My Mom died fourteen years ago. She was almost 101 years old, but I think of her most when I was a little girl. She had to carry the water nearly a block in order to wash clothes. My brother and I would help her whenever we were not in school. We carried pails full at a time and it took a long time to get the washing machine and two rinse tubs full enough. I remember falling down spilling the water all over me. Mom just laughed and told me she wouldn’t have to wash my dress, I had done it.

One day I invited all my friends to my birthday party. They all came. The trouble was I had never told Mom about the party. She was very frustrated, but she pretended all was ready. She sent my brother to get some ice cream. She had already baked a birthday cake for me so she spread out the cake and ice cream on our dining room table while we were playing outdoors. She even found some decorations to put on the table. After the party, Mom scolded me, but she smiled and said it was a good party and she didn’t have to worry about it ahead of time!

She was also my Sunday School teacher. I didn’t like that one bit because she expected me to know everything she asked the class. She would go around the class expecting a right answer but if she didn’t get one she’d call on me. I had better know the answer!

Mom never told me she loved me until one day she was on respite care in my home. I knew I was waiting for her to tell me she loved me. It seemed I was waiting for years to hear her say that. One day she raised her head off the pillow, looked me in the eye and said, “I love you, Yvonne. I cried and hugged her saying “I love you too, Mom.

The lesson for this week’s blog is this: Don’t wait until your loved one dies, tell them now you love them. And don’t wait telling God how much you love him. Days go into weeks.  weeks go into months and months go into years faster than you realize. Why not do it today?

We Marshallairs were Performing at a residence for Seniors last Thursday. It is our custom to go around the room visiting after we finished singing. Four or five people told me that they could hear the words for every song. I suppose that was because we sing the old songs and they remembered them but we sang some new songs too. Some of the songs we sang were  ; Lullaby of Broadway, a medley of songs written by Irving Berlin, The World is Waiting for the Sunrise, O Soldier Will You Marry me? The Old Lamplighter and Amazing Grace.

I am a fan of The Voice on Television and most of the songs they sing  those of today which my son says are familiar. I wouldn’t know because I can’t understand their words and it seems screeching rather than singing is the method of singing today. However, it’s fun to pick the winners and losers. Why is going up high and screeching so important? Just watch the judges. They  sit there listening until the screeching and loudness begins and all of the sudden they smile. Some of them even stand up! They are too excited to sit down. But they do listen to the voice of the person singing.

Why are the songs and ways of singing so different today? My grandchildren like to listen to Bing Crosby or Nat King Cole as much as I do. But they like the new music too. I am trying to like the new music, even the screeching and loudness. But I surely would like to understand their words. I have always thought that bringing the people you are trying to reach a message, whether it be a love song or a hymn. My son thinks it’s my ears but I don’t think so because when I hear a new song and the person singing is singing without screeching, I can understand the words. I still say “Let’s bring back the good old songs of the past.”