Short Stories

---

While growing up I learned to have an appreciation for lots of different styles of music. I was a teenager in the 1960's, so my favorite was the easy rock, top 40 hits. Our radio was usually turned in to those stations at home and in the car. I also listened to a lot of music from the 1940's. Mom had a small collection of the 45's and record albums, a variety of both vocalists and the big bands. I can still clearly recall her blue boxed set of 45's by Glen Miller And His Orchestra.

My parents watched late night movies. On the weekends or times when I did not have to go to school, I watched the films with them. The old musicals were my favorites and still are. Dennis Morgan was one actor that kept my attention with his wavy hair, beautiful smile and tenor voice. I did not have an autographed picture of Elvis, but did receive one direct from Hollywood of Dennis Morgan. I imagine that he or his secretary thought it was strange having a fan from my bobby socks generation. If I was sick and not going to school, I would curl up on the living room couch and watch the Hollywood Movie Matinée. Again the classics from the 1940's were wonderful.

Evenings the variety shows on television were family entertainment. The only major conflict came on Sunday nights when NBC aired Bonanza and CBS carried The Ed Sullivan Show. In those days families did not own several televisions. So,we just had to compromise and take turns. Three musical programs became family traditions: The Andy Williams Show, Perry Como and The Lawrence Welk Show. The Christmas specials with Andy Williams and Perry Como were as much a part of our yearly celebration as trimming the Christmas tree. In remembering Lawrence Welk, I guess I grew up right along side The Lennon Sisters.

My parents song while dating was Sentimental Journey, the World War II classic about soldiers returning home from overseas. They would be reunited with their sweethearts with emotional scenes at train stations. The song was a smash hit by Les Brown And Orchestra featuring the vocalist Doris Day. Yes, she is my favorite female artist.

When I married we moved away from my family many states away. After a few years I joined my husband in the radio business doing on air announcing. I worked for some well established stations, as well as those our family owned and operated ourselves. I had the thrill of playing Sentimental Journey and dedicating it to my parents on one of my programs. I recorded it on cassette tape and mailed it back home.

In 2007 we celebrated our 40th wedding anniversary by taking a trip to Branson, Missouri. Our anniversary is at the end of December; but we chose to go Thanksgiving weekend. We knew the city would be decorated for the coming Christmas and the shows would feature Christmas music. The trip was beyond my wildest dreams. We saw The Andy Williams Christmas Show at his famous Moon River Theater. At age 80 he still packed the house and cracked only one note. Described as “Mr. Christmas” he was still a big part of the most wonderful time of the year. We enjoyed some other live shows, a tour of The Roy Rogers Museum and a luncheon on a River Show Boat. The morning that we were preparing to leave something extra was added to our stay. We got tickets to see Les Brown Jr. And Orchestra. The music was a step back in history, to a time during the Big Band Era. The sound of dance and swing music filled ballrooms across America.

Thanks for coming along on my Sentimental Journey. One day I hope we'll meet on our greatest journey to our heavenly home.

---

PLEASE ENCOURAGE AUTHOR BELOW LEAVE COMMENT ON ARTICLE