Tuesday, December 7, 2021

Contrafactum

Wikipedia says that a Contrafactum is "the substitution of one text for another without substantial change to the music".  Now that you know that, would you like to sing one with me (using the tune to “Over the River and Through the Wood”)? 

Over the mountains and through the towns 
to children's houses we go. 
We well know the way, we just have to pay
to get both to and fro....OH!

Yesterday night Hubby Tony and I returned from a wonderful trip to see the California branchs of our family. We flew over mountains, rivers, fields, and towns to get to San Jose, where we spent time with Son Brian, DIL Nicole, and Grandsons Jay, Ell, and Dee. On Thanksgiving we even got to see my niece Michelle, a new transplant to the area. 

A week later we rented a car and drove through the mountains at the Alameda Pass to the Central Valley area to see Son Tony, DIL Ie, and their growing family. Tony and I haven't been there for several months. During that time Granddaughter Gee went from cruising on the furniture to running through the house. And six weeks ago Granddaughter Evee made her appearance. I couldn't get enough toddler and baby cuddles! 

For two weeks my diet flew out the window and I ate high on the hog. There was great food at every meal, but the highlights for me were two Thanksgiving dinners-one at Brian's on the actual day and another one at Tony's a week later. In addition to having fun, I tried to be an extra set of hands wherever I could.

Yesterday was a flurry of transportation....starting with an Uber from Brian's to the airport, followed by three flight segments on two planes. Back in St. Louis, we caught a shuttle bus to return us to the parking lot, then did an easy drive down post-rush hour interstates to the house. Jackson the cat looked excited to see us when we opened the door. For the rest of the nigh he followed both Tony and I around, offering head butts whenever possible.

Five years ago today: Silver And Dollars

 

10 comments:

  1. Welcome home and glad you were able to bond with family. Friends of ours are moving out west to be closer to their kids, a neighbour did the same awhile back. Any thoughts of transplanting?

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    1. Although the idea is tempting, I'm a little leery. I've known people who moved to be close to their children....and then the children got transferred or chose to move somewhere else.

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  2. The "Star-Spangled Banner” came from a British drinking song.

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  3. Moving closer to the kids ("transplanting"- as per Christine's term) would be a good idea. Parents get older, life gets tougher.

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    1. True, but if the children move away you're left in a place that you don't know well. Today I'll stay in the area I was born and raised in and rely on my 60+ years of connections. I'll never say never, though.

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  4. That's a long jaunt, but by plane, its all relative. If you'd been driving---not doable. Your flights may have been shorter than the 7 hours I drove, there and back, to see my brothera for a few hours on Thanksgiving. Sounds like you had a good time.

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    1. If you count the getting to the airport early time your drive still less time than our travel did. However, I can't imagine doing a long drive like that by myself.

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