A Swan Lake Melody to Dream By

When I was a child I loved listening to Swan Lake.

I would sit in my room on my rocking chair close my eyes and dream a story to go with the music and the title of the record.

To this day I love music like this where you can close your eyes, know nothing about the story line and let the music speak to you, so you could make up your own story to it. Then I would dance to it all the while dreaming I was a swan and terrible things were happening around me, storms, wind... I had to fly and get away.

We had the big LP's and I cherished them because I loved the RCA dog they drew on each one.

My radio console was similar to the one in the bottom right hand corner . It had the radio on top and then the record player in a drawer you had to open to play.

Sometimes the bulbs in the back would burn and my Dad had to buy new ones and I guess this is why one day it just disappeared.

Everything disappeared in my house and I had nothing to say about it.

My grand mother had a radio, similar to the one on the left and she had it till she died, a long long time.
I didn't think to take it after she was gone but it wasn't the same as mine.

I watched a Swan Lake Ballet once on TV and to see how the ballerina transformed herself from a bird into a human was just so beautiful and enchanting, it left an ever lasting impression on me.

I believed everything I saw on TV and heard on the radio was happening right there and then.

No one told me about recordings lol

One day I kept hearing the same songs over and over and I thought......

well maybe it wouldn't be such a good idea to be a singer if you had to spend all your time at the radio station singing those same songs over and over and over again.

This got me thinking that people wouldn't do that for no amount of money. lol

I remember how mesmerized I was with Disneys' stories and cartoons.

Then they brought the man himself to the Mickey Mouse Club and I remember thinking

what a wonderful person he must be to do so many nice things for kids.
I wished he was my grand father cause he even looked a bit like him.

I thought my Grandfather was a Saint.
One day I asked my Grand Mother if he was and she cracked up.
I never heard her laugh so hard while she went telling every one what I thought about her husband . lol
But to this day I think he was a Saint because he was so nice to me
He had deep blue eyes which sparkled when they looked at me and he never lost his temper.
I was shy, so I never liked to sit in anyone's lap but when it came to him I would gladly climb up into them and we'd both sit like two peas in a pod.

Every day , when I was around 2, he'd sit at one end of the table, configuring something on a pad with a pencil ( he was an engineer by training) and I'd sit at the other end of the table in my high chair.
Then he'd stop and look at me and smile cause I was watching him like a hawk.
He'd make up a nonsensical name for me.

One day he said:
Kunya. Then he pointed to his fore head and then then to the table to show that I was empty headed . I thought this was funny and couldn't wait to see him every day to call him and do the same thing back always in such good humor.
My Grandmother would get mad at him and say:
Look what you are teaching her!
She does this only to you! and he'd laugh.
I did it with such relish, they thought I would break my finger banging my forehead and the table with my little finger.
When he died I prayed so hard that he went to heaven to be with the beautiful Angels.

The night he died, he came to my bed just as I was going into dream land. I opened my eyes and there he was smiling.
I closed my eyes curling up on my side, thinking Grand Pa is here. I can sleep now.
The next morning I told my Mom and she told me she was making coffee and turned around and he was sitting at the table like he always did.
He said in a nonchalant way: Mary! Bring me some coffee.
She said: Ok Dad and turned around to pour him a cup but then remembered he died and turned but he wasn't there.
I think he came to say good bye for the last time.
Both my Mom and I were surprised to have the same story to tell about him, the same night.

----

I never missed the Mickey Mouse Club with Annette.

They didn't put too much stuff out on TV to over whelm you but just enough to make you want more and to learn from them.

My Mom always put me to bed at 7 pm and I would always complain because

Disneyland would come on. So she would give me a treat by saying ok you can watch it but then up to bed.

The rest of the evening they had to listen to

I want some water. I want to go pee. I'm hungry. Anything not to sleep. lol

This must have been quite irritating to go through every night for them.
Eventually my Mom would come in and lie down beside me and tell me she knew how to hypnotize me so I would sleep. She proceeded waving her fingers in front of my eyes saying:
You are getting sleepy. Your eyes are getting very tired lol
After 10 minutes I'd open them and giggle and she would too pretending I tricked her into believing I was asleep.
But when she did it with the cat, she succeeded. The cat would always fall asleep.

My kids???

My kids never had bed time.

We would sit and read and play until I fell asleep and they'd still be wide awake. lol

But bed times were less stressed cause we stayed together.
I would make up stories off the cuff and they would laugh listening to them.
Then the next night they'd say Mommy, tell me the story you told me last night lol
And I would not remember what it was but some stories were so good I wish I taped them, cause even I enjoyed making them up.

I remember one I told them, about the Pick Nose Kid.
They laughed and laughed listening to it and I'd love to watch their eyes grow big.
It was just like Christmas every night.
Their cheeks would grow rosy and the eyes would sparkle.

These cherished days are my diamonds in the sky.
I collected so many of them over the years.

Today I still love Swans and the ballet.

They are powerful elegant and gentle birds.

