If you haven’t had a chance to read the Times Union’s latest lifestyle blogger, Mary Martin, you should make the time and do so. She only started with the TU a couple of days ago, but her posts are entertaining and inspirational.
Her recent post about having three mothers-in-law actually spurred me to write this piece.
See, I had a mother in law at one point in time. Her name was Doris Robinson, and she was employed as a librarian at the Sage Colleges. She was well-respected and well-loved by family and friends, and she is still missed today.
On a personal level, she doted on her grandchildren – including my daughter Cassaundra and her sister Sonya, who were taken in and treated with love and kindness.
A few years ago, during my record collecting days – or, as some people would put it, my “he’ll purchase anything that has grooves and a picture of a gramophone-fixated dog” – I was cleaning out some boxes for my parents-in-law, and I found what appeared to be an acetate recording in an old cardboard box. I realized that this might have some importance to the family – but nobody had a 78 RPM player to hear the message that was trapped in the groove.
Well… nobody but me.
Somewhere along the line, I had my Technics SL-1200 MK2 turntable modified so that it could play 78 RPM recordings, in addition to its normal 33 1/3 and 45 RPM rotational speeds. I also hard-wired the turntable into my computer tower, so that I could actually rip my personal record collection into .mp3 recordings.
I knew that an acetate recording – essentially a record that could be recorded upon by using a special homemade Webcor disc-cutting machine – had very soft grooves, and would wear out after only a few listens. Of course, this meant I had to transcribe this record VERY carefully. Who knows what might be on it?
Well, I found out. Apparently in 1951, Doris Robinson – at that time using her pre-married name of Doris Ginsburg – spoke at the lectern of Temple Ohav Shalom in Albany. Someone thought enough of what she said to record the moment – remember, this is before iPhones or cassette tapes or 8mm home movies.
Both sides of the record can be heard by first clicking here – and then, afterward, by then clicking here. I apologize for the record’s surface noise and crackle. These were recorded in 1951. We’re not talking Dolby digital sound here.
I really only knew Doris for about twelve years. That was much too short a time. She is still missed today, and even those words from a 1951 prayer service, engraved on a little metal phonograph record, still resonate six decades later.
It’s these moments – when you go through old family boxes or albums and you find some old slides, a collection of photographs, maybe a high school yearbook or an old love letter – that you appreciate the treasures our parents and grandparents wanted to save. These were the moments of which they were so proud. And they wanted to come back to these moments over and over again, to always remember the good times and significant signs.
I’m glad I was able to transcribe these generation-old recordings. And as Mother’s Day approaches, I’m glad I was able to share them with you.
For all of you who celebrate Mothers’ Day this upcoming weekend – take a moment and remember those mothers who may not have been present upon your birth; but who, instead, were present as you and your spouse celebrated the union of love.
Oh… and one more thing.
 Please join Stephanie Snyder, Jason Purvis and me for the first ever Times Union Community Bloggers Minigolf Tournament. We’re golfing to raise money for various charities, and you can donate to our charities by visiting this page..
Then join us on May 12, when we take on the miniature golf course at FunPlex Fun Park in East Greenbush. We’re going to have a good time, and we encourage you to join us! FORE!!! |
Chuck The Writer 