I was putting in a load of laundry when my son came over toward me with a small shoebox. Apparently, he was digging through one of our closets in the basement and he found a bunch of my old cassette tapes.
We’re talking old school. Remember this one ladies? A time in your life when all you could do was sing, “I think we’re alone now???”
Well, considering my son’s world consists currently of Wii games, DS cartridges and DVD’s, looking at a cassette tape kind of puzzled him. “What is this thing Mommy?” he kept asking. Yes, it totally made me feel like a fossil.
After a short explanation, laundry went into the washer, my son went upstairs and I started to put the shoebox back in the closest when one of the cassette tapes fell out. As I bent down to pick it up, a flood of memories came rushing back…
And I paused for a moment.
I don’t blog about my dad all too often (although I should probably change that since he is one of the greatest men that walks this earth), I can’t but help to share this small piece of my life with you.
At age 18, I packed my belongings into my little Volkswagen Cabriolet (just a kid out of high school about to go off to college) when my dad stood beside me in the driveway and we shared a few words – an exchange I can remember as vividly as if it happened yesterday.
He told me he couldn’t believe his little girl was going off to college; that he was so proud of me but more importantly, if there was ever a time I needed someone to talk to, even in the middle of the night, to just call him – because he would be there. And with that, he handed me a James Taylor cassette tape and whispered, “You’ve got a friend.”
“When your down and troubled, and you need a helping hand
And nothing, no nothing is going right…
Close your eyes and think of me and soon I will be there
To brighten up even your darkest nights…
You just call out my name, and you know where ever I am
I’ll come running, to see you again.
Winter, Spring , Summer, or Fall
All you have to do is call
And I’ll be there…You’ve got a friend.”
Today, as I hold tightly onto that cassette tape listening to the drum of the washing machine behind me and the pitter patter of my son’s feet upstairs, my heart is full.
Because even after all these years, I know I’ve always got a friend.
That’s so very sweet, and since I no longer have my “friend”, this is especially touching. But Tiffany? Nope. That was not my cup of tea! lol
Oh Heather! No fair making me cry on a Monday morning! “You Got a Friend” is a very special song for me and my sorority sisters. I cry every time I hear it. I loved Tiffany too. I still have Debbie Gibson “Electric Youth” and Paula Abdul “Forever Your Girl” on cassette tapes. I can’t bring myself to throw them away. 😉 Have a great week!
Oh Heather that was so touching. Now I have to go put my make up on while i’ve got tears in my eyes. I’m sure your dad would be so honored to read this.
Ohmygoodness is that ever lovely!
And yes, I loved Tiffant. Loved. *And* Debbie Gibson!
That was so sweet! I love my Daddy!
Try explaining what an 8-track was. Oh wait! You’re so young you probably don’t know either.
What an amazing relationship you have with your father. He sounds like a wonderful man.
Your dad sounds like a great man! I love that James Taylor song. I saw him in concert a few years ago and it was so much fun!
My son has also come across some old tapes of mine. Not Tiffany (even though I had that exact tape) but Michael Jackson. He had no clue what a cassette was either!
Oh, that is so lovely! What a cool moment and memory.
Ha on the Tiffany tape, though! I was trying to explain tapes to Abbey the other day, and she was looking at me like I was a little nuts.
Oh I love that song!! And I’m pissed that you had a cabriolet!
Oh, I love JT–I sing “Sweet Baby James” to my son every night. And your dad sounds pretty fantastic as well!
My boys love hearing stories of the “olden” days when we used cassette tapes and no one had cell phones!
Tearing up at this! Love the song and the memory and love the fact that you have a daddy like mine. We’re blessed, aren’t we?
What a lovely post, Heather! It’s the small but meaningful moments that really stick with us. thanks for sharing!
Thanks for making me a little teary before Monday morning drop off
Beautiful post and ahh Tiffany! I love it when you completely forget about something until someone brings it up and then all those old memories come flooding back.
Have a great Monday
What a beautiful memory. I will admit I am a little teary eyed after reading this, but they are happy tears!!!
I almost got choked up reading this.
Sounds like you have a terrific daddy!
How sweet!!! My dad is the best too!
And those cassette tapes! Priceless!
I am a little misty-eyed over here. What a beautiful recollection!
Oh, I really liked this post! I just returned from a weekend with my dad and am feeling all sentimental.
What a sweet post! You also brought back memories of Tiffany and reminded me of my age- lol.
lol
That is so incredibly sweet. (And I am a huge classic James Taylor fan) What a special guy your dad is!
I just read this and sit here with tears in my eyes. What a beautiful thing he did.. He’s one in a million. Keep letting him know. Mine just passed away a few months back and I miss him like crazy.
Carol L
Lucky4750@aol.com
Your dad is awesome!
I still know almost every word to “I think we’re alone now.” Scary.
Oh this brought tears to my eyes. How beautiful!
Loved Tiffany!!
But I just did mu make-up and now you re making me cry! What a sweet memory:0
Oh and that Tiffany song, pretty sure I still know every single word!
Goosebumps, so, so sweet. I’m all choked up now.
This is so sweet! I’m so touched. How lucky are you to have a dad like yours.
What a great tribute to your dad. Beautiful. *sniff*
Oh, this is so sweet!
That is such a sweet sentiment! I like reading your blog, though I am in fact not a mother; I just appreciate motherhood.
Remember, though, that song was done originally by Carole King, and she in fact wrote it. Nobody seems to remember that!
My mom and I listen to it; she has that 1971 record (yes a record) and we like to listen to it. As a 20 year old, I happen to have a mother who is a bit older than the norm. It’s really great to be a such a young person with a mother who has more experience and has been through and witnessed a lot of interesting things and pivotal times. Listening to the album helps me appreciate that.
Heather you have a friend in me too. This is a wonderful memory and I am so glad you shared.
What a beautiful relationship with your dad. Music seems to bring that added depth to it too.
That’s so funny! I just found a whole crate of old cassette tapes and my old “walkman.” I loved my Def Leppard, Debbie Gibson, and the Cover Girls.
What a sweet memory
That is the sweetest thing EVER. Awwww!!!!!!!!