They say that smell is the biggest trigger to memory but let’s not forget the other senses, like the sense of sound. Music can bring you back to a time and a place when you last heard that piece. Music can inspire and uplift your spirits to set you in the frame of mind you would like to be in. My Dad would often get out his Hohner squeeze box and sit in a chair in the kitchen and pound out a tune or two before heading to the mine for a night shift. The Hohner squeeze box or accordion was a hardy little beast with its own unique sound. Apparently it was difficult to learn because one key button produced 2 different notes; one note when the diaphragm was compressed and one when it was pulled back, which made that type of accordion difficult to play and gave it that particular crazy-ass sound. Those shrill sounds and big bass tones had a way of getting your blood pumping. When my dad broke out the squeeze box I broke out my tricycle. He would start out slow and I would pedal to the rhythm created by the bass tones coming from that little box until he switched to other songs which always grew progressively faster than the last. As he picked up the beat I picked up the pedal strokes. Dad could really make that little Hohner rock the house with a fast beat but my 5 year old legs never had any concept of getting tired. So the "ole man" would play and round and round I would go; full speed through the kitchen, lean into the corner going down the hall, another hard bank into sweeping turn in the living room, another lean into the turn and back into the kitchen where dad would be pounding out the beat with his big shoes on the wooden floor. The squeeze box and my bike are forever linked in my memory to good times with my dad and my Cape Breton heritage. Life is full of crossroads and at the age of thirteen one of those presented itself to my dad and we moved to Ontario. With the sale of our Cape Breton home my dad was able to made good on his promise to buy me a new bike; a CCM 10 speed which opened up the world of country roads and adventures in a big world. I'm sure he thought he was just playing his squeeze box to relax before work and seeing me riding in circles likely warmed his heart. It's funny how everything we do, every choice we make effects everything that happens after that and this is particularity true when it involves children, you never know the inspirations you are creating. I'm sure he never knew how much that 10 speed would effect my life and all of those around me; I think he gave a gift he never knew he gave. Cycling has been good to me because it has kept me healthy, released stress and made grounds for friendship with some of my best friends. I thank my dad for the first music fed inspiration to ride and the 10 speed which was at that time well beyond his means. My dad never learned to ride a bike because he never owned one as a child, it was something his family could never afford. My dad's childhood was cut short at the age of 16 when he went into the mine; so guess I ride for both of us.
2 Comments
Ruby Lorraine Hillier
11/22/2017 10:20:14 am
I loved your story-I did not know about that . Dad's music had a big affect on my life also. Much good memories. And also of his singing and playing the mouth organ. We were truly blessed and the joy comes to you when you go riding-so glad. Mine often comes when I hear or sing some of the songs he sang. Sometimes I get so emotional I can't sing because I have a big lump in my throat -so I just cry and listen.And to hear someone play the squeeze box gets my feet a -tapping. Actually I tap my fet a lot to lots of music AND THINK OF HIM.
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Barry
11/26/2017 02:57:53 pm
Great story Ron, Barry listened while I read it to him and remembers it well. He wanted me to tell you "God love a duck.....where did you come from?
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AuthorRon Head Archives
January 2024
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