Having a birthday right after the holidays (January 2) meant money was especially tight,
but my mother always made sure I had a present. I loved music so a record player was the
best gift ever!
Along with the record player, I got a 45 record titled "All I Have to Do is Dream" by the Everly Brothers. I had never heard the song, but with only one record, I played it over and over. Although it is a love song, I didn't think of it that way. Maybe it was because the word dream (one of my very favorite words) is repeated over 30 times. For eleven-year-old me, it was about dreams and making them come true. Even now, the song brings back memories of dancing across the living room floor singing, "Dream, dream, dream..." I was (and still am) a dreamer who loves to imagine "someday."
Wishing you and yours a happy, healthy, 2024. May all your dreams come true!
A big thank you to the very talented Michelle for hosting today.
I love reading your comments and try to respond to every one. Due to some recent SPAM comments, I have enabled moderation so there will be a delay in your comment being posted.
Wishing you a Dreamy Birthday next week, Linda, TY for this memory of Mom, music & a roundtable player foto with snug case.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Jan. Happy New Year!
DeleteLinda, I hope this comment appears. The last one did not. As a teem, I loved this song also. There is nothing like dreaming of the future as a young girl. Your poem is a delightful one to honor your birthday present. Pink nail polish is a dandy way to identify the owner of the record player. Keep on dreaming. Happy New Year and Happy Birthday!
ReplyDeleteCarol, since the record player was not new, my mother found a way to make personalize it by painting my name on the lid. I didn't fully appreciate her efforts until I got much older. Now I realize how hard she tried. Happy New Year!
DeleteThis is such a heart-warming post and your youthful joy in that record player and record shines throughout. Here's to keeping the dreams alive!
ReplyDeleteThank you and Happy New Year!
DeleteHappy birthday, Linda! I hope you get a record player!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Liz. I doubt I'll get a record player now that I have an ipod. I wish I had kept the one my mother gave me. I'm not sure what happened to it when I left to go into the Air Force. : ) Happy New Year!
DeleteHappy birthday, Linda! Your poem is delightful. I love the sensory details. I remember singing that song in chorus in middle school. It's a lot of "dream dream dream"ing, haha!
ReplyDeleteYes, lots of dreaming in that song! Happy New Year, Tabatha.
DeleteWhat a joyful gift, but the record player and the lifelong song to dream! Happy birthday Linda!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Patricia. Happy New Year!
DeleteHappy birthday, Linda! "Pink fingernail polish" is such a perfect detail. Happy dreaming and making dreams come true!
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DeleteThank you, JoAnn. Happy New Year!
Linda, this made me wish you were right here so I could hug you. Your name in pink nail polish. Your one, cherished record. And you, dreaming. Perfect! Randy's birthday is Dec. 22, and his side of the family has several birthdays in the week before and after Christmas. A hard time for kids to have birthdays! Happiest of New Years to you--may your dreams keep coming true!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Laura. I wish you were here, too. I'd love to see you! Happy New Year, and I hope lots of your dreams come true in 2024!
DeleteHappy Birthday, Linda! I love that you're writing about your special 11-year-old memory of that record player. I remember playing a record over & over so I could learn the lyrics! Dream on! And wishing you a very Happy New Year!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Linda. I did the same thing every time I got a new record. Nowadays, all we have to do is look up the lyrics on the internet. It's not as much fun! I hope you have a very Happy New Year!
DeleteLovely post Linda, and I enjoyed hearing the backstory to your poem, "The Best Gift Ever!" Hears to many more Dreams, A Happy Birthday, and Dreams to come in the New Year—Thanks for all!
DeleteThank you, Michelle. Happy New Year!
DeleteHappy birthday! Record players (and vinyl) are making a comeback. I used my oldest's record player for a book club meeting about THE MUSIC SHOP. So fun!
ReplyDeleteMarcie-I have seen some record players and records in stores. I just might decide to treat myself to one sometime. I added THE MUSIC SHOP to my wish list. I look forward to reading it! Happy New Year!
DeleteI was hoping to receive a record player THIS year, and I thought at first you had! This is a lovely post, a lovely poem, and a song I love too. Happy New Year's Birthday, Linda!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Heidi. You deserve to treat yourself. I hope you get a record player soon. Happy New Year!
ReplyDeleteHappy birthday! I remember playing records over and over again -- Burl Ives, Johnny Cash, Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass (nothing, if not eclectic!!!)
ReplyDeleteThank you, Mary Lee. Happy New Year!
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing this beautiful part of your life and how it remains deep in your memories and heart. One of my favorite things I've told my son over the years is "Keep dreaming Big".....so Happy Birthday Linda and Keep Dreaming Big!!!
ReplyDeleteThank you! I believe dreams make life more fun. I hope you have a very Happy New Year!
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday, Linda! I remember playing 45s on a little record player and loved the Everly Brothers! I know the song by heart. Love that you name was in nail polish. Happy New Year to you!
ReplyDeleteJanice, thank you and yes, it is a great song! Happy New Year!
ReplyDeleteLinda, have a blessed birthday tomorrow! Hooray for you! Your poem brings back many memories for me with the sweet details of your name in nail polish and having one record that you played over and over. I just listened to "Dream." I can imagine listening to over and over as a child.
ReplyDeleteDenise, thank you for the birthday wishes!Yes, it is an easy song to listen to over and over.
ReplyDeleteHappy belated birthday, Linda! What a wonderful gift and wonderful poem to go with it. Your name in nail polish is such a lovely detail. I can just see it.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Susan!
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