Tenor Sax Man and Piano Woman

for my parents

They studied together so it was natural that they became friends,
the football player who needed an algebra tutor,
the valedictorian who lived a mere two blocks away.

Later, as Jazz musicians in the same band,
     when taking their breaks,
     the tenor sax man always made his way toward the piano player.
He, a tall blonde with blue eyes,
     and she “5’2”, Eyes of Blue”, he’d sing that song against her hair of raven black.
     I have a picture of that.

They were given three girls.
It was Dad’s best friend, the doc,
who came into the waiting room after #3,
shaking his head, “Sorry, Jess, it’s another girl.” That was me.
“I love little girls,” he laughed and winked at his brothers with their sons.

They never once told me they didn’t want me.
Never once told me I was wrong.
I was made to feel most wanted, apple of my father's eye.
There is only faith and love and laughter to remember.

Dad busied himself frantically making sure his family wouldn’t lack for care.
I don’t know how he guessed.
Was it a premonition or some goal he set?
Managing farmland, owning gasoline station, managing counties of
insurance business, dabbling in stock market,
buying real estate,
he worked like a mad man who knew his own fate was bearing down
at breakneck speed.
As if he guessed such a loving Ozzie and Harriet home could never last.
As if Satan himself were jealous of all we had.

To us it came as a heartbreaking, life shattering surprise
That he was gone at only forty-five.

Noble, brave widow, and mother of his three,
Mama finished raising us alone. It must have felt so awfully alone.
She became both mother and father, and always gentle and fair.
Even with the troublesome last one, me.
Teaching music and playing organ at church, she was loved by the community
As much as by us.
She was asked to go on dates, but couldn’t go out with others.
“I tried,” she told me when I asked her why, “but no one could compare
to Jesse. It wouldn’t be fair.”


During World War II he had written long love letters that much later were shared with me. Not with #1 or #2, just with me, little number three...

     Yellowed paper, carefully hidden away, and tied together in special box.
All began teasingly, “My Sweet little Sparrow”… “My Dear little Squaw”,
After we’d read them tears slid silently down her cheeks.
You could see the memories in her eyes.
“When I’m gone, they’re not meant for anyone else to see.”
So she burned them all.
“Keep your memories in your heart.”
She sighed at me as she watched pieces of her letters
float away into the night.
A pile of ashes, all that was left,
I took to his grave to bury beside him,
between where they will lie side by side,
The wind had no right to blow such loving words away.

At ninety-four she still waits.
Very pious, very patient, still bright and kind
Those blue eyes get misty when she plays
songs that were theirs.
“I’m ready for death,” she smiles wistfully.
“I know where I’m going, I know who’ll be there, and I have no regrets.”
I don’t know how she can be so very sure,
But I find solace in her strength and in her smile.
It’s troublesome #3 that will have trouble letting go,
Not a moment will Mama hesitate, not a sigh of death will she not embrace.

     There’s a description in the Bible of what a woman should be:
     a picture of my mother in words.
     There are passages in the Bible of what a man should be:
     a picture of my father in words.

 

 

Reviews

[Helen Woodward]

How refreshingly touching #3! I really like this, You wrote it in block paragraphs, which I love as it's neat and compliments your work... some of your dialogue indents are too far in, just type as normal and when you add the quotation marks it will indent automatically.
2nd & last paragraphs need to be squared off.....
What a woman, your mum, ninety four not out, good for her. I can identify even though it hasn't been a year...There will never be anyone else for me, some people are simply irreplaceable.
What a heart-felt story about a loving family xx
Cheers,
Helen.

[Lydia Shutter]

This is a gorgeous love story....and a wonderful tribute to your parents. ""Keep your memories in your heart." " Your mom is a very wise lady. You are so fortunate to have grown up with parents like this....your words exude love and respect. Thank you for sharing their story with us. Lydia

[Arlene Fleisher]

Loved reading this story. Thanks so much for sharing it with us.

[Staci Brown]

[color=indigo]
This a beautiful tribute to your mom and dad! You have a talent for words!!!

Faerie Blessings!
[/color]

[Being.john.sweet~The Ev..]

this is so very reverent and pure, tears were brought forth from my eyes, true love such as this is a rare gem indeed, blessed you are to have such parents. peace be with you, i enjoyed every word as much as i like chocolate!
thanks!

[Erotic Goddess]

They studied together so it was natural that they became friends,
the football player who needed an algebra tutor,
the valedictorian who lived a mere two blocks away.

This is such a great story. I loved reading this. Thank you so much for sharing this with me. :)

[TL Boehm]

A pile of ashes, all that was left,
I took to his grave to bury beside him,
between where they will lie side by side,
The wind had no right to blow such loving words away.

Incredibly penned and heartfelt. That part above especially brought on the tears - your words resonate and pull up thoughts of my own family. This one reads like a greater story....beautiful work.

[Crap!]

Excellent write. This was beautiful and touching and a true honor to both your parents. I felt a touch of kinship, having a daughter of my own and knowing how special she is to me.You have a splendid way with words and their subtleties. A pure pleasure to read!

[the ghost of pauls]

Superb. Technically perfect. Controlled tone, the emotion never descends into cliche or sentimentality. Clean and true. You have achieved a distance from your subject which has allowed you to honestly express a grand emotion using subtle detail. There are many attempts at this subject in the cafe, but this is easily the best that I have seen.

[Tawny O'hara]

This is a beautiful love story. I have no such love stories and such as this one is rare. To bad we all have trouble finding the love like they use to. Maybe we are not the women we use to be, and we don't bend as easily as once women did. But now we break apart because of that lack of bending. I cried at the end.
There�s a description in the Bible of what a woman should be,
a picture of my mother in words.
There are passages in the Bible of what a man should be,
a picture of my father in words.
This was the heart breaker and the smile etcher. Thank you for letting me read it

[*** Hey Jude***]

This is a great reminder of how important families can be. I think we are a product of our environment. Its obvious you have had wonderful parents who Im sure are very proud of you. What a beautiful tribute! ~ J