By AMY SHANKLAND
Sandwiched
I finally got to see my mama Wednesday morning! With my husband and I both having COVID-19 in January, it had been a month since I’d visited. I decided to join my mother for her music therapy session with Sarena, one of Mom’s angels.
After I gave Mom a great big hug and caught up with her, Sarena arrived with her guitar. She told us both that since Valentine’s Day was Monday, she’d focus on songs about love – how apropos.
Sarena asked Mom if she had a favorite musical artist. Mom replied, as she often does, with “I don’t remember.” Her memory is just not there anymore. I looked at her and said, “Mom, how about Frank Sinatra?” Sarena was happy to oblige.
Frank Sinatra recorded well over 1,000 songs. When Sarena looked up from her iPad and said, “How about ‘Fly Me to the Moon’?” I instantly choked up.
“Sarena, I can’t believe you picked that one,” I said. “My mother bought my father a music box years ago in the shape of a plane. He loved to fly and we kept that music box in our basement for years. It played ‘Fly Me to the Moon’ and they loved that song so much.”
Sarena then asked my mom how she met Dad. Once again, Mom replied, “I don’t remember.” I was so happy that I could be there to fill in the blanks.
“They met in school … they were high school sweethearts,” I replied, somehow still holding back the tears. Sarena nodded, then began the song.
Soon Mom was singing along in her lovely soprano voice. That’s when the floodgates opened. I love to hear my mother sing. To hear her give voice to one of “their songs” made my heart swell.
When the song ended, I thanked Sarena profusely.
“Sarena, that meant so much to me,” I sobbed, “Especially since tomorrow is my dad’s birthday.”
I helped Sarena pick out some other songs that I knew Mom would enjoy, especially a few from My Fair Lady. We ended the session with “You Are My Sunshine.”
It’s hard to see Mom forgetting so much about her life. As sandwich generation members, we often find ourselves filling in the blanks for our elderly parents. But sometimes, those moments create incredibly special memories.
I was overwhelmed with emotions Wednesday and felt close to both my mom and my dad as Sarena and mom’s sweet voices filled the room. I was blessed to feel Dad’s presence so close to his special day.
I definitely want to return for future music sessions to not only fill in the blanks for Mom, but to continue to experience wonderful moments with her.