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Tag Archives: Songs

My.Daily.Distraction ~ Post 151: Lucky Stars

22 Sunday Mar 2015

Posted by duckykoren in Astronomy, Childhood, Fiction, literature, Money, Music, Poetry, saving, Science, Society, songs

≈ 5 Comments

Tags

allowance, astronomy, binoculars, fathers, ice cream, money, Music, piggy bank, Science, Songs, stars, Toronto, universe

I am one of the lucky ones.

This is because when I was seven years old my Father saw to it that I had my own pair of binoculars.

First, he planted the seed that lit the spark.

He always talked about stars, and the moon and the sun. I was barely four years old when my Father would take me for evening walks down Dufferin street, in a popular Toronto suburb. As we walked, he would point to the moon and the stars and tell me how far away they were and how glorious and mysterious this universe was.

He even taught me a little German children’s song called “Weiss Du Wie Viel Sternlein Stehen.”

We would sing it together as we walked the circumference of our apartment building while out for our evening walks.

The melody was lovely, and the sentiment equally so.

Try to imagine me as a four year old child, stumbling through the following German verse:

Weißt du, wieviel Sternlein stehen
An dem blauen Himmelszelt?
Weißt du, wieviel Wolken gehen
Weithin über alle Welt?
Gott der Herr hat, sie gezählet,
Dass ihm auch nicht eines fehlet
An der ganzen großen Zahl,
An der ganzen großen Zahl.

Which in English translates into:

Do you know how many little stars there are
In the wide blue sky?
Do you know how many clouds
There are over the whole wide world?
The Lord God counted them so well,
That none are missing
From the whole big lot of them,
From the whole big lot of them.

My imagination had been sparked.

Then, I started receiving an allowance of ten cents a week when I was five years old.

My father had procured a ceramic piggy bank into which each week we would both ceremoniously insert a dime. This allowance was earned by making my bed, brushing my teeth, and generally for being a good girl.

From time to time, family and friends would give me small monetary gifts, a quarter here, a nickel there. Once, I received a dollar from a Grandparent in a birthday card.

“This is for ice cream,” read my Grandmother’s all too familiar handwriting script.

However, I knew better. Dad’s rules were that should I ever receive any money, half had to be saved. Happily, that still left me enough money for an ice cream cone at the local Dairy Queen.

By the time I was seven old I had saved six dollars. Not long after that, my Father saw a newspaper flyer advertising binoculars on sale at Canadian Tire. He told me that the magnification was very powerful, but I had no idea what that meant.

The price was $14.

Dad and I had an agreement that as long as I kept saving for a pair of binoculars he would help pay for half.

Luckily Dad was so excited about these new binoculars he was willing to throw in the last two dollars that I needed.

I remember the first time that I held those binoculars. They were heavy, shiny, black, and well made. That was a time before everything was made of plastic.

Those binoculars lasted almost fifty years.

An unfortunate fall from a high closet smashed it into two.

I was heartbroken, and kept a small piece of the leather strap as a memento.

It wasn’t until 20 years ago I read Antoine De Saint Exupery’s book, THE LITTLE PRINCE, for the first time.

He swept me away with his simple yet eloquent writer’s voice.

It was in his quiet narrative that I realized that I was indeed one of the lucky ones.

At the beginning of the book the main character explains how he once made a simple drawing.

This picture to everyone else looked like a plain ordinary fedora style hat.

But it was not a hat.

What he had actually drawn was a snake who had just eaten an elephant.

Then he writes:

I have lived a great deal among grown-ups. I have seen them intimately, close at hand. And that hasn’t much improved my opinion of them.

Whenever I met one of them who seemed to me at all clear-sighted, I tried the experiment of showing him my drawing number one, which I have always kept. I would try to find out, so, if this was a person of true understanding. But, whoever it was, he, or she, would always say: that is a hat. Then I would nevertalk to him about Boa constrictors, or primeval forest, or stars. I would bring myself down to his level. I would talk to him about bridge, and golf, and politics, and neckties. And the grown-up would be greatly pleased to have met such a sensible man.

This passage was an epoch in my life.

For years, I felt myself strange that I could sit in a circle of women at work who were endlessly discussing their searches for store coupons, pretty window dressings, the latest gossip, and feel completely alone. They became silent when I voiced my passion for social justice, reading, writing, and science.

In time, I began to eat alone.

