Found another book I never returned to a friend who died a year or so ago. Tell you what, if I ever die suddenly and you’re one of the people that still has one, or some, of the books, music or recordings I’ve lent out over the past decades, feel free to keep them. No guilt. You still have them because they probably mean more to you than they do to me. And no one will know but us. Well just you, actually.
I recently unearthed these recordings that my newlywed parents exchanged when my Dad was in the army. Soon after they were married, my Dad was drafted and was in Korea in 1954 when my older sister was born.
To hear my grandmother’s voice, with her unforgettable German accent, brought tears to my eyes. She always got so emotional! As a boy, all I had to do was take out my violin and play a few scratchy notes, and she would be weeping uncontrollably. In her eyes, I could do no wrong, and she was always my best fan.
My Dad died several years ago with Alzheimer’s disease, which he got while still relatively young. I still think about him daily.
This post is to fulfill a special request from my friend Florence. Now retired, she was a member of the Northwest Indiana Symphony for over 50 years (was it?)! Oh, if we had time, we could sit down for a few hours and just tell good stories! Some of them true.
Florence and I are a generation apart, but among other things, we have this most wonderful thing in common – our mutual love of violinist Fritz Kreisler’s recordings.
Florence, my friend, I miss you, out there in Indiana somewhere! Keep those fingers nimble!
Here’s that recording from my collection of Kreisler playing “Invocation” by Elwyn Owen. I believe the date is about 1927. Enjoy.
The Work of John S. Van Bergen: The only book cataloging the work of this outstanding and prolific Prairie School architect. Also includes a biography and lots of photos! ________________
