Laowai

Do you know Doug and Joan Chapman? Do you know they sing Happy Birthday over the phone? I bet you didn’t know this detail, I bet you never would have guessed. This year I was wondering if I would get the call – I thought they might have provided this service to daughters-in-law whos husbands are out of the country on their birthday. But no – about 9:00 last night I got the call and I put them on the speaker phone because Brian had never gotten to hear it. I have to admit it makes me squirm a bit and laugh a lot. I don’t come from a family of people who belt out their feelings in song. I didn’t think Brian came from that type of family either.

So I have to say to my mom and dad-in-law. Even though it seems so goofy and unlike you guys and it makes me a bit uncomfortable to be serenaded. Don’t stop – it’s so very sweet and I love it.

And now to the other surprise singing family – The Johnson Family Singers. I can’t overstate how unmusical my family is. I have a horrible singing voice. My dad has strange, random taste in music. My sister is famous for refusing to sing. My mom didn’t inherit her mother’s sweet voice (or so she says). So how strange is it for my mom, my sister and me to be gathered around Jenna singing How Much is that Doggy in the Window? What a moment to look around at my mom and sister in mid-song and feel so close to them thanks to two little people named Jenna and Bea.

Later last weekend we went straight to the source and had Grandma Dice sing her famous tune How Much is that Doggy in the Window to Jenna. Ah it sounded much better than the Johnson Trio. Grandpa even sang a few lines of his favorite, The Bear Went Over the Mountain.

Listen to How Much is that Doggy in the Window here.