That’s when I began to seek out like minded people, who In St. Exupery’s words I could about talk about…

Boa constrictors, or primeval forest, or stars…

I found them, or rather, we found each other.

Yes, I am one of the lucky ones…

I have been since I was four years old when my Father taught me a song about stars during an evening walk that lit the spark that led to a love of astronomy, primevil forests, children’s songs, and Antoine De Saint Exupery.

Thank you Father.

Thank you Friends.

X

My.Daily.Diversion ~ Post Eighty-Four: We Need More Song Cues

13 Tuesday Jan 2015

Posted by duckykoren in Children, Children's Education, Education, Entertainment, Music

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

Bram, Children, Family, Happy Thoughts, Lois, Nylons, Schnitzel House, Sharon, Sharon Lois And Bram, Singing, song cues, Songs, Television, The Elephant Show, The Nylons, tickle, variety shows

Does anyone remember singing?

No one ever seems to sing anymore.

There was a time when I couldn’t even walk to my fridge before a television variety show song cue introduced yet another famous celebrity singing a show tune.

But no more.

I know for a fact that there are lots and lots of fun little songs out there that can be sung alone or with someone else.

Singing was something people use to do to pass the time, to raise spirits, bring comfort, and to praise.

And who doesn’t enjoy a pretty melody from time to time?

One of my favourite joys are children’s shows which are always introducing youngsters to music. The lyrics are ridiculously easy to remember and they are humorous as well.

My kids were raised on Sharon Lois and Bram, the ones who gave us ‘The Elephant Show’ best known for it’s theme song:

‘Skinamarinkadink’.

If you have never heard them sing this song, then in my opinion…

…you have not lived.

Do yourself a favour and Google it one day. And while you’re at it be sure and look up their episode of when one of my favourite bands, THE NYLONS appeared on their show and sang “The Lion Sleeps Tonight.” Even Johnny Carson was bowled over with their version of that song.

And when I was young it was Sesame Street, Mister Rogers, Mr. Dressup, Howdy Doody, Captain Kangaroo, that got everyone singing.

Now, when I was a child, there was one song that was our personal family favourite. Every now and again my Father would reach back in time and dust off this wonderfully silly song decades later and take it for a test drive. Of course, I would always join in.

Grampa Schnitzel would both begin and end his half hour children’s show with these following tuneful lyrics:

‘The Schnitzel House’

“Is this not a little mouse?
Ya, this is a little mouse,
Is this not a Schnitzel House?
Ya this is a Schnitzel House,

…Little Mouse
…Schnitzel House

Inky dinky inky dinky
Inky dinky
Schnitzel House.”

You know, just writing that out gave me a tickle.

I really should take my own advice and sing that song every day.

Guaranteed happy thoughts…

Certainly, something this world can use a little more of.

My.Daily.Distraction ~ Post Eighty-Three: A Child’s Fable… “Harry Canary”

12 Monday Jan 2015

Posted by duckykoren in birds, Fable, flying, Science Fiction, singing, Stories

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Tags

birds, cage, Cats, fables, families, flying, Science Fiction, Singing, Songs, Stories

Harry Canary was born in that tiny little nest at a small pet store just like any other pet store you have visited.

His first vision was of three other little eggs just like the one he had hatched from.

Those eggs would be his two brothers Larry canary, Gary canary and sister, Mary canary.

Before long, the nest became very noisy with the constant peeping of the new little canaries Larry, Gary, Harry, and Mary. They kept mother, Cherry Canary very busy with her babies constant chirps to be fed.

Mother Canary it was very attentive to her new babies and was always feeding them.

Harry Canary however, was the loudest and the strongest.

Above his brother’s and sister’s peeps he’d cry:

“Peep peep peep
Cheep cheep cheep
Feed my beak or I won’t sleep.”

His little brothers and sister peeps were always drowned out by his loud cries for his Mother’s attention.

Before long, Harry Canary was the fattest of the four little birdies. Indeed he almost took up one third of the entire nest with his brothers and sisters almost being half his size.

More and more the mother Cherry Canary tried to satisfy Harry Canary’s hunger as he was almost always demanding more and more food.

And so it went until the little babies and not so little Harry Canary were almost ready to leave the nest.

Then came the day when the pet store owner forgot to properly close the cage after filling the mother canary’s seed cup with birdseed.

