Berlioz, Harold in Italy: Serenade - Toscanini

Mom (Sharon) shared this music with me and said it was among Dad's favorites. She also said it was part of his more romantic side since the music is supposed to be based off Lord Byron's poem Childe Harold's Pilgrimage.

A Post from Sharon

Mimi said...

First, he graduated from Bowman-Gray School of Medicine, 5th in his class! It was the day before Elizabeth Christine Ranes was born. Grandma worked as a teacher, full-time, and gave every cent to your dad and his family so that he could get through medical school. Humm, maybe I should do that? What a wonderful example from Grandma Ranes! She was an amazing woman and I loved and respected her. Your Granddad Ranes was wonderful too. Did you know they used to have a band? They were great parents standing for strong values, high morals, good citizenship, & well-loved and respected by their families and communities. Their three daughters are wonderful too. You all have a wonderful family of which you can be proud. Ranes is a great name!

Your dad was a great artist, did you know that? When we lived in St. George, he took art classes with me. He only showed up on occasion, but when he did he had a good eye for drawing. We took lessons from a gal named Joan Perry, she used the name Japari on her paintings at that time. She did the polo scene that now hangs above David's bed.

He had gold flecks in his deep blue eyes. Where he was fair, his brother was dark, so one twin was like granddad and one like grandma. The only photo of the twins prior to Richard's burial (Richard was Grandma's grandfather's name) shows one with a mussed dress, the other perfectly straight. Of course, Richard never moved. You all know the story of Granddad James Lilbert Ranes, MD (he had three brothers who were also doctors), wanting the best for Esther in her first delivery. He knew it was twins so he sent to Chicago for a brand new obstetrician, who chain-smoked and didn't do much until he felt the twins were ready to be born. He set and used forceps to pull the boys out. When Ray was born, the doctor handed him to his father, your Granddad Ranes, then he turned back and pulled out Richard. In the process he broke the baby's neck. Granddad Lilbert took him.

Grandma often told me the story of recovering in the big bed at the top of the super-wide staircase. It was three days since the birth, and Ray had not cried once. She knew her father-in-law feared for Ray's life too. He had bruising on either side of his forehead. Esther listened to slow, deliberate steps coming up the stairs. From out of the bedroom across the hall from where Grandma laid, Ray cried. She heard the sound of Lilbert's steps suddenly charging up the rest of the steps. He knew, as did Grandma, that once Ray cried, he would be OK. And he was. Later that day the pictures were made of the two brothers. The only one there ever would be.

The finale is, of course, the two brother's are together again, in death, and in paradise. I'm so glad you all buried your dad in Ashland next to his lost brother. He always said that he had lived his life as though a part of him was missing - his brother.

Kind of a sad story, but one that should offer insights into who he was.

Next I'll tell about Aunt Dorothy taking Ray to a baby beauty contest. Now, that's a funny story!

To Sharon

"THY HUSBAND, DEAR,
NOW OFT RECALLS,
THY BURDEN'S BORNE,
MID CARES & TOILS,
WITH CLOUDLESS BROW &
SMILING FACE,
WITH SPIRIT BRIGHT &
CHARMING GRACE."

LOVE,
RAY