Daughter #1 is hooked on Broadway.
An expensive habit to feed. Musicals mostly. She buys tickets at student discounts, waits for the lotteries held before shows. But still...
One of the shows she wants to see now is South Pacific.
This is my father's favorite musical. He saw Mary Martin in the original Broadway cast. We had the record album when I was a kid, and it was played often enough for me to know all the words by heart.
The score contains so many Broadway classics: You've Got To Be Carefully Taught; I'm Gonna Wash That Man Right Outta My Hair; There Is Nothin' Like A Dame.
My parents met at a dance in Manhattan. Winter, 1954. They were each there with friends. The band started to play Some Enchanted Evening.
In case you don't know the words:
Some enchanted evening
You may see a stranger.
You may see a stranger
Across a crowded room.
My father spotted my mother from across the dance hall. It was probably her hair he noticed first. He had a thing for redheads. He made his way over and asked her to dance.
And somehow you know.
You know even then.
They danced that dance. And the next. My father leaned down close and hummed in her ear, trying valiantly to be romantic.
He says he knew.
My mother claims she went home and told her mother she had met a boy. And that he was tall, dark, and handsome.
"But I think there's something wrong with him," she reportedly told my grandmother. "He made this really weird buzzing noise in my ear."
My father is tone-deaf. He cannot sing a note.
It almost lost him the girl of his dreams.
Fortunately, for me and Daughter #1, she gave him another chance.
I told Daughter #1, if she goes to see South Pacific, to remember this story when she hears the song.
Her own family history in the making.
Love those kind of family stories. Apparently, the "buzzing' in her ear worked it's magic!
Posted by: SuziCate | January 22, 2010 at 08:27 AM
This is the sweetest story ever! I absolutely love it. Thanks so much for sharing a wee bit of romance to start my day! xoxo
Posted by: Diane | January 22, 2010 at 08:37 AM
Is that your Dad? He is tall, dark and handsome.
I thought romance in movies, about across the dance floor thing, was made-up. But actually it was romance made into movies. That, is really nice to know.
Posted by: Ocean Girl | January 22, 2010 at 08:53 AM
What a sweet story! I love it!
Posted by: ~The South Dakota Cowgirl~ | January 22, 2010 at 09:37 AM
What a lovely story! And your daughter has good taste. I love those songs.
My parents, too, had (my mom still has, actually) all those records: Camelot, Man of La Mancha, Oklahoma, My Fair Lady, West Side Story. When my husband and I watched My Fair Lady and Oklahoma a few weeks ago, he asked how I knew all the songs. "Doesn't everyone?" I answered, puzzled.
Nope. Not him. His parents played only classical music when he was a kid.
Posted by: The gold digger | January 22, 2010 at 10:13 AM
I'm reading this, and getting all gushy inside, thinking Oh! How Romantic! Then I got to the part about buzzing in my ear and I Laughed Out Loud!!!
Great story!! I, too love musical theatre in NYC. And with a daughter with a theatre degree and another daughter pursuing a theatre degree, I truly am a Drama Mama! Too bad I can't sing worth a damn.
Posted by: Joanie M | January 22, 2010 at 10:16 AM
That's a beautiful story Maureen. I loved the movie as a child, have not yet seen it in the theatre.
Posted by: Pseudo | January 22, 2010 at 10:16 AM
What a sweet story.
I wasn't raised on musicals and have almost no knowledge of them. Instead, my parents came of age in the 60s and were young adults in the 70s, so I am *very* familiar with the music of those decades.
Posted by: Jen on the Edge | January 22, 2010 at 10:21 AM
That's a GREAT story! Love it!
Posted by: Twenty Four At Heart | January 22, 2010 at 10:40 AM
I love broadway musicals. If your daughter needs someone to go with her have her give me a call. The hubby won't go...
Posted by: Erin@TheLocalsLoveIt | January 22, 2010 at 10:52 AM
Cutest story ever! And your parents look wonderful. Also tall. Are they tall?
Posted by: LPC | January 22, 2010 at 11:05 AM
I love that song, and, now, this story. Thanks, Maureen.
Posted by: Kristen @ Motherese | January 22, 2010 at 11:25 AM
How sweet and romantic! *sigh* Is it just me, or do people not meet like that any longer?
Posted by: Jan | January 22, 2010 at 11:27 AM
Such a romantic story!
We had the soundtrack to South Pacific also and I played it over and over! But alas, I've only ever seen the movies versions.
Posted by: PinesLakeRedhead | January 22, 2010 at 01:32 PM
What a sweet story. That's the kind of thing you hope your kids tell your grandkids about you.
South Pacific is one of my favorites, also. I love when Bloody Mary sings, "Happy Talk".
You've got to have a dream,
If you don't have a dream,
How are you gonna have a dream come true?
Posted by: jennhill74@yahoo.com | January 22, 2010 at 02:04 PM
Thank you for the memories.
It does go to show that we men do try.
Always Bumby
Posted by: Bumby Scott | January 22, 2010 at 02:04 PM
I can hear Streisand's version as I read this, which is good since I've been trying since yesterday to get the Princess and the Frog soundtrack out of my head!