With the flutter of wings, mother canary found the open door which led to beautiful spring day outside.

She was quickly followed by Larry, Gary, and Mary canary.

They had all flown away leaving Harry Canary in the birdcage all by himself.

Harry tried once, twice, three times to fly out of the cage to follow them but found he could not because he grown too fat.

Alas, Harry was not able to fly. And so, in the cage she stayed until the pet store owner found the cage containing fat little Harry Canary.

One day, a family came into the store, and bought Harry Canary and took them to a brand-new birdcage in their home where they fed him lots and lots of birdseed.

To this very day he sings this song for his supper:

HARRY CANARY’S SONG

“Peep peep peep
Cheep cheep cheep
Fill my beak or I won’t sleep
I can sing, I can chat
Just don’t feed me to the cat.”

Post 70: JOY STORY

23 Tuesday Dec 2014

Posted by duckykoren in Books, Christmas, Family, History, Reading, Stories, Teaching

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

#joy, Baking, boy, butter, chickens, Christmas, cows, donkey, Family, Farm, farmer, fathers, fire, flour, furniture, goats, Good Fortune, grateful, Happiness, hats, horse, Knitting, love, mitts, Mother, nuts, scarves, Shopping, Songs, Sweaters, Travel, vanilla

A long time ago my Father told me about a book he had once read.

The book had been required reading for his teaching degree.

He told me the following story, and he told it well.

To this day I can remember how it’s profound wisdom humbled me.

The only thing that my Father could not remember about this story was the title of the book and who wrote it.

Should you recognize this story and happen to know it’s title and/or author, please let me know….

This story begins with a family living high in the rural mountains. A farmer lived in a small house with his wife and son.

They raised chickens and goats and owned several cows.

They lived off the land.

In the book, the young boy talks about the family preparations for Christmas.

This young boy is anticipating the impending trip into town which will be made the following day. The journey into town will be a long arduous trek down the mountain made with a horse and a donkey.

Anticipation of this trip…

…brought him joy.

Tomorrow morning, he told himself… everyone will rise very early. Mother will have my clean clothes all prepared.

The next day, as Father and Son prepare to leave, Mother handed her son the list of items needed to do the Christmas baking.

The list was simple and short.

He opened a piece of paper and read what was written on it.

Sugar, flour, spices, oranges, nuts, vanilla.

As he read her list…

…he felt joy.

Warmly bundled they began their long journey down the mountain. The trip into town did not happen often but when it did the boy really enjoyed the time he spent with his father.

As they meandered through the crunchy snow on the downward trail…

…he felt joy.

Upon arriving into town they entered the dry goods store with shopping list in hand.

The young boy always enjoyed wandering through the store. There was so many lovely things to look at, so many practical things to wish for.

Just being inside the store…

…brought him joy.

Once all the items had been procured, Father and son returned to the horse and donkey and begin their long slow trip back up the mountain to their home.

Outside, it was much colder now. But the boy was comfortably at ease in spite of the cold weather because of all his warm clothing. He was grateful for his Father’s old coat and his Mother’s knitted sweater, mitts, hat, gloves and socks.

And as he thought of his Mother knitting beside the fire…

…it brought him joy.

At last, Father and son arrived home again.

The newly purchased items were ceremoniously carried inside the house and presented to Mother.

The boy reveled in his Mother’s happiness and he felt blessed to have such wonderful parents.

And as his mind acknowledged the love he had for his family…

…he felt great joy.

In the next two days the smell of his Mother’s baking filled the entire house.

His senses were filled with cinnamon, nutmeg, orange and vanilla.

And as he helped his Mother prepare the dough for baking, he marvelled at how silky the flour and butter felt as he ran it through his fingers.

And this too…

…brought him joy.

As he watched the cookies warming themselves in the oven he thought his heart would burst with Christmas joy.

It was Christmas Eve, and he was truly happy.

Then, the young boy thought to himself:

I can only imagine all the children who are more fortunate than I…

…These children whose parents can provide them with money, expensive clothes and toys, and big fancy houses filled with beautiful furniture.

