New Years Eve 1980
What were you doing New Year’s Eve 1980? Do you remember? I do. I will never forget it.
Christmas before that New Years Eve, I had gone to church as usual, and Lorraine Johnson, a girl near my age, a little younger, came home from college for the holidays and sang a song she had written. She had composed a Christmas song, her own version of “Joy to the World.” She being younger, Lorraine and I didn’t travel in the same exact circles, but we did attend the same church for many years and the same school. I knew her well enough at least to tell her I was very touched by her song, and to invite her to our house for a nice Spanish dinner (Paella), and I boldly asked her to bring her guitar, explaining I hadn’t had enough hearing her just on Sunday morning. To my utter delight, she accepted.
Having no shame, I dragged out the tape recorder (it was the days of cassette tapes), and after dinner, sat her down to play and sing, while I recorded her every note. We had a lovely time, we talked well into the night, and even played some games. The music however, through the years, always filled me in a special place. I played that tape over and over again. The years went by, and I hadn’t seen Lorraine again. I had seen her mom from time to time, and I consoled myself with her angel voice and her wonderful guitar playing, more than the Christmas song being original compositions.
That was 25 years ago nearly, and I have treated that little cassette tape like gold. It has always had a special place in my cassette collection. I remember thinking many times that cassettes were so fragile, they snapped and broke at the least little thing, what if something were ever to happen to it, I would be shattered.
It’s been over a year when I had thought to put that cassette tape into a format that could be preserved. Only thing was I didn’t know how to get it from the cassette player to my computer. After many attempts with a few programs, I gave up for the time, but that cassette tape was always put in a place where I could find it quickly, I hadn’t abandoned my hopes to preserve that music.
Just a few days ago, I managed to figure out how to take the music from that little cassette tape and make a decent recording to my PC. I was so tickled! So happy in fact, I ran to my mom to ask if she had Lorraine’s mom’s phone number, I was going to look up Lorraine immediately. By some miracle, my mom still had the number, and I promptly called her.
I told Lorraine’s mom all about the tape, and she thought Lorraine would be happy to hear from me.
I reached Lorraine’s answering machine the next day, but later that night she phoned me back, and I do believe we chatted till past midnight!
I think she was both pleased and touched how I loved her music so, and how she honored us that night, accepting our humble invitation.
Soon I will send Lorraine her own CD, of her singing and playing all those years ago!
Here’s to holding dear ones in your hearts, and more cheers for reconnecting with them!
