A Sunday With Sinatra

Sometimes, it doesn’t take much to give a little joy to someone who appreciates even the smallest gesture. Sunday was exactly that kind of day.

Those of you who have followed my commentaries for a while know that I have written tributes to my parents who are not spring chickens, much as I would like to see them as such. The ‘rents, as one of my friends refers to them, as in ‘how are the ‘rents?’ or ‘did you see the ‘rents today?’ and other questions or statements of endearment, are up there in age (84) and last week, celebrated their 64th wedding anniversary. That, by itself, is a testament to a long and powerful love affair.

Anyway, as a last minute idea, some of us took the ‘rents to see Cary Hoffman at the Suffolk Theatre in Riverhead, Long Island. Mr Hoffman does an off-Broadway Frank Sinatra tribute, similar to Jersey Boys, Movin’ On, Beatlemania and other musical tributes to great musical acts gone by. For two glorious hours, my Mom and, especially, my Dad sat, watched and sang along with all the great Sinatra pieces sung by Mr Hoffman.

For a brief moment, Dad was transported back in time, to the 50s and 60s certainly when a New York radio station would play Sundays with Sinatra from 9am to 1pm every Sunday. Trust me, growing up during that time gave me a love of great music generally of pre-RnR music and specifically of Sinatra. My siblings and I lived and loved Sinatra almost as much as my parents did, and enjoy that music to this day.

To watch his face light up with each song sung and every story told, was a relief to me to see that at least musically, he had great memories of a day gone by. I knew this was the perfect gift to give them and him for this particular anniversary at this particular time in their lives.

My Mom was especially happy that her man was enjoying himself thoroughly, as he sang each word, each note, as if he were on the stage himself. She was gratified that he once again had that twinkle in his eyes that seemed to be missing for far too long. And the burden she has endured for a while, at least for this day, was lifted from her heart and her soul.

So, for each of them, in their own way, this was a great anniversary, as each of them enjoyed something that has been missing for quite a while; he was not Without A Song and she was Nancy, With the Laughing Face.

Happy Anniversary! We all love you.