When Hazel was a little baby, we watched “Breakfast at Tiffany’s” together. We were still counting her life in months at the time. All we really watched before that night was PBS Kids and LeapFrog videos.
Hazel laid on my bewlly for the whole movie. Most of the time she slept and at one point I had to change her diaper. The only moment she perked up and watched was when Holly Golightly sang “Moon River.”
She watched with her big blue eyes when Audrey Hepburn sat on the fire escape and strummed her guitar.
From that night forward “Moon River” became the go to song for night night time.
Last night I left the radio on and listened to the jazz on WDCB. I was cleaning the kitchen and our song came on, I started to tear up. Hazel was at her mom’s last night, so I couldn’t sing along and make her smile.
Next weekend I’ll tuck Hazel into bed and as sure as the sun will set on Riverside, Hazel will ask me to sing “Moon River.”
If Hazel ever gets married and I’m still around, we will probably dance to this beautiful Henry Mancini classic.
Before that day comes, I’m sure there will be a time when Hazel won’t need her old daddy to sing a night night song. Though I’ll be ready at a drop of a hat anytime she makes a request.
It is already the last full week of October. Next weekend I’m sure we will be watching ”Great Pumpkin” together.
I remember watching Charlie Brown Halloween and carving a pumpkin when I was a boy. My mom was meticulous when it came to baking the pumpkin seeds. I’d do anything for a cookie sheet of my mom’s Halloween tradition.
I bring up my mom, so I might as well quickly mention the song she sang to me at night night time. It also makes me tear up because she’s not around when it comes on the radio. “Sunny” by Bobby Hebb, 1966 was the song that I fell asleep to many nights. I’d do anything to hear my mom sing that song.
Happy Monday Chalkheads.