Seriously, this is such a lovely story and one that should live on in time. Very romantic!
Posted by: Sprite's Keeper | January 22, 2010 at 02:31 PM
My mom had this album in her collection. I remember listening to it as a child. She had one of those huge stereos in a cabinet.
I loved your story. It brought back many memories for me, too.
Posted by: Tracie | January 22, 2010 at 02:38 PM
LOVE this story!!!!! And as a Drama/Musical Geek in high school and college, I know that soundtrack well!
I even auditioned for a few roles with "Gonna Wash That Man..."
Posted by: TheKitchenWitch | January 22, 2010 at 04:14 PM
I loved this post, Maureen. So sweet.
I grew up with all of those old-school musicals. Feel lucky that I've been able to see shows on Broadway and on tour. I would love to go to current shows, but right now, they are out of reach...
Posted by: Erin | January 22, 2010 at 04:59 PM
What a beautiful, sweet story. And so well told. (per usual!) I love musicals, too. B.K. (Before Kids) in order to afford to go I volunteered at the Fox Theater in Atlanta. Ushers get to see the shows for free. I loved that "job!"
Posted by: Jane | January 22, 2010 at 05:51 PM
Oh, Maureen! This is the most enchanting post! I got goosebumps reading it...what a lovely, amazing story! You mean, there really IS such a thing as "love at first sight"??
Oh, the power of love....
So pleased that daughter is into Broadway shows...she has excellent taste! You shud pick her up the Streisand Broadway album if she doesn't have it...it's really awesome.
Posted by: kathryn | January 22, 2010 at 10:04 PM
Love that movie and now I have even more reason to love it. It will have way more meaning.
Thankfully for you, your kids and us..that she gave him another chance!
Posted by: Heather | January 22, 2010 at 11:34 PM
This is a lovely post. "Her own family history in the making." Indeed. Beautifully done.
Posted by: submom | January 23, 2010 at 01:36 AM
Is it not odd how things change, and so much too. If your dad had the same taste these days, well put it this way your kid may well meet many a man at those shows but it will be a downright immaculate rather that enchanted. All in all, if your Mum and Dad were starting their journey to-day, musicals would be a deal-breaker.
Posted by: Vincent | January 23, 2010 at 02:36 AM
What a great love story.
Posted by: Kimberly | January 23, 2010 at 03:28 AM
Ahhh, how romantic! Not quite like the chance meetings of today when we've googled their name halfway through coffee to find out background information!
I hope youir daughter gets the good seats! Wonderful show!
:-)
Posted by: Nancy McDonnell | January 23, 2010 at 07:04 AM
That was an awesome story! Love it! I am a South Pacific fan myself... "Talkee, Talkee, Talkee, Talk-Talk. Talk about ...." Yeah...I've watched it waaaay too many times.
Your parents sound like total sweet hearts!
Posted by: Lisa @ Boondock Ramblings | January 23, 2010 at 07:20 AM
What a wonderful story! And yes, it is an expensive habit but a darn good one:)
Posted by: debbie | January 23, 2010 at 12:20 PM
This is the third totally beautiful parent meets parent love story from the last couple of months. Love this one. How many bloggers out there in this circle are red heads or have such parents? It's starting to get a little creepy. LOVE the photo! Thx. for adding Gropius to your blogroll.
Posted by: Gropius | January 23, 2010 at 06:23 PM
I am smiling at this beautiful love story, both the one of your father and mother's love at first site dance, and that it is lovingly passed down the generations with the music of the South Pacific. Wonderful post!
Posted by: dreamfarmgirl | January 23, 2010 at 06:36 PM
What a lovely love story! I love South Pacific! I'm a sucker for broadway! Love the picture too! xx
Posted by: Kirsty815 | January 23, 2010 at 09:36 PM
What a great story. I love all those musicals too. So did my dad. I miss him just thinking about it.
Posted by: Zen Mom | January 23, 2010 at 10:36 PM
I LOVE this story! So dear and romantic. And funny! It's so sweet that he loves musicals but can't sing. What a great story to pass down through the generations.
Posted by: Gretchen | January 23, 2010 at 11:08 PM
ahhhhhh romance :) this is a great story, thank you so much for sharing it!
Posted by: selkie | January 24, 2010 at 11:38 AM
Maureen, you just gave me goosebumps! I can see the whole thing happening in my mind.
Posted by: Ginger | January 24, 2010 at 03:01 PM
This is delightful. I can hear "some enchanted evening" in my mind, even now.
Posted by: BigLittleWolf | January 24, 2010 at 05:01 PM
Maureen! That is one of the most charming stories that I've ever heard! I love South Pacific too. Any musical really. I just think real life should be like a musical. Unfortunately, like your father, I can't sing.
Posted by: Smart Mouth Broad | January 24, 2010 at 06:17 PM
Just wanted to let you know you have an award waiting for you over at my place.
Posted by: Heather | January 25, 2010 at 12:12 AM
That is too sweet, I'm glad she gave him a second chance! I love the cheesy romance stories, keep em coming!
Posted by: Casey | January 29, 2010 at 10:50 AM