-a-lifetime event that I wish you all could have shared in. Listen to the video and pretend that you’re sitting right there, in awe, as I was.
Love you all and thanks for reading and listening…hugs, Mary
Mary,
It was so good to see you and Aunt Dena. I’m so glad you were able to find time to make it to Aunt Ruby’s special celebration.
I love this video. Thanks for sharing. I never thought about recording dad singing the burglar song, but now i have it :). That’s priceless. Dad said you all had a great time.
Paula