Dad’s tiny harmonica

Family, Memories, Music, ,

When I was a kid the top drawer of my dad’s dresser was off-limits. That didn’t mean I never looked in the drawer. In fact, whenever I had the house to myself I would open the drawer and check out the contents. There were things I didn’t understand until later like a potholder set with male and female reproductive areas depicted, including fake fur that represented pubic hair. There was also an envelope that contained photos of a nude woman — these are pretty mild in today’s world. Classic, even.

There were two musical instruments. One was a Jaw harp (my dad called it a “Jew’s harp” but I always heard “Juice harp”) that I was not allowed to play because it could knock out a tooth, according to my mom. My dad would play it now and then, I think he was probably pretty good at it. The other musical instrument was a Pee Wee Harmonica. He would play that too, and I know he was good at it. I gave him a full-sized harmonica for Christmas one year and he played that for us. He was always appreciative of our compliments, I can remember his smile after playing.

I don’t think I ever really looked at the printing on the side of the Pee Wee harmonica, but it says it was made in Occupied Japan. Dad was in the Navy from 1948 to 1951 so it makes sense that he got this during that time since the Smithsonian American History website lists the date these were manufactured as 1945 to 1951.

It has a little circular hook to attach to a keychain, but I’ve been meaning to clean the Pee Wee Harmonica up and put it on a chain to wear as a necklace but never got around to it. Maybe today is the day.

Paddington Figurine

Memories, Things, ,

I don’t mention the other bears on Clutch Cargo Lips much mostly because Rupert would be a little sad. He’s the least known of the three famous bears, but he was here first. He once wrote a letter to Google suggesting he be honored on his 100th birthday, but Google ignored it.

I’ve been boycotting all things Paddington and Winnie to keep Rupert happy, but I think it’s about time I talk about at least one of them (I did mention Winnie the other day on a different blog). My daughter-in-law tells me I must see the Paddington films. Also, I quite enjoyed the bit on TV with Paddington and Queen Elizabeth II.

In 1979 I did a three-month teaching practice at an elementary school in London. I taught seven-year-olds. One of the students, Julia Meachem, painted a plaster Paddington Bear figurine for me as a goodbye present. That I still have it says something, right?

Small bottle of Deanston Single malt Whisky

Genealogy research, Things, Travel, , ,

I’m still in the midst of a declutter as a result of clearing out the knee wall before replacing our roof. I thought I’d blogged about this small bottle of Deanston Single Malt Whisky before but nothings coming up in the search for “Deanston”. I probably wrote about it on another blog.

When we were in Scotland we visited the home in which my ancestors lived before immigrating to the United States. We’d not called ahead — mostly because we didn’t have the telephone number, but the current owners were welcoming and told us to make ourselves at home and look around the property. They also invited us in the kitchen and when we introduced ourselves the husband presented my husband with this (then unopened and full) bottle of Deanston Single Malt Whisky because my husband’s name is Dean.

Dean kept it in his toiletries bag for years, but finally drank it at some point. After keeping the empty bottle for a while he tossed it in the recycle bin but I fished it out because it was one of our only souvenirs of our trip to the UK in 2002.

I think I am ready to give it up. Or at least move it from my box of memories to one of our China cabinets.