When i was a little girl, my family had a giant piece of furniture that took up an entire wall in our living room. It could best be compared to a MACK truck with wood paneling and without wheels, parked against the living room wall. ITs gleaming wood veneer offset the goldenrod colored floral wallpaper, the thick orange shag carpet, and the rich green oversized sofa across the room. My favorite thing to do was to tiptoe over and quietly lift the heavy lid to peek inside, I was convinced that it was, in fact, a treasure chest.

Inside this monstrosity was a whole world of things to explore! Record were stacked bank to back down the center just next to a turntable, and I loved to flip through them and admire the colors and images of each album cover. Thicker “records” that my mom told me were actually called “8 tracks” sat quietly next to them and near the slot that they fit perfectly into. I never did get to hear what an 8 track sounded like, because as often as I would “click” the track in and out, the player would never play. I imagined it in my head though, and when I got bored of flipping, clicking and staring, I would ask my mom to position a record just right, and drop the needle to make the magical music pour out of the spinning circle.

I would laugh with glee when a record would start skipping, and mom would come running, wringing her wet hands on a dish tower that she would fling at me, to stop the record before more damage was caused, I especially remember Christmas music quietly singing from the cavernous insides, and I knew that I could never imagine Christmas without the detail.

Nine men, four horses, and a tractor trailer, removed that piece of equipment from my house one day, It took six men, three weeks to rebuild the wall they had to take down to remove it…

Maybe it wasn’t really THAT big, and perhaps I exaggerate slightly, but I will tell you that I was a sad day when I walked in to find it gone.

We always think that generations are so different form one another, and yet we are actually more connected that we even realize, This weekend I was doing some shopping, and as I turned the corner I came face to face with a shelf filled with portable record players, They were fashioned to appear retro, but were the size of a laptop, and could easily be carried form place to place, At less than a $100, it was completely affordable, and I instantly smiled as I thought about scratchy, jumpy, and rich music, once again filling my parent’s living room.

Strike up the memories, when you strike up the bank! Music is an important part of people’s lives, and in the 1920’s, 30’s, and 40’s especially, music had depth. During turbulent eras of depression, was, fear, and struggle, the music that emerged was a way to cope and escape. Although we enjoy a good tune these days, the music of “the good old days” was so much more than that.

Open a door to the nostalgia of days long gone, and spark the memories that help recapture their youth. An important tool in dementia care is in helping to stir up old memories. Although the present day may be a little hazy, you can be certain that long ago memories can still be brought forth and shared.

Not sure where to start? Ask you loved one about their favorite music, and see if they still have any old records around, There are lots of vintage vinyl store popping up around, so surprise them one day with a record player and some old time music, Watch their eyes soften in recognition as they drift off to a time long ago, an then listen as they begin to share the stories of their memories.

Did you have a favorite record or album when you were younger? Who were the musical greats that you admired the most? Let us know if the comments below!