Five Foot Two, Eyes of Blue

Sometimes my mother played some
favorite tunes on the piano after dinner
all the while singing along to the songs.
My father frequently sang along. These
two lovebirds sang to one another.

   

My Dad frequently touched my Mom’s
shoulders as she played. If any of us
daughters were nearby, we sang along.
With fondness I recall one such song my
Dad started while my mother played chords.

“Five Foot Two, Eyes of Blue,
but oh what those five foot could do.
Has anybody seen my gal? Turned
up nose, turned down hose. Flapper?
Yes sir, one of those…could she, could she coo…”

We girls gathered that this was a love
song understood by our parents at the time.
Our mother was a strawberry blonde with
blue eyes and, yes, she was five foot two.
At the time I failed to understand the song.

My mother loved to dance in the kitchen
while preparing meals. The radio station
sometimes played her Dixieland Jazz music.
The Charleston and jitterbug were taught us.
She thoroughly enjoyed her music and dance.

My parents lived through the Great
Depression and World War II and had endured
much in their lives; yet, gave us the wonderful gifts
of music, education and most importantly,
gave us the wonderful gift of love.