Music and Family
For this assignment, I chose to interview my 79 year young grandma, who I call Mimi. She is one of the funniest and sweetest people I know and she always has stories to tell so I thought she would be fun to interview. She was the second oldest daughter in her family of 7 (she loves to tell stories of how it was growing up in a two bedroom house with 3 sisters and a brother.) She was born in 1946 right as World War II ended. Her father had just come home from deployment when she was born, so they had a unique bond. Her household was “ran like the Navy,” according to her. This was due to the conservative culture and religious expectations her family had. Because of this, music was only enjoyed at church while she was growing up. She told me she loved to sing the hymns at church even though she couldn’t carry a tune; she loved being able to praise with her friends and family. Her favorite hymn was “How Great Thou Art.”
When she began dating my grandpa is high school, she started to rebel a little bit and go skating and dancing (I know! So scandalous!) where she listened to music from the jukebox. She liked Elvis, The Beach Boys, Chubby Checker’s “The Twist” which she taught me how to do when I was a toddler.
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Her favorite song during her adolescence was “Brown Eyed Girl” by Van Morrison because this was the song my grandpa dedicated to her. I remember my grandpa playing this song for me and talking about how much he loved his brown eyed girl, referring to my grandma. When my grandpa was in hospice, Mimi colored pictures for him out of her coloring book and signed them “Your brown eyed girl.” This song is very difficult for me to listen to now because it reminds me of how much my grandpa loved Mimi.
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Mimi told me this period of music was highly influential in her life. This was the first time she listened to music for enjoyment and let herself have fun with it. This music also reminds her of when she was dating my grandpa, which is why she still listens to it to this day; it is a way for her to hold onto memories of my grandpa. This was bittersweet to hear because grief is such a complex feeling. It made me happy she had this music to listen to but it also made me sad to realize how much she misses my grandpa. We got to bond over this habit of listening to music from different times of our lives because I like to listen to music I listened to when I was young to reminisce on my childhood.
Anna! :-)
ReplyDeleteI had hoped to interview my grandmother, but she was unfortunately busy—so I’m really glad the generator chose you for me to write my comments about. It made me happy, because grandmothers truly are some of the funniest and sweetest people on Earth.
I almost had to double-check that I didn’t write your post myself because our grandmothers sound so alike—nine siblings, grew up around 1952, in a conservative, religious household (mine in Mayesville, South Carolina!). Growing up as her granddaughter, “How Great Thou Art” was a staple in our church home, so I couldn’t help but listen to it in full after reading your post. Such a lovely choice.
I also love that your grandmother shared her world with you when you were little. I can just imagine little you doing The Twist! It’s such a fun, get-up-and-move kind of song. As for “Brown Eyed Girl” by Van Morrison, I had never heard it before, but wow—it’s such a beautiful song. It feels like something you’d listen to while relaxing on a beach, soaking in life’s beauty.
I think it’s so special that your grandmother used to make pictures and sign them “Brown Eyed Girl.” That’s absolutely gorgeous and such a meaningful connection between you two. Truly beautiful. Hold her tight if you can—grandmothers are one of a kind.
Your love for her, and hers for you, shines through so clearly. It’s the kind of love that makes me believe your grandfather would be so proud of you—because he’s still with you, in spirit and in love.
reading this made me tear up! I really appreciate it!!
DeleteHey, Anna! I really enjoyed reading your post! Your grandmother sounds the coolest! I liked the story of how she was rebellious and snuck out to go skating and dancing. Listening to the song you shared, I can imagine the scene in my head. I also thought that it was so sweet that your grandfather dedicated such a beautiful song to your grandmother! Thank you for sharing!!
ReplyDeleteHey Anna! Your blog about Mimi was so great! I loved how you truly captured her personality and the love between her and your grandpa—blogs like this just warm my heart. The part about her coloring pictures for him and signing them "Your brown eyed girl" absolutely just struck me, it was so emotional and truly showed just how powerful music can be in memories. Your blog was so heartfelt, and truly portrayed a great story!
ReplyDeleteHi Anna! I absolutely love the connection you have with your Mimi! I think its so special how she taught you how to do "the twist" and I love that you have such a great bond with her. I love learning about her music and how she grew up with music!
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