Monday, January 21, 2013

Missing His Voice

For many years we had the same message on our answering machine:  my husband's voice saying in a midwestern twang, "You have reached the Zirkelbachs.  Please leave a message at the sound of the tone."

After he died, I kept the message.  It was my one "real" connection to him. Friends and relatives who called always expressed their pleasure at hearing Ralph's voice, even if it was just a recording.  I loved hearing it, too, and besides, it's a good idea to have a man's voice on the answering machine. 

When I got a new phone system a few years ago, I managed to put the old message on.  It was muffled, but that was okay with me.

This fall my phones gave out.  I bought new ones but I couldn't use Ralph's message; it was so full of static, no caller would have understood it.   Now it's gone.  And I miss it.  I feel sad when I call home to pick up messages and hear myself answer.  Every New Year's at midnight, I dialed our number from my cell phone and welcomed the new year in with Ralph.  Silly, huh?  But it meant a lot to me.  This was the first New Year's Eve that I couldn't call.  But his voice is still there in my mind and in my heart. 

8 comments:

LD Masterson said... [Reply to comment]

It was always my dad's voice on my parents' answering machine. "You've reached Frank and Kay..." After my mom died, he left the message the same for a long time. Even after he dropped mom's name from the message, it was still Dad's voice. Then he met someone and remarried. His new wife recorded their answering machine message.

It's not the same.

thelmaz said... [Reply to comment]

Hi, and thanks for stopping by. Not having that same message makes me sad, too.

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Susan Kane said... [Reply to comment]

What a tender reminder that we still long for the sound and touch of the one who has gone.

I found an old cassette tape when we cleaned out Mom's house. I had it made into a CD. When I first listened to it, my heart filled up fast.

Tracy Slater said... [Reply to comment]

What a lovely post, Thelma, and a lovely testament to your bond with your husband.

thelmaz said... [Reply to comment]

Thanks for your visits and your comments.

 

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