Sentimental Journey

My mom and dad’s wedding. Stuttgart, Germany, July 17, 1948

Today is Sunday. Sentimental Journey, a song by Les Brown echos in my mind as I write this post. I heard it often growing up in a home where my mother continuously played her albums on her new portable HiFi. She would stack several albums up and they would automatically play non-stop for hours. No wonder I danced around the house all the time.

Lora and her sister Trudy (you can see the HiFi). Toronto, Canada 1964

It was heavenly because her music was truly uplifting. Everything from Big Band instrumentals to pop music of the day, like Connie Francis and Pat Boone. She let me play my Beatle records; my brother was a drummer and he played Sandy Nelson and the Ventures. Eventually, my brother got the HiFi when my mom bought a beautiful new stereo cabinet that sounded like an orchestra was in the house.

I’m enjoying reminiscing of days of yore. Gone but never forgotten.

Little Lora, age 4

Lora’s school photo

Lora at 12

Teenager

Teen years

My mom was a fashion icon, she looked like a movie star. In the late ’50s she wore her hair like Kim Novak and in the early ’60s I remember her perfectly styled French roll and elegant updos. Her image changed drastically from when she got married with brown curly hair (typical of the ’40s look) to after her beautician and modelling course, with a complete makeover: blonde and very modern.

Lora and her sister Trudy. Germany, 1956

When I think of my mom, I think of music. When I hear songs from my mother’s collection, I think of her and it evokes feelings of happiness and thoughts of my childhood. This music is like a hug from my mom. She had the warmest and most affectionate hugs!

My loving mother passed away on Sunday, November 11th, 17 years ago today.

I miss her hugs!