“Valdaree Valdah rah…” he sings as we’re walking along through the neighborhood this morning. Soon enough, I realize I can’t get the tune out of my head and start humming it.
It’s a beautiful morning, temperate, hazy sunlight has appeared—the sun comes in, the sun goes out, and then comes back in. It’s just beautiful…before the snow returns…The forecast? Rain this afternoon, snow tomorrow! We’ve had a glorious week of Spring weather. My neighbor, Winnie, said she’s going to have to put all the cushions she brought out back inside on the dining room floor.
I suddenly burst into what I know of the song Todd was singing. “Valarie, Valerah, Valareee, Vala rah ha ha ha ha ha ha.” Who is Valerie? “Why were you singing that song? What comes next?” I ask Todd.
“I have no idea. It’s not Valerie, it’s Valdaree.”
“Valdaree?” What the heck is Valdaree? “No it’s not Valdaree, it’s Valarie.” I am pleased to remember more of the song and sing. “With a knapsack on my back!” Or is it your back?
“Hey! Look!” I say pointing to the statue. “There’s her knapsack! But where’s Valarie?”
“It’s Valdaree.”
“Valarie.” And so our conversations go as merrily we stroll along…
“Let’s go check on the rose bush,” I say as we start walking up the driveway at home. I had the idea to trim the bush back last fall and I’m afraid I’ve killed it. No buds. No leaves. I feel terrible. I love this rose bush that grew and grew from a little plant Todd brought home from the grocery store (you may remember because I have written about it) years ago. Last summer it exploded with blossoms, over and over again. I couldn’t believe it. Now all I see is dead looking sticks and thorns.
I inspect the plant closely and see no buds, not a single sign of new life. But something makes me look down at the base of it and lo and behold! New growth! I’m amazed. It appears to be starting over.
“What should we do know?” Todd asks. And so the day rolls on..
Every day, a new beginning! Enjoy it!
I was about to suggest looking at the bottom of the rose bush, Deborah, but you already did. 🎶Sometimes miracles hide.🎶
Yay — there will be roses! Lovely photos! And he’s right — it’s Val-deri (“The Happy Wanderer”). Our 6th grade teacher made us sing that, and Molly Malone (“cockles and mussels alive alive oh”), and the Marine’s Hymn (“From the halls of Montezuma”) and other songs EVERY week! The boys were fairly geeked out by it all, lol! Happy Spring🌹.
Ha ha! Yes and sometimes I get it right and catch one!😄
That’s funny. I love it. He usually is right about that kind of thing. I’m always mixing my metaphors and making up words. Todd says I should start writing them down and use them in my writing.
Such great songs! Now I’ll start singing those around the house. I’ll let you know my versions. 😂 Thanks so much for the memory.
I love it! 😊 As a mom of two youngsters when dating my current husband, I re-wrote John Denver’s “Sunshine” and sang it to him on his birthday: “You fill up my children with things like Doritos..” (it got better, lol, but not by much). Looking forward to your versions!
8 They who dwell in the ends of the earth stand in awe of Your signs; You make the dawn and the sunset shout for joy.
9 You visit the earth and cause it to overflow; You greatly enrich it; The stream of God is full of water; You prepare their grain, for thus You prepare the earth.
10 You water its furrows abundantly, You settle its ridges, You soften it with showers, You bless its growth.
11 You have crowned the year with Your bounty, And Your paths drip with fatness.
12 The pastures of the wilderness drip, And the hills gird themselves with rejoicing.
13 The meadows are clothed with flocks And the valleys are covered with grain; They shout for joy, yes, they sing. (Psalms 65:8, NASB)
Laughing out loud over here!!😂💛
Oh, such wonderful scripture to add to this beautiful day. Thank you!
Val-deri,Val-dera,
Val-deri,
Val-dera-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha
Val-deri,Val-dera.
My knapsack on my back.
Enjoy your gorgeous day. I’m headed to the back yard with an ear worm . . .
Val-deri,Val-dera,
Val-deri,
Val-dera-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha
Val-deri,Val-dera.
My knapsack on my back.
What’s an ear worm…?
Sometimes, it is the simple things that bring a smile to our lips and pep to our step!!!
Loved your walk and pictures. It’s snowing here now and everything looks dead from a way away. But, it will melt a little each day. can’t wait for blossoms which means opening fishing season, um.. our anniversary is close.
Yes, indeed…💛quite often it seems. 😄
😀
Yay fishing season! I love your fisherman stories and you, Gary, truly are a “fisher of men”! 😃 what anniversary?
#46 with no bad years. Only by the grace of God and two of us staying on the stage through the good, bad, ugly and beautiful dramas of life together
Oh Gary, we just finished watching the film “Sully” and I had stopped the tears. Now you brought them back! But they’re such good tears. Congratulations, my friend. You’re an inspiration. Like Sully.