These children who have a hundred times the possessions that I have…

Just think of how much happier they must be than I am right now…

❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤

My.Daily.Distraction ~ Post 65: “Big Mama”

19 Friday Dec 2014

Posted by duckykoren in Automobiles, Cars, Poems, Poetry

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Tags

Automobiles, Carnivals, Cars, Chesapeake Bay, Chicago, Mama, Music, Poems, Poetry, Rhymes, Songs, Tissue Flowers, Verse, Virginia, Wedding Chapel

In ’72 my Mother bought herself a sweet Grand Prix
Biggest car you ever did see
We knew that we were in for lots of fun and drama
The day my Mother told us that she named her:

“Big Mama”…

Way back in the summer in ’74
Big Mama took us cruising on the Chesapeake shore
My four Carroll Sisters were the sweetest little cuties
As we raised the car roof while singing to the Doobies…

Quiet Kim could always put our hearts aglow
We begged baby Sister Doe to give us a little show
How we laughed till we cried when she sang us “Disco Duck”
Pappy called us all trouble
And we didn’t give a cluck…

And then there was the time in fall ’75
Up to the Fair Big Mama did drive
I talked up all the Carnies and flirted all night
While Cindi and Crystie danced in the moonlight…

On the last summer days of ’76
We had rum on our tongue and smoke on our lips
And Big Mama’s stereo was cranked good and loud
To Chicago’s chart topper
“If You Leave Me Now”…

To me, Summer ’77 was Big Mama’s finest hour
It had nothing to do with her size or her power
Pappy dressed up in tissue flowers and she looked so fine
And then she got me to the wedding chapel on time…

Well, Big Mama got old and she’s now long gone
Sister Cindi asked if I could write Big Mama a song
It took two days for me to write these little old rhymes
So we could remember Big Mama and all the good times…

❤ * ❤ * ❤ * ❤ * ❤ * ❤

My.Daily.Distraction ~ Post 30: The Choir

22 Saturday Nov 2014

Posted by duckykoren in Diversity, Equality, History, Human Rights, Lyrics, Music, Poetry, Verse

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Tags

Choir, Cowards, Diversity, Doris Day, Dr. Martin Luther King, Equality, Heartbreak, Lyrics, MLK, Mother, Music, Poetry, Que sera sera, Songs, Tears, Verse, We Shall Overcome

When I was a young girl Mother kept saying to me
Que sera sera
What will be will be
That’s not the kind of thing that you tell a young girl
With her head in the clouds over a sinister world
What does a weak mind do with those cowardly words
Succumb to the voices, throw down their cards…

Oh….

I remember the night when they shot Dr. King
There was heartbreak and tears, still I heard the choir sing
The mourners stood tall, and they all stood as one…

Singing…

We shall overcome…
We shall overcome…

I didn’t listen to her then and I don’t listen now
My spirits unbroken
My head is unbowed
After all this time their clear voices still ring
They’ve drowned out my Mother and still louder they sing
Almost fifty years on and these words are still true
We’re still climbing that mountain Dr. King told us to…

We Are Singing…

We shall overcome…
We shall overcome…

My.Daily.Diversion ~ Post 9: ‘Let My People Go’

10 Monday Nov 2014

Posted by duckykoren in Family, Humour, Movies, Quotes, Religion

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

Bible, Cousins, Family, Fun, German, grandfathers, Humour, Insight, Moses, Music, Poetry, Rhymes, Songs, The Ten Commandments, Verse

One never knows how a story will present itself or when.

Case in point:

It was not that long ago when I was relating to a friend a story about my Grandfather, who was a tailor by trade until he was called into the ministry.

Grandfather had a flair for good humoured drama as demonstrated by one of his favourite Charlton Heston quotes from the movie ‘The Ten Commandments.’

He also had a talent for making up little jingles and verses.

One of his favourite rhymes went like this:

(Oh… If only I could hear him bellow this out like he had when I was a child)

“Let my people go…

…Dann sind wir alle froh!”

Unfortunately the humorous German punchline does not translate all that well into English.

But let me take a shot at it anyway:

“Let my people go…
Then let the good times roll!”

(Actually, that turned out pretty good.)

So now, on with my story:

After I had finished explaining my grandfathers penchant for talking in rhyme using the above example my friend utterly floored me with his response:

“Gee, your Grandfather was the world’s first rap artist.”

I was completely undone with his wonderful and witty insight.

Long story short…

You cannot imagine how much this truthful iconic statement will be a continual source of joyful warm fuzzy giggles until the end of my days.

Unless of course, you’re one of my dear cousins.

In that case of course…

I hope my friend’s insight brings you the same joy as well.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

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