Talkin' to Myself: FATHER

Talkin' to Myself: FATHER: The thing I remember most about him is his singing. Story has it that he joined the Lindsay Presbyterian Church because of its choir (an...

FATHER

The thing I remember most about him is his singing.

Story has it that he joined the Lindsay Presbyterian Church because of its choir (and its choir director--Virginia Hanigan) He was, as a striking viking from Minnesota, a Lutheran. But singing mattered more than liturgy.

Story has it that he made a recording of "Always" and sent the record to my mother before he shipped out to the South Pacific.

Dad would sing whether you asked him or not. He lead the singing at any public event. He could be found at the weekly Kiwanis Club meeting leading the men of the small community in "America" or other patriotic songs.

He was Virginia's go-to tenor for solos. I have one recording of his singing- a solo in a song written by Virginia and Joe Ippolito (my high school senior humanities teacher). I play it every once in a while just to hear him sing.

One of those strongest memories that I have is of Dad singing "Thank Heaven for Little Girls" to me at a family party. He had imbibed a bit but he stayed on key through the whole song.

He was the only person that could quiet my daughter when she was suffering from colic. He would walk the house singing any song he could think of.  She didn't sleep. She just lay her head on his shoulder and listened.

He was happiest when he was singing. He had no training- just a natural talent. Until he joined a barbershop group in a nearby town (Porterville). He was in his 60's then but his voice improved and his tone mellowed as he learned techniques ways to breathe.

But I never saw one of his barbershop performances. I was a single mom then and I was finishing law school and starting my career.

But now I would give anything to have hear them and to see the look on his face as he reveled in the performance.That has become a stronger feeling now that I have had the privilege of singing with a talented director (Gary Lamprecht) and a group of dedicated singers better known as Vocal Arts Ensemble who have taught me those same techniques. Singing with those who share your passion for music is indescribable. 

He had found his group and shared that passion.

Today, my high school friend, John Bastady sent me pictures for 1987 of the Mineral King Chorus (I THINK  that was the name) .

I got to see his face while he was singing.

He was happiest when he was singing.

Second row, second from the left. Harold "Giz" Gisvold

I know that feeling. I cry knowing that I share that feeling with him.


Of all my mixed feeling about my father, the thankfulness I feel for the gift of song outweighs everything else.

WINNER OF THE WEEK

MONDAY- 

No weaving class today so I weave at home. It takes me three tries to get this far.

 

This shows that the warp yarn is on the back beam ready to be threaded onto the loom. I usually do this in one try. I am frustrated. But I persevere.

TUESDAY 

The ice maker on our brand new refrigerator goes kaput. We had the refrigerator delivered less than a month ago. So I go to the store where we purchased the refrigerator and advise customer service that the ice maker is kaput. 

They ask if I have done x,y,or z to try and fix the problem. I advise them that I have done so, per the manual provided with the refrigerator. I advise them that I purchased an additional warranty from the store so that they could come to our house and fix any potential issues with the refrigerator.

I am told that the warranty people located in the store do not handle large appliances (such as a refrigerator) and I must call the 888 number or I could by the same model refrigerator as a replacement for an additional $400. 

At this point I sense difficulty in the universe. I sit on a chair in the warranty area of the store and contact the 888 number. The automated person asks for the model and serial number. I have the receipt from the purchase of the refrigerator and answer the automated person with the number provided on the receipt. 

A LIVE person comes on the line to tell me that the numbers are invalid. I am told by said person that they will send a person out to my home to locate the serial number and then schedule an appointment to fix the refrigerator. The LIVE person asks when next month they can come to look for the serial number.

Sensing an apocalyptic eruption, I approach the store help desk with my phone in hand (LIVE person is now trying to tell me that I have to call the manufacturer of the refrigerator) and ask to see the manager of the department to explain to LIVE person that they are making no sense.

Department manager begins to explain the proper procedure for obtaining assistance in fixing a large appliance and that I should "calm down". Department manager is less than 2 feet from my face at the time. I raise my hand to silence him. (No, not THAT way. With palm towards him at chest high for me.) He tells me to get my hand out of his face!

I hang up on LIVE person and walk away from manager person.

I recall manufacturer and am told by another person that the refrigerator was sold to me in 2014 and the warranty was expire. Could I send a receipt showing that I had purchased the refrigerator in  March of 2017 and they would give me a LIMITED warranty for a used refrigerator.

