My English cousin John sent me an audio cassette last week. I searched and searched, and could find nothing in the house to play it on. Can you imagine?
Finally, today, Jim brought home a jam box from School--an old one that still plays cassettes.
I have been listening to my mother's voice.
For Christmas of 1966, Aunt Joan, John's mother, and Aunt Zoe, her sister, had sent us a tape of their voices, rather than send the usual letter. We were instructed to tape over it and send it back. It contains John's, Mom's, Dad's and my voices. We all sound very stilted, and, in Mom and Dad's case, it may have been the first time their voices were ever recorded. They wrote out what they wanted to say, and read it.
John and I were more at ease with the technology, but not much. I remember being taped in school, and hating the sound of my voice.
But, this tape is a treasure. Stilted as it is, it has my parents' voices. It has been almost 30 years since I last heard my mother's voice, and 11 since my dad died.
I am blown away.
Thank you, John!
I've got tears in my eyes, Ronni. What a beautiful, priceless gift.
ReplyDeleteIt's just been one year this past Tuesday that my own Mom passed away. I've been tempted to play her old answering machine tapes to hear her voice again. I know it's going to be emotional.
Bless your heart, Ronni.
There's never a good time to lose your mom.
ReplyDeleteThose answering machine tapes will be bittersweet.
You have the solace of knowing you did your very best for her, you know.
Thank you, Ronni. That means a lot to me.
ReplyDeleteI could not have done what you did. She was blessed with you.
ReplyDeleteWhat an amazing gift! What I wouldn't give to hear my mother's voice again! Is there a way for you to record it to something else so that you have a backup?
ReplyDeleteJessica, my husband is going to put it on a cd for me.
ReplyDelete