Grandparents Home in Tuscaloosa Alabama

Yesterday the tornado in Alabama came very close to my grandparent’s home. My grandparents had a hardware store in downtown Tuscaloosa for many years and lived there for as long as I can remember. In Tuscaloosa my father grew up as well as his sister my Aunt Nancy. Nancy tells me I have many family members in the area but I only remember Aunt Grace and Uncle Carl. I have many wonderful memories of Tuscaloosa and my grandparent’s home; it had great charm and gave comfort to me. I was watching the news today and I saw a video of the huge tornado and recognized the building from where the shot was being taken. I guessed it to be about two blocks (at the most) from my grandparent’s home. Not long after that my sister Leigh called to let me know she also saw the eerie footage of the twister too and knew it proximity to our grandparent’s home, confirming my remembrances. I searched the internet and attempted to locate the storm’s rage. I could not tell if it struck the old homestead but do know it took out countless homes and businesses only a few streets down. The supporting community of their home was destroyed or damaged in the tornado. I hope their home is still there, even 20 years after the death of my grandparents I do not wish it to be gone. Just a short while ago Jackie, Leigh and I made a three way call and together Google mapped ourselves down the Alabama street of Burl and Emily Quinn’s home (our grandparent’s, 148 The Highlands, Tuscaloosa Alabama). I can’t imagine the loss so many feel at this time in those areas. My heart goes out to them all, my prayers too.

"Ladies Club"

My Meamaw, being a southern woman was a faithful member of many ladies clubs. Not like the clubs of today but a social group of yesterday that would help a person become more well rounded (roll the "R" on rounded please). In fact it may have been her duty to belong to such established women's groups. To name a few she participated in,“The Garden Club,” “Daughters of the American Revolutionary War” and the Munsey Memorial Methodist Church Womens Committee (try and say that five times as fast as you can). I am quite certain there are many other groups and committees she belonged to that I know nothing about. If she were alive today I think she would express the importance of these “social service groups.” Her's is a time that seems to no longer exsist, or so I once believed.

For the past 8 years I have been involved with a woman’s non-profit service group called "Harmony". The group consist of about 15-20 woman who give freely of their time to bring a quality musical performance to those unable to attend such cultural events. “Harmony” has been spreading happiness through music, singing in three (or more) part harmony for over 25 years. We perform in hospitals, senior homes, developmentally disabled schools and public schools throughout our area. We usually give 12-15, half hour performances a season and spend hours in practice as well… to make a long story short – Last week we went to the local children’s hospital and opened our season there. Although we have a good sound the quality of our music is often outweighed by the elation we all experience with our extraordinary audience members. Most often I enjoy seeing the staff at the hospital so pleased to see the small children smile when we include them in our performances. We involve them with dancing, blowing bubbles and using small percussion instruments all while singing an upbeat song. You can tell how much the people who serve the children, love them. It makes for a nice circle of joy from us, to the children, to the nurses (and parents too). We always include lovely lullaby songs that help the children who especially need calmness. Once a nurse whose tiny patient laid quietly still in her hospital crib, started to cry as we sang to the baby. The nurse later told us she watched the child’s vital signs become normal as we sang, something which had not happened for days. In hushed tones she thanked us through her tears, she knew the power of music had made the difference to the weak little infant. There are many more stories like this one that we often experience. Some of our members have even had their own children spend time in the hospital, it can get very emotional. No one wants to see a little child who suffers, yet as we perform they can smile, forget their pain for a moment and just be a child. I think we give them a little bit of happines when we sing to them but they in turn give us so much more.

Music and service is a great combination for everyone involved… so turn on the radio and dance, sing in the shower and smile extra often, give a little more to others and see if it doesn’t improve your day like it does to me and all the sweet members of my “Ladies Club.”