Taking a trip down our (musical) memory lane

My dad and his twin brother had a band. My uncle played the accordion, and my dad the piano. Us kids used to play and swim on Saturday afternoons while the grown-ups danced to beautiful waltzes, tango's, and all the other dances grown-ups did during those wonderful years. I remember the men looking so smart in their suits, and the women looking beautiful in their long evening dresses.

The grown-ups went on lots of picnics, and of course, the musical instruments always went with. They made music wherever they could, whenever they could. (Love the old cars, too). The man sitting in the middle later became my step dad. He was also in the band at that time, and so was his 2 brothers.

This is my brother sitting on a bass.

In this photo, my step sister is playing the guitar. She has a beautiful voice. It's always such a pleasure to listen to her singing. My mom is playing her beloved little Casio keyboard, and my step dad his banjo.

Up until my mom's death, they would visit us by flying up from Cape Town. The banjo, the clarinet, the saxophone as well as the guitar would be flown up, too. Every time, without fail. Here my mom is playing on my Yamaha keyboard, but she always preferred her little Casio.

My stepdad playing on his clarinet. To me, his best ever, is "Red sails in the sunset". My mom and step dad were especially fond of Dean Martin's songs, as well as Pat Boone's. We would make music and sing away for hours at a time - ever since I can remember.

In this photo, my step dad is making music with my nephew (playing the guitar on the right), and my nephew's son (the young guy with his guitar on the left). Of course, my dad's twin brother was my nephew's dad.

And, last year, my step dad played his saxophone at my mom's funeral. It was such a bitter-sweet moment. (The man in the middle playing the accordion isn't my uncle, though. My dad and uncle died a few years ago). But it's nice to know that the love for music will live through us, our children, and our grandchildren, and hopefully, one day, through their children too.

My one grandson, playing on my step dad's ukulele during a camping trip this year, already shows talent and an appreciation of music beyond his years. Thank God for that!

Take care!