61 Years Ago....

 
What does 61 years look like?  When you think about it, 61 years can be overwhelming.  Six decades, (that's 60 years, for those of you from BBS) plus one, or as they probably said it back then... "three score and one years ago".  That's like, ancient history, right?

Today, my wonderful in-laws celebrate their 61st wedding anniversary. Not their birthday,... it's their ANNIVERSARY!   Can you even imagine, putting up with someone for that long?  What is it about them, and others like them?  Maybe there is something to the saying, "they just never got mad at each other at the same time".  Maybe it's an  "I've put up with him/her this long, what's another 50 years?" attitude.  Maybe it's plain old stubbornness, where they are going to stick together no matter what.

I think it might have something to do with the fact that they are always laughing.  At each other, with each other, it doesn't matter.  These people are always, joking, and most times they are laughing at themselves!  I don't think I have EVER seen him take offense to ANYTHING.  You can throw jabs at him, but he just laughs them off, and most times he agrees with you!  The incredible thing is that, she still laughs at all his jokes-- and she's not even senile!  You KNOW she's heard them over and over again, (I know I have!) but she still laughs at/with him!! 

It could be that there is a mutual respect that is instantly apparent.  He is still a gentleman, and is protective of her.  He may be 105 but if you disrespect her, he WILL kick your ass.  Ok, he's not 105, but he's close.  Also, she will readily admit that she is NOT a cook, but he always eats what he's given, and has never complained-not out loud, anyway.

Maybe it's just that there is a deep love there that has just never waivered.  I've heard that that has happened before.  Where two people find, in each other, comfort, trust, peace, respect, serenity, joy.  Where the other person accepts you for you, and you accept them for them. ....... Although, personally, I think she stays with him for the money. ;-)

So, to my in-laws, -and yes, they will always be my family (sorry folks!)- I wish you a very HAPPY 61st ANNIVERSARY.  I love you very much.  May you have many more!

My First Song

Growing up in Puerto Rico was a wonderful experience for me. We lived near a small town that was a bit isolated from the "real" civilization at the time.  We lived on 30 acres consisting of 3 mountains (they were actually probably more like "hills", but to us, they were mountains) encircling a valley. Our house was in the valley.  We didn't have Internet at the time (actually, Al Gore hadn't invented it yet), no phone, and not even a TV.  Actually, we had a TV but we never watched it.  We had a record player, and although we had a TON of records, I'm pretty sure they could all be classified into 4 categories: classical music, some ancient (even then, they were ancient!) Christmas music, Scott Joplin rag time, and John Phillips Sousa marching music. I'm pretty sure we had a radio, but I don't remember ever listening to it.  It could've been that, being in a valley, we just couldn't receive many radio stations, and the ones we did receive played music that my parents didn't like-it was their prerogative, they were the parents.  Whatever the reason, no radio.  Don't get me wrong,  I never thought anything of it.  I loved listening to all our records, and I never thought to ask what the dial and all the numbers on the hi-fi were for.  Besides, a radio was what my dad used to communicate with people at work, not for music.


Hi-Fi  similar to what we had.


Then one day, my world changed.  I was probably about 7 or 8 years old.  It was a little turquoise radio.  I don't know where it came from.  All I know is that I found it in my brother's room.  I asked what it was and he said, "It's a radio."  I said, "How do you talk into it?"  He said, "No, dummy, it just receives radio waves, it's not for talking."  I said, "Then how do you talk back to the people that talk to you?"  He said, "AY NENA!!  IT JUST PLAYS MUSIC!"  I then asked, "Can I borrow it?" and he said, "NO!"

So, I took it to my room when he wasn't watching and plugged it in. It took a second for the little tube to warm up, but when it did.  It was like the hallelujah chorus boomed around me! ....Well, it wasn't the hallelujah chorus, THAT was on one of the records I would listen too.  No, this was different. This was ... really different.  This was... very cool.  This was ... definitely NOT my parents' music!   I will never forget the very first song I heard on that radio. "Killing me softly"  by Roberta Flack.  That was the beginning of my love for "music with a beat". Classical music is beautiful, I have nothing against it, but THIS music woke me up.  THIS music made me want to move!! ... Not "Killing me softly" - so much- but the ones that came after that were AWESOME!  I was dancing around my room like... well, ... like...  a little girl dancing around her room.  I loved this music!  I was so into it,  I never wanted it to stop!

I got caught .  I must have had it a it up too loud because my brother barged into my room and took that "little turquoise box of awesome" from me after what had to be about 30 minutes.  I was so crushed, but I never forgot that taste of new foreign fruit.  Music that made you smile, music that didn't put you to sleep, music that made you want to dance!! I had had a taste of it and couldn't wait until I could steal that little radio again! And I did...often.



This is as close a picture as I can find

 It wasn't until a few years later that I actually got my very own radio. Then a few years after that, I got a STEREO!!   Music comes in many forms,  and you don't have to like what I like-- but then, I don't have to like what you like either.  I think we should just enjoy it, let it fill your soul with joy, and let us ALL dance like a little girl dancing around her room!