An old cassette tape
Technology of the times
My mother's voice
Sounding different than what I recall ..... midwestern twang that comes and goes
A recorded letter to her mother, who I barely knew
Recorded in short stages, days and weeks apart
Apologizing for the delay in responding
Calls her "darlin' "
Sounding young again (after those final frail years)
So long since I knew those days
Things mentioned that I struggle to recall
Children and teens, painting walls, yardwork, school, 4th of July
Life transitions for all
Cindy and Shangri-La .... her own special needs
Ending of my high school years approaching .... college?
Reference to her own, eight person high school graduating class
Father's changing work plans
Sister's job at a dollar twenty-five an hour .... saving money
Cameo voices of my brothers .... swimming, fishing, being boys
Illuminating a visual of a mostly typical 70's lifestyle
Maybe a future visit to South Dakota
If life slows down, if life permits
If she can manufacture the time
No hints to what I knew was going on at home
Behind the scenes, hidden from sight and the eyes of others
The degree, even hidden from siblings
But then why would she want her mom to worry
November/December 2015
Had this cassette but I wasn't sure where. My sister gave it to me a few years ago to make copies then my tape deck broke down. I had never listened to it in its entirety until a few weeks ago. As much as I enjoyed hearing my moms voice from when she was healthy, I felt a few twinges of unexplainable and unwelcome chills in the words. Something more than her not being with us these days.
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