"Vintage" can be defined in so many ways– it represents a past time, maybe something old fashioned or even something that is considered the best of its kind.
I would consider myself old-fashioned … and this handkerchief symbolizes the renewal of the past in my marriage to Jerry. It represents the feeling that we had, and have for each other. That we still see in each other the innocent, lovely young person that we once were forty years ago … and it has given me tremendous hope for my future … that my marriage to Jerry will be the best of its kind.
I want to tell you about this wonderful beautiful man … but before I do, I want to tell you a little about my family. But first, thank my friends and family who saw me through a rough couple of years … and particularly my sister, Sandy and my mother, Margaret. I would not be standing here, marrying the love of my life, if it weren’t for you.
Many of you may not know but I have 1 sister and 3 brothers. We grew up with music in the background of our lives – my mother, Margaret, brought home the album soundtracks of THE SOUND OF MUSIC, JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR, and HAIR. I used to sing along to all the songs, singing them to entertain the young folk of the Broadway ES playground … of course, I didn’t know that, particularly where HAIR is concerned there are just some songs that are not appropriate for the playground … thank you Miss Gifford, for setting me straight on that one. I didn’t know what the words meant … I still don’t … mostly.
My mother also brought home Herb Albert and the TJ Brass- my father, Ken would dance to it [show] … there was also Peter Paul and Mary, I used to torment my brother Stuart aka Buzz with the song, “Ole Stewball was a race horse” with “ole Stewball was a brother, and I wish he weren’t mine …” OR the Mousekeeters Favorites … I dedicated the following song – ANNETTE to my brother Ken … “whose the little lady that’s as dainty as a bee, whose the one you can’t forget, I’ll give you just 3 guesses, Kennette, Kennette, Kennette …” I had no song for my sister, Sandy, I just cut all her hair off at 2, I was 4, it bored me, and I dressed my brother Ed up in girls clothing, and called him Edwina.
But there was this one album –HOOTENANNY AND THE HIGHWAY MEN … I practically memorized it. There was one song I used to listen to and even taught myself to play on the guitar – it’s in a very very minor key … it was called THE OLD MAID SONG. It’s a sad Irish folk song about a woman who at 6 and 40 still hoped for a man who knew her well, loved her well, and lived with her into old age. Her time was running out. It struck me even at 11 that was never a fate I wanted for myself.
Throughout the next 30 plus years I’d pick up my guitar and play the song … no matter what relationship I was in or not in – the song always rang true to me and it made me long for something, for someone, and well … sad.
About a month ago, I picked up the guitar and played the song … or tried to … and … it bored me. I didn’t feel it anymore … I didn’t feel like the song had truth for me … and it’s because of this man. This beautiful, slender, wonderful man .. He knows my faults, sees my warts, and loves me anyway. More importantly, he sees in me, and I see in him, the lovely, optimistic young person we once were 40 years ago, and I love him more than I could ever tell you or him. But … and in a full circle moment, showing how music still continues to have a place in my family, I’d like to try.