Their faces look stern like they have something to say and
yet like the ballerina with her soft wings,
you would hate to watch them fly away.
I could watch these birds forever.
Life is a story, a melody, to dream by.

Have a good one.:)

BECAUSE

BECAUSE OF TRUE LOVE

A brother and sister had made their usual hurried, obligatory pre- Christmas visit to the little farm where dwelt their elderly parents with their small herd of horses. The farm was where they had grown up and had been named Lone Pine Farm because of the huge pine, which topped the hill behind the farm.

Through the years the tree had become a talisman to the old man and his wife, and a landmark in the countryside. The young siblings had fond memories of their childhood here, but the city hustle and bustle added more excitement to their lives, and called them away to a different life.

The old folks no longer showed their horses, for the years had taken their toll, and getting out to the barn on those frosty mornings was getting harder, but it gave them a reason to get up in the mornings and a reason to live. They sold a few foals each year, and the horses were their reason for joy in the morning and contentment at day's end.

Angry, as they prepared to leave, the young couple confronted the old folks "Why do you not at least dispose of The Old One." She is no longer of use to you. It's been years since you've had foals from her. You should cut corners and save so you can have more for yourselves. How can this old worn out horse bring you anything but expense and work? Why do you keep her anyway?"

The old man looked down at his worn boots, holes in the toes, scuffed at the barn floor and replied, " Yes, I could use a pair of new boots. His arm slid defensively about the Old One's neck as he drew her near with gentle caressing he rubbed her softly behind her ears. He replied softly, "We keep her because of love. Nothing else, just love."

Baffled and irritated, the young folks wished the old man and his wife a Merry Christmas and headed back toward the city as darkness stole through the valley.

The old couple shook their heads in sorrow that it had not been a happy visit. A tear fell upon their cheeks. How is it that these young folks do not understand the peace of the love that filled their hearts? So it was, that because of the unhappy leave-taking, no one noticed the insulation smoldering on the frayed wires in the old barn. None saw the first spark fall. None but the "Old One".

In a matter of minutes, the whole barn was ablaze and the hungry flames were licking at the loft full of hay. With a cry of horror and despair, the old man shouted to his wife to call for help as he raced to the barn to save their beloved horses. But the flames were roaring now, and the blazing heat drove him back. He sank sobbing to the ground, helpless before the fire's fury. His wife back from calling for help cradled him in her arms, clinging to each other, they wept at their loss. By the time the fire department arrived, only smoking, glowing ruins were left, and the old man and his wife, exhausted from their grief, huddled together before the barn.

They were speechless as they rose from the cold snow covered ground. They nodded thanks to the firemen as there was nothing anyone could do now. The old man turned to his wife, resting her white head upon his shoulders as his shaking old hands clumsily dried her tears with a frayed red bandana. Brokenly he whispered, "We have lost much, but God has spared our home on this eve of Christmas. Let us gather strength and climb the hill to the old pine where we have sought comfort in times of despair. We will look down upon our home and give thanks to God that it has been spared and pray for our beloved most precious gifts that have been taken from us.

And so, he took her by the hand and slowly helped her up the snowy hill as he brushed aside his own tears with the back of his old and withered hand. The journey up the hill was hard for their old bodies in the steep snow. As they stepped over the little knoll at the crest of the hill, they paused to rest, looking up to the top of the hill the old couple gasped and fell to their knees in amazement at the incredible beauty before them. Seemingly, every glorious, brilliant star in the heavens was caught up in the glittering, snow-frosted branches of their beloved pine, and it was aglow with heavenly candles. And poised on its top most bough, a crystal crescent moon glistened like spun glass. Never had a mere mortal created a Christmas tree such as this. They were breathless as the old man held his wife tighter in his arms.

Suddenly, the old man gave a cry of wonder and incredible joy. Amazed and mystified, he took his wife by the hand and pulled her forward. There, beneath the tree, in resplendent glory, a mist hovering over and glowing in the darkness was their Christmas gift. Shadows glistening in the night light. Bedded down about the "Old One" close to the trunk of the tree, was the entire herd, safe. At the first hint of smoke, she had pushed the door ajar with her muzzle and had led the horses through it. Slowly and with great dignity, never looking back, she had led them up the hill, stepping cautiously through the snow.

The foals were frightened and dashed about. The skittish yearlings looked back at the crackling, hungry flames, and tucked their tails under them as they licked their lips and hopped like rabbits. The mares that were in foal with a new years crop of babies, pressed uneasily against the "Old One" as she moved calmly up the hill and to safety beneath the pine. And now, she lay among them and gazed at the faces of the old man and his wife.

Those she loved she had not disappointed. Her body was brittle with years, tired from the climb, but the golden eyes were filled with devotion as she offered her gift--- Because of love.

Only Because of love. Tears flowed as the old couple shouted their praise and joy... And again the peace of love filled their hearts.

This is a true story. Willy Eagle

This is an Inspirational message sent to a small group of people.My hope is that it will make your day just a little bit better.