Oh, the death that steals before the body is gone. I’m so sorry.💛 (The journey of both my grandmothers.) You have honored her well! What a touching and beautiful legacy. The eyes. Your grandmother’s granddaughter. Thank you for introducing her and allowing us the privilege of honoring her as well. 🫶 Bitter sweetness.
What a beautiful way to honor your love and memories of her! I was also very close to my grandmother, but we were long disconnected from songs and practices of our ancestral homeland. Capturing the beautiful ancestral connections you had and have with your grandmother is such a precious gift!
This resonated with me, because after my mom and dad split when I was in kindergarten, my mom came to live with my grandparents, and my grandfather died a couple of years earlier, so it was really my mom, my grandma and me. My mom took care of the family business, and my grandmother basically raised me. She had lots of old songs and stuff too and poems that she had memorized in school yet as a young girl. She was something of an outlier actually; a female being sent to school so that she would be literate and educated.
Her education was based heavily on memorization, which in all honesty isn’t such a bad idea. She could still recite passages from books and poems in her 70s, that she had learned very young.
They did saying some songs, but that ended with my grandfather‘s death because usually the two of them would sing them together, and my mom would join too because she had learned them, but after that, it was my mother‘s choice of music on vinyl discs that dominated the house. Although she got a lot of records, for my grandmother sake, mostly Russian music. But mom had her Tom Jones and Helen Reddy.
And me, once I got into my teens and got a Walkman cassette player, plus head, half an hour of FM or a.m. radio, each way to university, depending which car I took, kept up with the latest stuff, but also listened to some of the older stuff as well from the 1970s and a little bit of 60s I guess. Now I have Apple Music and I still listen to classic 80s rock especially, as well as some country and some punk.
But one of my grandma got me up for school in the mornings, she would always tell me all kinds of stories about the old country, most of them repetitive, but sometimes something really interesting and I am working some of them into some of the stories that I am writing. That’s what I’m on Substack for. I write historical and genre fiction.
And yeah, same here. Dementia stole her bit by bit until her body that everything had left finally died. And then the same with my mom not much later.
What moved me most was the thought that, even when so many memories had faded, the songs remained. Music has a beautiful way of carrying love where words no longer can.
This is such a tender and heartfelt tribute. Thank you for sharing it.
Even today, I got out and listened to some music in the sun, which I find one of the most restorative things I can imagine. I am a widower; cancer took my wife at 53. There are so many songs that make me think of her, and some that make me think of my mom and grandma. But today I got cheered up a little bit by Dan Baird and Homemade Sin,“Dr. Dixie’s Rollin’ Bones “. And then some Jimmy Buffett songs.
Yeah, it does. Some songs make me think of my mom and grandma, others make me think of my late wife. Almost all of them make me think of better times. I met her when she was working in a restaurant, and we had sort of flirted back-and-forth for a while, and there came point that I knew I was gonna ask her out and I knew she was the one, as they say. And I remember walking out of that restaurant into a cold clear, Winnipeg, winter night, and the song that came immediately into my mind was April Wine’s “tonight is a wonderful time to fall in love”.
"This hit me right in the soul, Labyrinthia! 📜✨ 'Drága Kincsem' is an absolute masterpiece.
The way you’ve captured the painful reality of watching a loved one fade to dementia, while beautifully fighting to keep her memory alive through the music of her heritage, gives me actual goosebumps.
Your line, 'Our love outlives what time and fate can do,' is a magnificent truth that stays with you long after reading. A fierce, raw, and profoundly beautiful tribute!
I'm so sorry I'm late to this one. I knew from the moment you told me about it that I didn't want to rush through it between notifications or read it with half my attention. I wanted to come to it in the right frame of mind because I knew it would ask something of me.
Knowing you had me in your mind while you were writing it genuinely meant more than I can put into words. That made reading it feel less like discovering a new song and more like being invited into a memory that belonged to your family while it kept reminding me of the memories I had with mine.
The way you write about dementia is so painfully gentle and human. It took me back when my grandmother couldn't remember my name. It isn't just about losing someone. It's about watching love slowly become the keeper of memory when memory itself can no longer do the job. "Don't forget me," got me burst into tears. It felt like something I said in whispers tho not aloud to my grandmother.
Thank you for introducing us to Bözsi. It was a joy to know her and read through this wonderful journey. Through this piece, she continues to live in the songs she loved, and now in the hearts of the people who were lucky enough to read about her. I'm really grateful you shared her with us. ❤️ This is one of the most heartbreakingly beautiful tributes I've ever seen.
Thank you, imi. I had hoped you might feel kinship with it, and although it is devastating to lose someone to dementia it is comforting to know that the memories live on in us. ❤️🤗
That was absolutely beautiful. I think, in a sense, the song works both ways. When I listen I hear both you and your grandmother sort of pleading with each other to be remembered.
You’re remembering her beautifully and I’m sure somewhere, some way; some hoe she is very proud of you.
This is beautiful. The closing image of the empty chair followed by the violins is especially haunting. It reminds us that the people we love often continue speaking to us through the things they cherished most.
Thank you for sharing both your grandmother and her music with us. It is a lovely remembrance.
Oh, the death that steals before the body is gone. I’m so sorry.💛 (The journey of both my grandmothers.) You have honored her well! What a touching and beautiful legacy. The eyes. Your grandmother’s granddaughter. Thank you for introducing her and allowing us the privilege of honoring her as well. 🫶 Bitter sweetness.
Thank you
❤️❤️❤️
💛
What a beautiful way to honor your love and memories of her! I was also very close to my grandmother, but we were long disconnected from songs and practices of our ancestral homeland. Capturing the beautiful ancestral connections you had and have with your grandmother is such a precious gift!
