A Song In My Heart
BY CARRIE SASS
A song in my heart
During each fabulous concert by our Stockton Symphony, I always find myself thanking my mom for the gift I treasure most – the love of music! This thankfulness wells up in me while singing in church, humming along to the radio, and tapping my feet to the rhythm of the Cesar Chavez High School Drum Corps.
My mom is definitely the one to thank for my appreciation of music. She also passed this gift along to my brothers AND thousands of private piano students she taught for more than fifty years. In our hometown she played for most of the local weddings and funerals (we always joked that she ‘married ‘em and buried ‘em) and was the church organist. And now, as a resident of Carrington Point Retirement Home in Fresno, at the age of 80 something - she is still sharing the joy of music as she plays the piano during the lunch hour, leads sing-a-longs, and, along with a friend has organized a choir made up of the residents. A few years ago, Mom even had a short stint as the pianist for a jazz combo.
She has enough sheet music, hymnals and classic piano books to fill a music store - everything from Hungarian Rhapsody to The Beatles Favorite Hits. And don’t you ever suggest that she down-size the collection! If you have a request, she doesn’t have to look far to find it. And if she doesn’t have it, just hum a few bars. She’ll figure it out.
So mom, as Mother’s Day is just around the corner, I want to thank you for the precious gifts you have given me. Life and Music. Or are they one in the same?
Carrie
P.S. I love being mom to Aaron (29) and Andi (26).
– Be sure to check out our ‘San Joaquin Moms’ on page xxx. It will make you smile.
During each fabulous concert by our Stockton Symphony, I always find myself thanking my mom for the gift I treasure most – the love of music! This thankfulness wells up in me while singing in church, humming along to the radio, and tapping my feet to the rhythm of the Cesar Chavez High School Drum Corps.
My mom is definitely the one to thank for my appreciation of music. She also passed this gift along to my brothers AND thousands of private piano students she taught for more than fifty years. In our hometown she played for most of the local weddings and funerals (we always joked that she ‘married ‘em and buried ‘em) and was the church organist. And now, as a resident of Carrington Point Retirement Home in Fresno, at the age of 80 something - she is still sharing the joy of music as she plays the piano during the lunch hour, leads sing-a-longs, and, along with a friend has organized a choir made up of the residents. A few years ago, Mom even had a short stint as the pianist for a jazz combo.
She has enough sheet music, hymnals and classic piano books to fill a music store - everything from Hungarian Rhapsody to The Beatles Favorite Hits. And don’t you ever suggest that she down-size the collection! If you have a request, she doesn’t have to look far to find it. And if she doesn’t have it, just hum a few bars. She’ll figure it out.
So mom, as Mother’s Day is just around the corner, I want to thank you for the precious gifts you have given me. Life and Music. Or are they one in the same?
Carrie
P.S. I love being mom to Aaron (29) and Andi (26).
– Be sure to check out our ‘San Joaquin Moms’ on page xxx. It will make you smile.