By Theresa Blume

Featured Columnist

This morning the mailman brought a box to my door. I knew what it was and simply put it on the table without opening it.

Less than two weeks ago I had seen an advertisement from Time Life for a historic collection of country music DVDs. I know that you are thinking. I am the kind of person who orders everything she sees on TV, but the only other thing I have ever ordered from a TV commercial was a hearing aid on which Lee Majors — the Six Million Dollar Man — put his own name. In fact, I still use it occasionally today.

When I saw the Time Life advertisement, I immediately put the number in my phone, but I did not call. I just kept it there, waiting for motivation to make the call. Inspiration came when my husband spotted something that he liked and wishfully mentioned it. I responded, “Well, you know what I’d like? That country music DVD collection from Time Life, it’s only $29.99 for four payments, and it has all the stars I grew up with, and it will only grow more valuable because eventually we will forget what these people looked like, and you can watch them singing at the Grand Ole Opry in real life. It’s my history too.”

Even I was surprised at the passion and urgency that came out of my mouth.

Seeing how important this was to me, my husband simply asked, “Why haven’t you ordered it?” With his encouragement I picked up the phone. I did not realize it was Father’s Day, so maybe my underlying emotions were talking, but I like to think my heart was hearing my father, who has been gone for over five years. He was a champion harmonica player, and I often joined him with my guitar singing those very songs.

When my husband came in the kitchen this morning, he saw the box on the table and said, “Oh, your DVDs,” and started opening it. After opening the box, my husband set it back on the table and went to work. Alone with the opened box, I cautiously walked over to it and took out the beautiful collection. I saw that there were eight DVDs to pick from, so I went with “Songs that Topped the Charts” first, figuring I would recognize those.

Just as advertised, each singer appeared in real life, some looking very young and nervous at the Grand Ole Opry. With the modern technology, I felt like I was right there with the cheering crowd as the camera turned on the audience after each song. I have never been to the Grand Ole Opry, but I think Dad wanted me to go there today. Maybe it was his gift to me on his birthday, which is June 26.

It was not just the music I saw. It was a history lesson from Dad as he sent me love through these old songs.

I can still hear him say, “Theresa, get your guitar.” Happy birthday, Dad.