Helen Anders Kho

Prism Helen Anders Kho

This memoir of stories encompasses much history that is fast fading into the distance. I was born in 1933, a time when mother kept soup by the back door to feed strangers that were hungry, a time of depression and low employment. Living sometimes on a farm and sometimes in town there always was a ready garden. We knew what it was like to pump fresh water that ran coolly over our hands, and be able to drink it right from the earth with no fear. No fancy toys were needed because imaginations provided games to play and things to do. Bicycles were needed to get around to school, the activities of sport, the school band, and traveling the country byways to explore. Grandmother's rag bag provided costumes to dress up and share with cousins who along with aunts and uncles and grandparents were often with us. When World War 2 came along, children were somewhat neglected as the world was focused on staying safe, and working toward the "war effort." There were contests to increase the amount of fat for bullets that was collected in empty cans, milk weed pods collected for life vests and foil wrapped into big balls also for weapons to fight the enemy. My sister Mary and I had an advantage because Granddad always helped out from his hotel with fat and foil from cigarette packages. Music played a big part of our lives. First on a wind-up record player, then a fancy console with classical music played most of the day. Dad loved Ravel's Bolero, and would whistle its recurring melody over and over. Grandfather played German operas and Richard Strauss in his bar-room and it would ring out as we spun jacks on the billiard tables. Hearing all this music led me to a career I loved: teaching general music, directing choirs, playing in orchestras, and running a private studio. Soothing children at bed-time was a special time. I was grateful for my education at West Chester State Teachers College and Temple University in Pennsylvania, and then SUNY in Plattsburgh, NY. Music has been the glue that still pulls my life together. It continues to sweeten life's adversities and celebrate joys from youth and to now old age. This is a book of tales singing through it all.