SoCS — Organ

Posted on July 21, 2018 by joey

Wee me, sat at the organ, likely trying to please my grandfather. He was musical. He played the organ and the trumpet and heaven knows what else. His mother was an opera singer. He listened to opera and big band music almost exclusively. I’d tell you that might be why I love big band music, but I pretty much hate opera, even THE opera, which is a dereliction in duty to my heritage and my overall appreciation of the arts, but nonetheless, it’s true.

It was easy to please my grandfather, because he only had three granddaughters in a slew of grandsons and while we all know no one favors specific children, he did call me Little One.
I learned to poorly play many songs on the piano, but my memory of the organ is with Grandpa and Silent Night. G-A-G-E, G-A-G-EEE…

I could tell you a lot of stories about my grandfather, and might some day. They don’t make men like that anymore.

organ.me

Yes, I was a punkin, thank you for noticin.

Please note I was wearin pajamas and a coat, but no socks. I assume my father dressed me on that day. I’ve been told my mother too often dressed me warmly, and my father would come home and find me fussy and sweaty and after he’d stripped me down I’d be a much happier baby. He told me this after I had my first baby. “Don’t let your mother dress her. Unless you’re going to Siberia.”
My father was not a reliable narrator when it came to my mother, but I believe him about this bit, because my mother is Southern by birth, and is one of those people who tans in the shade and is always cold when it’s warm, and clearly she’s an alien to me in these ways.
While mothers are required to fold a blanket at the end of your bed or tell you to take a sweater, my mother believed I would catch my death if I caught a chill.
Perhaps we left for Grandma’s house early in the morning and they didn’t want to fuss with me too much so I would fall back to sleep in the car and not drive them crazy.
Anyway, I could, if I rummaged around, find you a photo of me twenty-some years later, wearing blue velvet pajamas to my aunt’s house on Christmas night. I think I wore actual shoes, maybe clogs, maybe even socks, but I know without doubt I totally wore pajamas and a coat to her house that night. Where I played poker, not the organ. And I ain’t any better at cards.

Stream of Consciousness Saturday — SoCS ‘organ’ is brought to you by LindaGHill

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About joey

Neurotic Bitch, Mother, Wife, Writer, Word Whore, Foodie and General Go-To-Girl
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58 Responses to SoCS — Organ

  1. J-Dub says:
    July 21, 2018 at 12:14 PM

    Awwww punkin. Sweet and sentimental. ❤ for all the great grandpas out there!

    Liked by 3 people

  2. Benson says:
    July 21, 2018 at 12:25 PM

    Beautiful story. Great tribute for grandpas from their punkins.

    Liked by 2 people

  3. Alicia Butcher Ehrhardt says:
    July 21, 2018 at 12:43 PM

    I miss my grandfathers, my Hungarian-American grandpa Alex Butcher who played Hungarian czardas on the violin (not well – he never could afford lessons, and he bought his fiddle at a garage sale), and my Mexican Papa Memo, who played the piano beautifully by ear – and was probably very disappointed in my playing. And now I remember going to see Man of La Mancha, in Spanish, with Grandpa Alex, in Mexico, when he came down after Grandma Ethel died and Papa Memo died. And someone stole his wallet.

    We have an interesting family, my four sisters and I: Alex married my Mamina after they were both widowed a number of years (she was Josephine, originally from Illinois), and my father and mother were half-siblings from that day on, and I was the first grandchild, and the oldest grandchild of 42 on both sides of the family. They spent half the year in Michigan, and half in Mexico, driving back and forth, and had ten years of being married before Alex died.

    Liked by 3 people

  4. Laura says:
    July 21, 2018 at 12:44 PM

    Well, I love the outfit! And I totally hear you about the mama dress code thing. I find myself telling the kids to pack a sweatshirt regardless of the destination because when ISN’T there a time when you need a sweatshirt, right? It’s come back to bite me, though, because the girl wears jeans or long sleeved shirts in the North Carolina summertime and I think she’s an alien. I’m melting in a tank top and there she is, sauntering around in shorts and a long sleeved top. Don’t get it, can’t get it, but I’m letting it go.
    And there’s my most SoC comment of the day…

    Liked by 3 people

    • joey says:
      July 22, 2018 at 12:37 AM

      Hah! I melt, too. Went out tonight with my girls, way too much Georgia in them. They wore sweatshirts. My mother must be so proud! 😛

      Like

  5. eschudel says:
    July 21, 2018 at 12:47 PM

    My dream is to stay in my PJs for one whole day…hopefully when I can still enjoy it!

