you look like a monkey....

and you smell like one too.



She may have been born in the wrong era. I always imagine her singing with the Andrews Sisters-


It was my mom's birthday on Saturday, the 18th. It is important to note that it was on the 18th. Not the 17th, the date I called to wish her happy birthday last year. Nor the 19th, the date of my birthday in August. It was (and is every year) the 18th, the same date as Kelli's birthday in November (this helps me remember).

Invariably, thinking of my mom leads to songs popping through my head. Similarly, certain tunes bring to mind my beautiful mother.

I frequently peruse youtube to listen to The Andrews Sisters, The Blues in the Night (My mama done tol' me, when I was in pigtails, my mama done tol' me hon...), Popcorn Poppin' on the Apricot Tree, We're Different (with a fish hat on), any Raffi song, any blues song, any Lyle Lovett song, any church song, any song. I listen to music from my childhood on youtube, a shabby replacement for mom, the real thing. I am taken right back to the old piano. The wooden bench with the handmade cushion on top. It flipped up to reveal hidden piano music including The Entertainer, Makin' Whoopie, every Sonata you could think of. To a little girl this was magical- a bench that held all of the beautiful music my mom would play to wake us up. Music I did not yet know how to play. I would try-- she shook her head and muttered something about inappropriate one day when I was plunking out Making Whoopie. She would shout down to me That's supposed to be a sharp. or You've got to get the rhythm right on that part. I would argue ademently that I was playing it right. How did she always know?!? She would come down and help me play. She would play duets with me. My mom who could play anything would play elementary duets. It felt so cool.

Kelli and my mom would sing at the piano and a little jealousy would strike. (an aside: I also remember my mom telling Kelli, excitedly, that there are awesome acoustics in one specific corner of the master batch tub area). I was always embarassed when I sang, so I would listen. When I played the piano a little better I would play for them and they would sing. They would patiently slow down and speed up as my clumsy fingers would trip over the wrong keys or make up their own tempo.

I picture her dancing around in the kitchen. Me lowering my head, loving it but trying to be embarassed of her liveliness. She has a voice that makes me want to dance and curl up on my parent's couch at the same time. She has a love of this music that makes me wish I knew how to love that much.

I love you mom. Thank you for teaching us to love everyone, to love music, to love life.

Happy Birthday.