Carolyn Thompson Lee circa 1966 My mother didn't have to flatter or butter up people to instantly make herself indispensable to them. Case in point, in about 1970 our family moved from Houston, Texas to Dayton, Ohio. My dad's new job was at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. He had done a little research to find suitable schools and had located the nearest Church building all within a decent distance from his work. But he had not located us a house, as yet. He knew my mother would have definite opinions on that score.
Anyway, we had been traveling all the previous day and through the night. But before we went to find a hotel, my mother asked him to drive us to the Church building. It was 9:00 am on a Saturday morning in October. She suspected that some kind of activity would be going on and there would certainly be people there who could answer our questions about the area.
Sure enough, the parking lot was filled with cars. Youth were milling about outside. We decided to go inside. In the gym were a lot of people, but one woman was walking around wringing her hands lamenting the fact that she just learned that the pianist was not coming to the rehearsal. Well, that was all the cue my mom needed. She sat down at the piano, played a flashy arpeggio, and said, "I'm here. What do you need?"
The director woman was dumfounded and practically bowed in obeisance. After some quick introductions, they began the rehearsal. My brother and I were quickly cast for this Stake Youth Standards Night program as well. Afterwards, my mom asked questions about which neighborhoods were in the ward boundaries, what time Church was the next day, and where to find a hotel. Well, the director lady would have none of that. She said that we would all be coming home to stay at her house. (We were a family of 7 at the time.) We did stay a couple of days until we could find temporary housing, and we actually ended up buying the house two doors down from that good lady.
Anyway, we had been traveling all the previous day and through the night. But before we went to find a hotel, my mother asked him to drive us to the Church building. It was 9:00 am on a Saturday morning in October. She suspected that some kind of activity would be going on and there would certainly be people there who could answer our questions about the area.
Sure enough, the parking lot was filled with cars. Youth were milling about outside. We decided to go inside. In the gym were a lot of people, but one woman was walking around wringing her hands lamenting the fact that she just learned that the pianist was not coming to the rehearsal. Well, that was all the cue my mom needed. She sat down at the piano, played a flashy arpeggio, and said, "I'm here. What do you need?"
The director woman was dumfounded and practically bowed in obeisance. After some quick introductions, they began the rehearsal. My brother and I were quickly cast for this Stake Youth Standards Night program as well. Afterwards, my mom asked questions about which neighborhoods were in the ward boundaries, what time Church was the next day, and where to find a hotel. Well, the director lady would have none of that. She said that we would all be coming home to stay at her house. (We were a family of 7 at the time.) We did stay a couple of days until we could find temporary housing, and we actually ended up buying the house two doors down from that good lady.
My mother had a way of jumping into situations and using her considerable talents to save the day. It happened so often that we in the family never questioned how she did it. (Okay, sometimes, we'd roll our eyes...) She loved people so much. By just being her naturally charming self, she could get invitations to dinner, to parties, and even to stay at people's houses. People just instantly loved her. It was amazing to watch. She had no agenda. She was completely genuine. People just loved her and she loved them.
She also loved rehearsals. She thought rehearsals were a great way to meet and get to know people. Her bubbly personality made her a "people magnet." She didn't have to do much to attract people to be in her choirs or shows. She never advertised, and yet, she was always being asked to sing, accompany, or teach piano and voice students. She always gave so much of herself in everything she did.
Living up to my mom's standards is not easy, but we, her children, do try. One way is to sing together. Here is one of the songs that our mother arranged when we were young and I updated just a little for us siblings to sing together at her funeral.
"Love At Home" SSATBB
She also loved rehearsals. She thought rehearsals were a great way to meet and get to know people. Her bubbly personality made her a "people magnet." She didn't have to do much to attract people to be in her choirs or shows. She never advertised, and yet, she was always being asked to sing, accompany, or teach piano and voice students. She always gave so much of herself in everything she did.
Living up to my mom's standards is not easy, but we, her children, do try. One way is to sing together. Here is one of the songs that our mother arranged when we were young and I updated just a little for us siblings to sing together at her funeral.
"Love At Home" SSATBB
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