All day today I have been trying to decide which memory of Mother to cite here. Many came to mind, but as I thought about and prayed for her many times today, the subject that kept returning was music! I am always so grateful for the musical gifts God gave her and she, in turn, gave to each of us...each in our own way. For me it was singing. Here's what I remembered with such great fondness today and probably have never shared with any of you.
When I was in 4th grade at Antioch Grade School in Auburn, and all of 8 years old, in 1947, I was asked to sing a solo for the Christmas Music Program. Back then we all sang traditional Christmas music. The program was in the afternoon during the school day. I was to sing a solo with the children's choir humming in the background and Wilda King playing the piano for "O, Holy Night." Naturally, I was well prepared for my solo part with Mother having coached me for weeks. I knew my part well. Mother was there, all dressed up with hat and gloves, in the audience in the Music Room at Antioch ready for the program to begin. As the choir began and started to "humm" and as I was about to step forward from the choir to sing my well-prepared solo, I had a terrible case of stage fright. Mother was sitting there, head slightly tilted, probably praying that all would go as rehearsed, and I couldn't sing a note on cue! I was horribly frozen! The choir continued to "humm," Wilda King continued to play the intro again and again. Finally, I was able to find the nerve and began to sing. All I remember was seeing Mother sitting there encouraging me with her smile and probably her prayers. I finally got through it all, but I know it was only because of her presence and the grace of God that I was able to sing!!
I will never forget it, and Mother never did say one negative thing about it. She told me when I got home from school that it was "lovely." Can't you just hear her?? Thank you, Mother. You were the best!!!
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
4 comments:
Oh, Marge, this so sweet I could cry! Certainly I do remember the music room at Antioch school and the programs where the children marched in grade by grade, spotted their own mother (in those days only the mothers attended!), and sang with Wilda King at the piano.
I was never chosen for a solo thankfully. I probably would have cried and Mother would have had extra Kleenex for me!!!
Wonderful story Marge.
Oh, Geege - I'm tearing up a little just reading this. What a sweet and wonderful story! I've never heard this one before. I'm sure she was so, so proud of you. I didn't know Miss King was an elementary teacher back then - Joe and I both had her for Earth Science and Biology in high school.
Thanks for sharing this wonderful story!
Anne, FYI, Wilda King always taught high school science. However, since she played the piano so well, one of her "duties as assigned" was to accompany programs and teach elementary music. We had one hour of music at Antioch in the Music Room one day each week. I'm sure she had a slightly reduced teaching schedule at the high school in order to serve the music needs of elementary students. I always loved music day!
Wilda King was one of only a few teachers all four of us had. I loved her for Biology. I enjoyed making a leaf collection with samples from all over Auburn. Her enthusiasm for teaching/learning is what I remember most! She truly loved her work and gave so much to thousands of Auburn students of all ages!
Mother always complemented Wilda (Miss King) on her natural ear because she could change the key of music to suit a soloist and many pianists cannot do that. Of course Mother could. In other words, Wilda Wildflower King was always on the "A" list for the Ely Family.
Post a Comment