Thank you so much. ❤️
This resonated with me, because after my mom and dad split when I was in kindergarten, my mom came to live with my grandparents, and my grandfather died a couple of years earlier, so it was really my mom, my grandma and me. My mom took care of the family business, and my grandmother basically raised me. She had lots of old songs and stuff too and poems that she had memorized in school yet as a young girl. She was something of an outlier actually; a female being sent to school so that she would be literate and educated.
Her education was based heavily on memorization, which in all honesty isn’t such a bad idea. She could still recite passages from books and poems in her 70s, that she had learned very young.
They did saying some songs, but that ended with my grandfather‘s death because usually the two of them would sing them together, and my mom would join too because she had learned them, but after that, it was my mother‘s choice of music on vinyl discs that dominated the house. Although she got a lot of records, for my grandmother sake, mostly Russian music. But mom had her Tom Jones and Helen Reddy.
And me, once I got into my teens and got a Walkman cassette player, plus head, half an hour of FM or a.m. radio, each way to university, depending which car I took, kept up with the latest stuff, but also listened to some of the older stuff as well from the 1970s and a little bit of 60s I guess. Now I have Apple Music and I still listen to classic 80s rock especially, as well as some country and some punk.
But one of my grandma got me up for school in the mornings, she would always tell me all kinds of stories about the old country, most of them repetitive, but sometimes something really interesting and I am working some of them into some of the stories that I am writing. That’s what I’m on Substack for. I write historical and genre fiction.
And yeah, same here. Dementia stole her bit by bit until her body that everything had left finally died. And then the same with my mom not much later.
What moved me most was the thought that, even when so many memories had faded, the songs remained. Music has a beautiful way of carrying love where words no longer can.
This is such a tender and heartfelt tribute. Thank you for sharing it.
Thank you so much. ❤️🫂
A beautiful song and a sweet lady.
Thank you ❤️
Even today, I got out and listened to some music in the sun, which I find one of the most restorative things I can imagine. I am a widower; cancer took my wife at 53. There are so many songs that make me think of her, and some that make me think of my mom and grandma. But today I got cheered up a little bit by Dan Baird and Homemade Sin,“Dr. Dixie’s Rollin’ Bones “. And then some Jimmy Buffett songs.
I'm so sorry for your loss. 🫂 Music helps a lot.
Yeah, it does. Some songs make me think of my mom and grandma, others make me think of my late wife. Almost all of them make me think of better times. I met her when she was working in a restaurant, and we had sort of flirted back-and-forth for a while, and there came point that I knew I was gonna ask her out and I knew she was the one, as they say. And I remember walking out of that restaurant into a cold clear, Winnipeg, winter night, and the song that came immediately into my mind was April Wine’s “tonight is a wonderful time to fall in love”.
I live the song. I’m not Hungarian, but it feels like it’s in my bones when u sang it.
Thank you.
I meant I love your song. .
Thank you so much. ❤️
Hungarians are badasses, and Hungarian women are gorgeous! Eljen! 🍻 🇭🇺
❤️❤️❤️
This was a beautiful tribute to your Grandmother. I am so sorry for your loss.
Thank you my friend. ❤️
A truly beautiful and emotional piece.
Thank you. ❤️
"This hit me right in the soul, Labyrinthia! 📜✨ 'Drága Kincsem' is an absolute masterpiece.
The way you’ve captured the painful reality of watching a loved one fade to dementia, while beautifully fighting to keep her memory alive through the music of her heritage, gives me actual goosebumps.
Your line, 'Our love outlives what time and fate can do,' is a magnificent truth that stays with you long after reading. A fierce, raw, and profoundly beautiful tribute!
Thank you! 🩷🗣️🎹🎻✨"
Love ♥️ ❤️ 😍 you xxx
Thank you. ❤️
I'm so sorry I'm late to this one. I knew from the moment you told me about it that I didn't want to rush through it between notifications or read it with half my attention. I wanted to come to it in the right frame of mind because I knew it would ask something of me.
Knowing you had me in your mind while you were writing it genuinely meant more than I can put into words. That made reading it feel less like discovering a new song and more like being invited into a memory that belonged to your family while it kept reminding me of the memories I had with mine.
The way you write about dementia is so painfully gentle and human. It took me back when my grandmother couldn't remember my name. It isn't just about losing someone. It's about watching love slowly become the keeper of memory when memory itself can no longer do the job. "Don't forget me," got me burst into tears. It felt like something I said in whispers tho not aloud to my grandmother.
Thank you for introducing us to Bözsi. It was a joy to know her and read through this wonderful journey. Through this piece, she continues to live in the songs she loved, and now in the hearts of the people who were lucky enough to read about her. I'm really grateful you shared her with us. ❤️ This is one of the most heartbreakingly beautiful tributes I've ever seen.
Thank you, imi. I had hoped you might feel kinship with it, and although it is devastating to lose someone to dementia it is comforting to know that the memories live on in us. ❤️🤗
Such a sweet dedication to your grandmother
Thank you. ❤️
That was absolutely beautiful. I think, in a sense, the song works both ways. When I listen I hear both you and your grandmother sort of pleading with each other to be remembered.
You’re remembering her beautifully and I’m sure somewhere, some way; some hoe she is very proud of you.
Thank you so much. I love that interpretation, and I think it fits so well. ❤️
This is beautiful. The closing image of the empty chair followed by the violins is especially haunting. It reminds us that the people we love often continue speaking to us through the things they cherished most.
Thank you for sharing both your grandmother and her music with us. It is a lovely remembrance.
Thank you so much. ❤️
I adored this. would have been honored to be the recipient 🫶
🥰🥰🥰