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Song a Day Meme: Day 29
May. 4th, 2011 09:30 amBefore elementary school and then over weekends and summers during elementary, I often spent the night at my maternal grandparent's house. They lived a trivial drive away and, when I was older, a fairly trivial bike ride away from our house. One of the rituals at their house, one in which my sister and I participated in for as long as I can remember, is Polkas and coffee with breakfast.
Granted, "coffee: for my little sister and me consisted of a teacup of milk and sugar with a few tablespoons of coffee, but it was exciting for us. And, despite warnings from horrified well-meaning adults that it would stunt our growth, Pamela and I are very glad we took the chance, since we're both tall. I fear what my height might have been if I'd skipped drinking coffee in those formative years ;).
Both Polkas and coffee are now indelibly linked to those days with my Grandma and Grandpa. There was an almost palpable sense of love and another feeling which I wasn't actually aware of as a child, but recognize now -- a feeling of perfect security. When Grandma made the coffee and put on the Polkas and Grandpa made breakfast (especially pancakes), the whole world was wrapped up in a cocoon of love and safety; nothing could possibly get me. It's a feeling I can re-live in memories, but which I'm afraid I'll never be able to experience firsthand again.
I have identified at least two sources for the Polkas; Marion Lush (aka "The Golden Voice of Polkas") and Bobby Vinton. My favorites were from Mr. Lush, however, because to me his voice was just like Grandpa's (or maybe Grandpa's was just like his). I have since discovered that Mr. Lush performed dances other than Polkas, namely Obereks and Waltzes, we still, as a family, refer to everything he performed as "Polkas". Today's song, "Just Say Dzien Dobry", is from my childhood with the best of memories.
( Results to date: )
Granted, "coffee: for my little sister and me consisted of a teacup of milk and sugar with a few tablespoons of coffee, but it was exciting for us. And, despite warnings from horrified well-meaning adults that it would stunt our growth, Pamela and I are very glad we took the chance, since we're both tall. I fear what my height might have been if I'd skipped drinking coffee in those formative years ;).
Both Polkas and coffee are now indelibly linked to those days with my Grandma and Grandpa. There was an almost palpable sense of love and another feeling which I wasn't actually aware of as a child, but recognize now -- a feeling of perfect security. When Grandma made the coffee and put on the Polkas and Grandpa made breakfast (especially pancakes), the whole world was wrapped up in a cocoon of love and safety; nothing could possibly get me. It's a feeling I can re-live in memories, but which I'm afraid I'll never be able to experience firsthand again.
I have identified at least two sources for the Polkas; Marion Lush (aka "The Golden Voice of Polkas") and Bobby Vinton. My favorites were from Mr. Lush, however, because to me his voice was just like Grandpa's (or maybe Grandpa's was just like his). I have since discovered that Mr. Lush performed dances other than Polkas, namely Obereks and Waltzes, we still, as a family, refer to everything he performed as "Polkas". Today's song, "Just Say Dzien Dobry", is from my childhood with the best of memories.
( Results to date: )
