Shenandoah
trad
There is something mysterious about this song. It seems to be a fragment of history, a love song, maybe a European man in love with an American Indian woman. It is certainly a well-know and well-loved song.
O, Shenandoah, I long to see you,
Away, you rolling river
O, Shenandoah, I long to see you,
Away, I’m bound away, ‘cross the wide Missouri.
O, Shenandoah, I love your daughter
Away, you rolling river
O, Shenandoah, I love your daughter
Away, I’m bound away, ‘cross the wide Missouri.
O, Shenandoah, I long to see you,
Away, you rolling river
O, Shenandoah, I’ll not deceive you,
Away, I’m bound away, ‘cross the wide Missouri.
O, seven years, I’ve been a rover,
Away, you rolling river
O, seven years, I’ve been a rover,
Away, I’m bound away, ‘cross the wide Missouri.
Mum Comes to Stay
In 2015, Mum realised she couldn’t keep looking after JB in their Knoxfield house and they would have to move into an aged care home. They settled on Aurrum, a facility in Healesville, where Martin had recently purchased a large house which he intended to renovate. There were hopes that he would move back from Perth.
When I first visited Mum and JB at Aurrum, I was a little shocked at how much like a hospital it was. I have absolutely no complaint about the staff or the facility itself, but it was too constrictive. After about 3 months, Mum seemed to be getting a bit depressed.
I have a two-room bed and breakfast accommodation facility in my house. I decided that I could accommodate Mum and JB. It would take Mum further away from my siblings but I felt pretty sure that the trade-off would be worth it. They had been to Newstead often, so they weren’t going into the unknown. My work in Melbourne had dried up, and I was getting close to the age when I could claim a pension, so I had the time to look after them.
We went through some months of sorting out their Aged Care Plans. Alan dealt with the fallout of people leaving an aged care facility while still alive.
I did whatever I could to keep them socially connected. In the early months, we would often go The Crown on Friday for Happy Hour and dinner. There was Dig next door, where they would go for coffee or lunch when there were visitors. For a short while, we had a Monday Lunch Club, which was a bit chaotic, but fun.
Then there were the music sessions at The Crown. These happened every second and fifth Sundays. Mum did enjoy them.
This short clip is a pan of one such session.
Mum loved music, and she enjoyed singing. She had a high, clear, gentle voice.
