Thank you, mum, for the music

 Below you can find another chapter from the book Thank you, mum.  I hope it touches your heart.

(For the Swedish version, scroll down and then select Next post.)

Wherever you went, whatever you did, you brought the music with you. You were always humming a tune. Singing along to melodies. Melodies that were enjoyed, not only by you, but also by people around you.

Music was a part of your childhood. Grandpa played the accordion. He was self-taught and played music by ear. Maybe he wanted you to follow in his footsteps, but Grandma bought you a piano. You learned how to play by notes as well as by ear. Chopin was one of your favorite composers. Later on, when dementia made you uneasy, we listened to Chopin. Your fingers were moving across the table as if it were a piano.

            We often sat around your piano. You, Dad, my brother, and me. You, playing and singing, and the rest of us joining in. Such lovely, wonderful evenings together. Why stare at a TV when you can sit together and create music?

            In one of the letters, which you sent to me when I was an au-pair in France, you wrote that you missed those evenings. Fall had already arrived but you couldn't sing Tidig morgon i september (Early morning in September) or Höstvisa (Autumn Melody) with me like you had used to. Nowadays, I am the one missing our evenings by the piano.

            You often played for your kids at school, they got to sing along and set up plays whilst you filled the room with your tunes. In your younger years, Dad, who was far from religious, would come to church with you when you were playing the organ.

            Later in life, you two loved going to concerts. You'd cry while listening to Malena Erman. Laugh and enjoy cheerful old Owe Törnqvist. Music was your source of joy, and you spread it all around you.

            To set up a playlist for your memorial was truly an emotional task. Picking out songs and humming along, lips wet with tears. Thank you for the music, Mum. When I happen to hear your favorite songs, I know you're listening with me. You're listening, singing, smiling, and playing that piano up in Heaven. 

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This was a chapter from the book Thank you, mum. A book for those who miss someone.

To read all chapters, type Thank you Mum in the search field on this blog

If you would like to give the book to someone you think can be soothed by it, or to yourself, you can find it on Amazon.