I become VESUVIUS. USED? I don't think so. I explode all over poor service woman. She says her name is XXXX and can she be of help. (Finally a person with some skills in dealing with angry old women). Turns out that the refrigerator that I bought was a floor model that had "apparently been returned" and "refurbished". No notice to the consumer.

I walked out with a BRAND NEW, IN THE BOX refrigerator (to be delivered soon) with 30 bucks deducted from the price of the original purchase. Delivery is free! 

SCORE!

 I get to Home Depot later than I wanted (you think?) and search for a combination lock and tar remover. No employee had a clue as to where either item could be found. It took another hour to locate them.

Then, then, I go to COSTCO. Given the universal setting for the last two days this may not have been a wise choice. We were nearly cupboard bare so the trip was going to take time. Two hours later, with a cart stacked very strategically, a woman stops me and says "Wow, I never seen a cart that full." She then proceeds to follow me asking where I lived and if that was why I needed so much STUFF. I told her I lived East of Santa Margarita and she replies, "Oh, the Carrisso (her pronunciation) Plain. No wonder you're all so hungry!" I would have laughed but that would have encouraged her. (The Carizza Plain is known for its marijuana fields)

At the truck, finally. The next 45 minutes were spent strategically loading the cooler bags and other accoutrements with the appropriate items (frozen in one bag, refrigerated in another and dry goods in another---it is quite a system so that everything can make it home in one piece!). I am now officially tired. Some guy walks by and tells me I need a drink. He was right. I locked the truck and went and got a COSTCO fruit smoothie.

 I make it home in time to put everything away and jump in the car to go to VAE rehearsal. 

AND I AM STILL MAD AT THE STORE MANAGER regarding the refrigerator.....

WEDNESDAY

 Go to a doctor's appointment. It is a GYN appointment and I am not happy that I am going to one of THOSE at this age. Appointment is for 9:15. I am there at 9:00 as instructed on the new patient forms. At 10:30 my name is called. Doctor  enters room at 11:30. Doctor leave at 11:45. Pleasant enough but clearly upset that she is dealing with an old lady.

 When I get home I am regaled with the tale of woe regarding the scheduling of a 5 year  medical procedure. (If you are over 50 you know which one...) So, being the kind, gentle thing that I am (and truly thinking that I have hit all the less than helpful service people around) I give the doctor's office a call. The upshot of a 40 minute conversation (using the term very loosely) the office personnel will send the appropriate forms by mail (no, they do not use email...). The patient must fill out the forms and bring them IN PERSON to the doctor's office where they will photocopy his insurance cards. The patient will return home and wait for the doctor to evaluate the forms and determine whether an office visit must be scheduled. If so, the staff will contact the patient to make that appointment.

If an office appointment is not deemed necessary the office staff will contact the patient as to the appointment date for the procedure. NOT once is the convenience of the patient considered. EVER.

 THURSDAY

 I stayed home. The ice maker started to work. The ice maker quit again. I had to thread the blanket on my loom 4 times. Seems counting to 4 is getting more and more difficult.

FRIDAY

 I go into town to have lunch with the daughter. She is desperately trying to get all her work in order so she can fly to Fiji tomorrow. So I take the car to the car wash where I have previously paid to have the interior detailed. (The dogs had use of the back seat during the rains and the vehicle was no longer fit for human habitation) I had tried on several occasions to call the car wash to schedule said detailing but no one ever answered the phone. 

Knowing that the direct approach is the best approach (see refrigerator story, ante) I drove in and explained my situation. I was told that I had to call to make an appointment as they were all full in the detailing department.

My response was that I would then back out and try to contact them again. I was offered a free car wash (there were three cars behind me!) I relented and let them wash the car.

Now is when things got interesting.....

Bolstered by my refrigerator win, I went to the office and asked for an appointment. I was told that there would not be an opening until April 29! I told the gentleman that I would be out of the country then. He insisted that was the soonest that a slot would be available. I said, "Fine, I would like my money back."

You would have thought I had asked for the moon! "I have to talk to my manager. You are causing me trouble" etc. He leaves and comes back saying that they can do the car next week. I continue asking for my money back. He leaves again.

Now the first guy (from outside) comes in and tells the counter guy (in another language of which I have some understanding) we will do it now, tell her now.

 

I got the detailing done, had lunch with the kid, and got my nails done.

I WIN!!!!