Delcy’s songs
Posted by Isabel on October 19th, 2007. Filed under: Back in the Day, My Sweet Babboo, They're just my family.My dad’s mom died the year before I was born. I saw my first picture of her when I was twelve. She was wearing a white dress and standing in her garden. Looking at her picture was like looking at a picture of my dad. They had so many of the same features. She had gray hair like my dad. She had the same frame as my dad. She had the same mouth as my dad.
Since my dad had a rough upbringing, he rarely spoke of his life before he and my mom were married. It was rare that he would speak about his mom, but when he did he spoke only good things. He would talk about how, when life wasn’t going so well, she was strong enough to pack up her kids and look for a better life for them. I think I remember him telling me that she had beautiful handwriting and that people would hire her to address envelopes.
I really don’t know anything about this woman, who I tend to forget, is also my grandma. I know so little that once when my folks were out here in Washington visiting, my dad told me that my grandma had lived here when she died. I couldn’t believe that I didn’t know that she had lived in the same state that I now lived.
A few months after Babboo was born I received an e-mail from my dad. It isn’t unusual for me to get e-mails from him. He sends me cute little notes all the time. (In fact, just this morning I was met with this picture in my inbox.) So while it isn’t unusual for me to get e-mail from him, this particular one was a little unusual. There were two attachments, one named “Delcy’s song 1″ and the other “Delcy’s song 2″. My heart started to race.
Delcy is my grandma’s name.
I opened one of the attachments and found that it was a scanned, handwritten note from my grandma Delcy to my dad.
I had never seen anything so personal that belonged to my grandma. Not only was I seeing something that she had touched, this was a song that she had written herself. A song that she sang to my dad when he was a baby.
My dad, who doesn’t type very fast, typed out a long note explaining a little about the attachments.
Isabel,
Here are some songs my mom sang to me. She sent the handwritten pages to me on August 23, 1972 so I could sing them to my children. Some of them were written in green ink and are very hard to copy.
Your mom was pregnant with Biff when Delcy sent this letter and she was dying of cancer. She didn’t know it yet. She died on February 4th, 1974 at the age of 53. The doctor didn’t realize she had cancer until it was too late. We went to see her at Thanksgiving time right after Biff was born. The next Thanksgiving she was in the hospital and she wasted away very quickly. Life is fragile and short.
When your Mom and I got married my mom was thrilled. She loved your Mom because she was good and sweet and because she loved me. My mom and your mom are very similar. My mom was smart and talented and I loved her so much. I was mad at God for taking her and it was a major trial in my life. I think I was mad because I depended on her for strength and direction. Now I use your mom.
When we come up to visit I will teach these songs to you so you can sing them to your children.
Love, Dad
When my dad met Babboo for the first time he held him on his lap while my mom and I hugged. I looked over at my dad, holding his first grandson, and heard him whispering the words to one of the songs my grandma had written for him over fifty years ago.
It was one of the most personal moments I’ve ever witnessed and I admit I felt a little out of place. That moment wasn’t for me.
It was for my dad, my son and my grandma Delcy.
October 19th, 2007 at 4:56 pm
Wow, what a beautiful story. I am practically weeping over here it is so sweet. What a wonderful, wonderful email to receive.
October 19th, 2007 at 4:58 pm
What? Oh, no, I’m not crying, I have… some dust in my eye.
October 19th, 2007 at 5:14 pm
This is so sweet my eyes are stinging. Le sigh.
October 19th, 2007 at 5:18 pm
WOW. My eyes are all filled up. That is so special. Its really hard to put into words how special that moment was, not just for you, but for your dad. Now the tears are running down my face.
October 19th, 2007 at 5:58 pm
I was going to say I’m tearing up over that, but I see I’m not alone. So sweet.
October 19th, 2007 at 6:38 pm
That got my tears flowing too. Beautiful.
October 19th, 2007 at 6:53 pm
What a beautiful story. Tears on this keyboard as well.
October 19th, 2007 at 6:56 pm
what a touching and heartfelt post.
thanks for sharing.
October 19th, 2007 at 7:55 pm
That was such a beautiful story. I bet that was a moment in your life you’ll never forget.
Thanks for sharing it!
October 19th, 2007 at 8:47 pm
That is a wonderful story.
October 19th, 2007 at 9:42 pm
Must. Choke. Back. Tears.
What a sweet, sweet story.
October 19th, 2007 at 10:56 pm
Oh Isabel, what a beautiful story. My eyes immediately started to well up with tears….
Very touching.
Oh, and she did have beautiful handwriting…
October 20th, 2007 at 12:30 am
Beautiful. Thank you for sharing such a special part of your family with us.
October 20th, 2007 at 1:49 am
Hi it’s Carrie from Vox. Here to say that I read this while at work and I was in TEARS!!! That song is beautiful.
October 20th, 2007 at 3:37 am
Thank you for sharing that with us Isabel! With all the junk going on now days its nice to read something so touching like this. Have a great weekend…
October 20th, 2007 at 9:16 am
Hey,
I´m delurking! I love your blog! Wow that post made me cry! How sweet and wonderful! She really has beautiful handwritting!!!!
October 20th, 2007 at 2:29 pm
That’s beautiful.
October 20th, 2007 at 3:48 pm
I’m with Caty, I’m delurking and read your blog often. This post was SO beautiful and brought tears to my eyes. Thank you
October 20th, 2007 at 11:01 pm
What a beautiful story! Thanks for sharing…I’m tearing up a bit.
October 21st, 2007 at 12:22 am
dude – i’m crying – that is so emotional. I dont think i could of held it together if i saw my dad did that. how special.
October 22nd, 2007 at 5:06 am
I just cried over my grilled vegetable foccacia, but it needed some salt anyway.
What can I say that everyone has not already said?
Thank you x
October 22nd, 2007 at 3:12 pm
Aaaaaand now I’m crying.
October 23rd, 2007 at 11:42 pm
Wow… what a bittersweet and wonderful post.
And yeah, I’m crying too.
October 24th, 2007 at 2:36 pm
it’s 7:30 in the morning, my makeup is done, and now it is smeary from the tears. Must remember to read touching blog posts after work only.
Thank you for sharing this one.
October 24th, 2007 at 4:19 pm
I’m late to the party but I just had to tell you, this may be one of the most beautiful posts you have ever written. I don’t know if it touched me so since my own dad disowned me or what but I’m truly crying here.
October 25th, 2007 at 3:40 am
Glad I read this one at home, and my mascara is thankful too.
What a beautiful and touching story. I feel like I just had a glimpse into a very private moment. Thank you for sharing this!
October 26th, 2007 at 4:23 pm
I love this. So personal, so sweet, so real.
xox
October 6th, 2009 at 3:09 pm
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