For this blog I thought I would share a story that my maternal grandfather (Papa) wrote for me in a collection of stories he gave to me for my birthday in 1976. He and my Nana used to babysit me and my siblings - I have a lot of fun memories of spending time with them. Nana (Agnes Hector Smith) and Papa (Douglas Howard Parker) were married in 1922 and emigrated from Scotland to Canada in 1923.
A Singing Sweetheart
This was our first date and not knowing the town I had to rely on my companion to lead the way.
We had coffee and a chocolate biscuit at a restaurant at the town cross, a procedure I was informed, practiced by the young folk of the town.
I suggested a movie, but the showbill in front of the only movie house in town did not look very interesting.
It being a beautiful evening my companion suggested we go for a walk. On the way I learned that the route we were following was the favourite of the town's young folks on a Sunday afternoon; I also learned a lot about Kerse Parish Church, and especially about the choir which my companion attended. Some of the incidents related about the choir were amusing, especially the way in which the choir girls decorated their bachelor minister's [bi]cycle while the poor man was in his study preparing his Sunday sermon.
When we reached the last street lamp, and because the road ahead looked dark and uninviting I decided we should turn, however, my companion suggested we stand under the lamp while she sang me a German song she had learned in school. In a good contralto voice she sang stanza after stanza; I did not understand the German words but when she finished I congratulated her on her voice, her singing and her memory.
Strange as it may seem after all these years I listen to the same haunting melody each evening as Paul Reid concludes his 'Quiet Hour' with the same melody. It brings back memories of almost fifty years of love, happiness, and a companionship which carried us along together in times of difficulties, of change and of pleasures.
The strains of that haunting melody comes over the radio each evening and fills my heart with gratitude for the life and times we shared together.
Yes! The Singing Sweetheart became - in time - your Nana!
Happy Valentine's Day
Footnote: Paul Reid was a radio personality at CJAD in Montreal during the 1970s and hosted a program called Paul Reid Wonderful World of Music.
The "town" was Grangemouth, Scotland. The church still exists today although is now a blended congregation.
Update: I asked my Mom if she knew anything about the song and it turns out she knew some of the words and a little about what the song was about. So I did a little research and we found the song.
https://youtu.be/num4zgWyFLU
No comments:
Post a Comment