My Mother's Memories

Three generations of mothers and daughters,

(my grandmother), Edna Woodard,(my great aunt), Elsie Sanford Brown , (my great grandmother) Grandma Thompson, (my mother) Patricia Woodard Hunt, (my great aunt) Mabel, and (my aunt) Roberta

In 1980, the Springfield 'Morning Union' paper, ran an article in the reader's exchange about an old Indian love song called "Red Wing". The song was written in 1907, words by Thurland Chattaway and music my Kerry Mills, and tells the story of an Indian maiden 'weeping her heart away' because her brave warrior did not return from battle.

I know this song well, as my mother used to sing it often, as did my grandmother. It was my sister's favorite. But more interesting than the article about the song, was what my mother wrote in response to songs, music and the memories she had of them.

She said this:

"In our home the song was sadly sung by a little girl while her mother played the piano. We spent many happy hours at the piano with the family chorus. We loved the old songs. I shall ever be grateful to my mother and grandmother for giving us the joy of singing together. I can hear us all now, my father's deep voice, my mother's alto, and our high young voices blending as we sang, "Show Me the Way to Go Home", The Man on the Flying Trapeze, The Holy City and oh so many more."

"We sang our way through childhood, adolescence, and the difficult World War days. Mother doesn't play anymore except in her heart, but her love, shown through music, has enriched our lives and the lives of our children. Television can never replace the cameraderie of our old upright piano with Mother playing its yellowing ivory keys."

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