    Liked by 4 people

    • joey says:
      July 22, 2018 at 12:36 AM

      I have lots of ‘almost’ days like that. I have to work really, really hard and sometimes, be a bit of a selfish parent to get one whole day in jammies. Unless I’m sick. That doesn’t count. No one enjoys that.

      Liked by 1 person

  6. JT Twissel says:
    July 21, 2018 at 2:22 PM

    I miss my grandfather as well. He always smelt of Old Spice. Men don’t smell nice anymore!

    Liked by 3 people

  7. Robert Matthew Goldstein says:
    July 21, 2018 at 2:44 PM

    Thanks for sharing this. It brought back good memories of my own grandparents. That photo of you is fantastic.

    Liked by 1 person

  8. Judy @ NewEnglandGardenAndThread says:
    July 21, 2018 at 3:08 PM

    You must have smiled the entire time you were writing this – great memories. 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

  9. loisajay says:
    July 21, 2018 at 3:25 PM

    I love this post, Little One. I have not a musical bone in my body. Sad but true. My entire family is non-musical. Nary a note do we carry….

    Liked by 1 person

    • joey says:
      July 22, 2018 at 12:48 AM

      Sometimes it’s like that. I am surrounded by musical people, and I love music, but I am acutely aware I’m not like them. I can sing, I can play a few things on a few things, but NO ONE would call it talent! 😛

      Like

  10. Dan Antion says:
    July 21, 2018 at 3:26 PM

    I’m so impressed that you have a real organ story! Maddie and I were walking yesterday at 6:30 am. We walked up behind a woman pushing a baby stroller. She was wearing PJs, a jacket and flip flops. Maybe we have a Joey 🙂

    I’m guessing you were a sweet little punkin.

    Liked by 1 person

    • joey says:
      July 22, 2018 at 12:32 AM

      Hah! It sure sounds like you have a Joey in the neighborhood! Is the sun all the way up at 6:30?!? It isn’t here.

      Liked by 1 person

      • Dan Antion says:
        July 22, 2018 at 6:37 AM

        Right now, the sun is streaming through the trees. It’s totally bright, but we get lots of weird light and long shadows. I normally wait until it’s higher, about 7:00 these days, 8:00 in winter, but we had a service guy coming.

        Liked by 1 person

  11. ghostmmnc says:
    July 21, 2018 at 3:38 PM

    So cute, and such a lovely warm memory. 🙂

    Liked by 2 people

  12. orbthefirst says:
    July 21, 2018 at 4:06 PM

    My grandfather was a stubborn old goat, and Imma grow up & be just like him 😛
    Yours sounds like a nice man. Im glad you have so many fond memories of him, thats pretty great. I have of mine too, but its different with boys lol.
    Love the pic, btw, I guess you always were adorable. 🙂
    Enjoy your weekend, girly.

    Liked by 2 people

  13. coldhandboyack says:
    July 21, 2018 at 7:41 PM

    I only got to know one of mine. He was the greatest man I ever met. Glad you have fond memories of yours.

    Liked by 1 person

  14. sustainabilitea says:
    July 21, 2018 at 8:01 PM

    People do tend to overdress babies, that’s for sure. I took piano lessons for many years and when in college, the next step would have been learning to play the organ, but I knew if I did, any church attended would probably want me to play for church. So I just didn’t learn. 🙂

    My maternal grandfather played the organ very, very well (for church, too) and only liked classical music. We were astonished when he liked “The Sound of Music.” 🙂

    janet

    Liked by 1 person

  15. Joanne Sisco says:
    July 21, 2018 at 8:38 PM

    I never knew my grandfathers. Colour me jealous 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

  16. JoAnna says:
    July 21, 2018 at 10:38 PM

    You are adorable! As an older child, I’d “play” the pianos or organs of friends and relatives every chance I got – making up melodies as I went. I thought they sounded pretty good.

