Blue Christmas - Porky Pig version

I miss him

https://youtu.be/pg7HvF3a_Iw?si=j2aTYIx6MI2rZJhI

My family, that is the family I grew up in, is what I call a “Musical Wannabe” family. We can all carry a tune - dad just carries his in a bucket. We all enjoy singing and many people would recognize what we are singing even though most of us don’t have great voices. My oldest brother, Wayne, has a beautiful trained voice. In contrast, my dad can rock out a barely passable rendition of “Go to sleepy little baby” from the Howdy Doody Show. (Showing my age here).

Just because we don’t sing beautifully in the traditional sense (or in any sense), nothing stops us from singing. We break out in song whenever a word is spoken. It only takes a word. ONE (singular sensation, every little step he takes. One thrilling combination, every move that he makes). That’s one we heard over and over again growing up from my mom, she loves musicals! For as long as I can remember, “there’s a song for everything” was spoken probably daily in our home. Mom’s love for music, more than likely, stems from her mother’s musical talent. Although I dont remember hearing her play when I was child, apparently my maternal Grandmother could play the piano by ear, which is an amazing talent! She didn’t know how to read music but she could play anything and even composed her own music including a Christmas song that I have on cassette tape.

When the radio wasn’t on or the turntable wasn’t belting out Barry Manilow, mom was singing something in my early years. Inevitably, us 4 kids were all introduced to music at a young age. Wayne learned guitar and took voice lessons and showed a ton of musical promise. He played French Horn and trumpet as he got older and even minored in music in his college years. Jill and I took piano lessons and then learned to play flute as well. Although I didn’t have a ton of talent, I was always fighting for 1st chair for flute in the little concert band I was in and I was one of the better piano players that my teacher instructed. In high school I was in our school Chorus where I learned I was NOT a soloist, but could blend well. Ben, I don’t believe, took any lessons but don’t let that fool you. He’s the maestro behind the Musical Wannabes. He’s the entertainer (youngest child) and gets us all singing in a tizzy.

A few months ago when I went home to Louisville we were all playing quite a spirited game of Uno (Jackey’s playing any game becomes competeive. Did you know some people don’t keep score at Uno? Like WHAT?…..hmmmm that will have to be another blog). And as I said before, any word throws us into a song. Someone threw down a Wild Card and named the color Blue, which led the 4 of us (mom, Jill, Ben and me) into Blue Christmas…ya know, the good ole Elvis version. But as we turn into verse two Ben stutters it into the Porky Pigs version. My brother is quite the impersonator…..he had this thing down pat! Holy crap, we were dying of laughter as he Bleh Bleh Blued his way through. If you have never heard it and are not easily offended listen to it above! I will never listen to any version of Blue Christmas without thinking of this day.

I’ve proudly passed the music on to my children. Christine plays flute/piccolo. Douglas learned guitar as a youngster, Hunter is my singer, Alan played drums and now has picked up another instrument that I don’t know if I’m allowed to share yet, and Alex is the proud owner of 6 guitars, a ukulele and a tenor ukulele who writes his own music and wants to produce in the future. I truly miss hearing music in my house….I would even if settle for those awful recorders they all learned how to play in grade school!

Music is still my favorite outlet. I have a piano (my grandma’s piano) that I don’t play anymore. I don’t have a flute anymore. I do have a voice that is perfect in an enclosed car. Although I’m terrible using my own words to explain how I feel, I can find a song that tells you how I feel in a split second. Music amazes me and it should amaze anyone who listens. HOW are there so many songs made out of just 8 notes. All songs come from just 8 notes. Think about the talent it takes to come up with something original, something that you’ve never heard before, to compose a brand new song…..out of 8 notes.

I’ve started a new adventure this week. Since there are so many guitars lying around while Alex is at bootcamp, I’ve decided to teach myself {with the help of the YouTube) how to play. So far I’ve learned 2 chords but I have faith in myself to bring music back to my home.

BTW, THAT SHIT HURTS YOUR FINGERS! Catch me in a few months when my fingers have callouses!