Treasures Rediscovered

The Christmas my children were 5 and 3, we thought we'd make a recording of them singing with me, to give as a gift to their great grandmother, whom they called "Babcia". In their little voices, this Polish "grandmother" sounded more like "Bah-chi." We began our recording, having each of them say a Merry Christmas wish to Bachi. We then commenced to singing. I played the guitar and helped lead them in the songs they chose.

All was going well, until we got to a song my son wanted to sing, "Hush Little Baby." We started out, Stephen singing the solo, since he had "learned it in school."

"Hush little baby, don't say a word,

Papa's gonna buy you a diamond ring."

I stopped him and told him the correct words, were, "Papa's gonna buy you a Mockingbird." He pouted and declared that was NOT how the "big kids" sang it at school. We started again and he sang it the way the "big kids" sang it, and all were thrilled.

A few more songs went without a hitch, and Jen was singing louder and louder, really getting into the singing. Her sweet little voice was on key and mirrored her brothers'. Somewhere along the way, we started singing a song, the words to which, I momentarily forgot. Three-year-old Jen, having now assumed the role of choir director, turned to her brother and demanded, "Stephen, how do the BIG kids sing it????"

Finally, Stephen asked if he might say the Pledge of Allegiance, which they said every day in school. Why, not? So he stood with pride, placed his hand on his heart, and recited:

"I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America

And to the re PUBLIX for which it stands, one nation, under God, with LIVERTY and justice for all!"

And, with that, he immediately burst forth in song
"Oh, beautiful for spacious skies, for ever ways of grain
For purple mountains majesty above the fruit and planes
America, America, God sends his great on thee
And crowns thy good with brotherhood from sea to shining sea!!!"

(I was laughing at his understanding of the words, but I certainly did not let him know.)

Eventually, the recording session went a little too long and the kids got cranky and their dad got cranky, and we declared the tape a dud and agreed to try again the next day. We eventually made a tape that we put into a "boom box" and gave to Bachi as her Christmas gift from the kids.

About twelve years later, as we were packing to move to a new house, Jen found a tape in one of her desk drawers. She popped it in the tape player and from the speakers came the high, excited voices of my children. The tape we had declared a dud, was now a precious find! I am so happy that tape was somehow retained and rediscovered. I need to transfer it to CD, for I'll want to share it with my grandchildren one day.