    Liked by 1 person

  17. Bill says:
    July 21, 2018 at 11:45 PM

    I never met any of my biological grandparents. It took me a while to figure this out, but I was the first person in my family to be raised by both biological parents. My only musical ability is listening. I tried singing that Sinatra song the other day. Bad idea! Cool story.

    Liked by 2 people

    • joey says:
      July 22, 2018 at 12:23 AM

      Thanks 🙂
      I knew (remember) three of my grandparents and they were a great gift in my life.
      I have always envied people who were raised in ‘intact’ homes, always assumed that grass was greener. Less envy as life goes on.

      Liked by 1 person

  18. markbialczak says:
    July 22, 2018 at 6:42 AM

    I wore adult-sized feetsie pajamas matching my date to a Halloween party when I was 40? and drank pretty good that night, Joey. I wished I could have crawled under a punkin.

    Liked by 1 person

  19. Ally Bean says:
    July 22, 2018 at 8:52 AM

    Happy grandfather memories! Didn’t expect to find that topic here today. I adore the photo of you as a little one. I cannot stand opera, but like big band. I’m with you there on that point. Never tried to learn organ/piano, but had there been one around me when I was young no doubt I’d have given it a go.

    Liked by 1 person

  20. marianallen says:
    July 23, 2018 at 12:03 PM

    I only knew my mother’s father, but he made up for it. I believe his last words were probably “Thank you.” Sweet and funny. And he loved opera! And Patsy Cline and Eddy Arnold. Lovely post. ❤

    Liked by 2 people

  21. undiscoverdimagesamongstus says:
    July 23, 2018 at 6:53 PM

    Even your childhood reminiscing is funny! Love the way you blog about how you remember your family growing up. And that cute face in that picture certainly displays a poker face so I’m not playing poker with you!

    Liked by 2 people

  22. Anxious Mom says:
    July 23, 2018 at 8:17 PM

    I love stories like this. I have one memory of my grandfather — giving me blue footed Superman pajamas one Christmas morning. I was 3 or 4. I somehow knew they weren’t supposed to be for girls, so I was extra thrilled. He died of cancer a few months later. Didn’t know the other set.

    Liked by 2 people

  23. circadianreflections says:
    July 24, 2018 at 12:09 PM

    You look adorable. Love the blue soft coat with blue jammies, and pink shoes! Fashionista!

    I never knew my Grandparents on either side; they died before I was born, or in my maternal Grandmother’s case when I was just 13 weeks old. I know I missed something pretty great.

    I love Big Band music, and some opera, but I love musicals more. I’ve sung since I could, and played guitar when I was teenager, and always wanted to play piano, but we didn’t have the money for lessons. I gave myself 13 yrs of lessons as an adult. I’m only mediocre. I never see the music patterns, and counting…gah it’s tricky!

    Silent Night is one of my favorites. I still play play that one during the holidays. Not well, but it’s just for me so who cares. 😊
    My Mother, and Baby Girl can play, but neither does. Figure-toi!

    Liked by 2 people

    • joey says:
      July 24, 2018 at 5:36 PM

      Of course! People with musical abilities so often squander it 😛 I love that you had lessons as an adult.
      I knew three of my grandparents into my 20s. I was blessed.

      Liked by 1 person

  24. AmyRose🌹 says:
    July 25, 2018 at 8:13 AM

    Isn’t it wonderful to go down memory lane now and again? That picture of you is just too adorable, Joey. Cute as buttons! I’m happy for YOU that you do have these happy memories. Rock on, minus the opera. 😘

    Liked by 1 person

  25. Amy says:
    July 31, 2018 at 6:41 PM

    My great-grandparents had an organ. I remember trying to play it sometimes…they must have had the patience of saints (given that they had 10 children, that was probably the case). Lovely memories! 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

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