Memory Player

delivered-box

It took me a while to figure out what was in the box that UPS had just delivered. It had been 8 months since I sent it away for repairs, and probably 8 years since John started suggesting I get it repaired.

The “Symphonic” record player had finally returned, hopefully in good working order.

record-player

It was my Mom’s record player, and according to the repair person, it probably dates to the 1950’s.

I don’t remember ever listening to this record player. It was always tucked away in the basement of my parents’ house. And when the house was sold, I tucked it away in our basement, along with my Mom’s old records.

Eager to test the Symphonic, I searched for the box of old 78’s. I found it with each record carefully catalogued in my Mom’s familiar handwriting.

box-of-records

Which song should I listen to first? #20 “Night and Day” by Cole Porter and sung by Bing Crosby was the first title I recognized.

The appropriateness of my selection was confirmed when I saw Bing looking up at me from the bottom of the box; his photo adorned the top of a record cleaning pad.

box-of-records

Now it was time for Bing’s and the Symphonic’s first performance together in decades.

Jack’s ears perked at the first scratch of the needle.

jack-with-record-player

He looked like the dog on old RCA Victor labels.

old-record

The Symphonic played perfectly – with all the muffled scratchiness I had hoped for. Thank goodness my Mom’s record player did not pump out digitally perfected sound. I wanted warmth, and timbre, and nostalgia.

Watching the disc revolve and hearing the music swell, my mind conjured up more memories and visions than I can describe, including a favorite memory… watching my Mom and Dad dance together.

I lingered in this favorite scene for a while, smiling with them as they glide across a crowded floor, keeping my eyes on them as they mix in with other couples, their movement distinct and easily recognizable to me as my Mom and Dad, Shirley and John.

I looked for a photo of my folks dancing, but stopped when I came across this pose – maybe it was taken in between dances. The photo was dated 1949, three years after Bing Crosby’s “Night and Day” was released.

dan's-parents

I wondered what memories my Mom would have had listening to the Symphonic with me. I wished I could have shared this moment with her. Although in a way, it felt like I had.

That evening, I told John how the record player was a touchstone for me with memories of my Mom. We drank martinis, and listened to “Night and Day,” and the Symphonic started recording new memories… of us.

live. enjoy. repeat.

 

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