I found a rare treasure today I had thought lost forever.

[Prisoner_Number_Six]

A few years back my father got hold of a copy of my old poetry manuscript and without my knowledge he read the whole thing onto an audio cassette. I got possession of it after he passed, and I transferred it to an audio cd. Over the years as I moved around, boxing and unboxing my life here and there, I lost track of many things. This single cd was one thing that eventually slipped away.

It wasn't a very good recording- he used cheap equipment and the result was a hard to understand, noise-filled jewel. The really cool part was, he read a few poems of mine that no longer exist on paper. I don't recall if they are good, bad, or indifferent, but there it is.

I found the old cd today. It was mixed in with a bunch of old backup discs, and when I put it into my computer drive it popped up quickly (a sign that it's still playable).

Now I get to hear his voice again (he passed about 15 years ago) and I get to transcribe some old poetry that I had thought was gone for good.

It was a good day.

[arcane1]

1. That's such an awesome story!! You better make some copies! :)

[cwydro]

2. That is wonderful.

What a beautiful gift he gave you.

I lost my dad two years ago.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

3. My dear Prisoner_Number_Six!

I am so glad to hear this. Really REALLY glad!

A good day, indeed.

[Triana]

4. That's great!

You found both a part of yourself and of him that you thought was lost! That IS a good day!

[Mojorabbit]

5. I am so glad you found it!

One of my biggest treasures is 8 voice messages from my late husband. There is nothing like hearing a loved one's voice after they have gone.

[DebJ]

12. After watching Breaking Bad and the scene with the voice mail messages,

I've left quite a number of my Mom's messages on mine. She is 86.............

[Lifelong Protester]

6. That is a good story!

I still have a VHS of my mom in some play-still cool to have!

[MrMickeysMom]

7. I love your story, P#6...

I can't run current iMovie from the past on my Macintosh, but I found some of the original digital tapes that I just know my mom is on. I also recorded her voice from a phone call that I've saved. In that phone call message, she was telling me about the episode of Star Trek (I got her hooked on TNG) that really "got her".

That's so wonderful. I don't think I could forget her voice, but I know I always tap into that special time.

[fizzgig]

11. what a great thing to have

but i have to ask: what episode? i'm a tng nerd

[MrMickeysMom]

20. You'll remember this one, then...

It's the one where the probe that knocks Captain Picard out for about 20 minutes causes him to live a full lifetime in memory of the people on that planet whose sun went supernova…. Of course, he's playing the flute at the end, looking out from his nest aboard the Enterprise…

[fizzgig]

39. i boohoo every time i watch that one

great episode

[peace13]

8. What a gem to find.

I'm happy that you found this. Enjoy the moment! Thanks for sharing this. : )

[shenmue]

9. Wow!

[brer cat]

10. A wonderful find indeed.

I hope you will share the poetry with us.

[SheilaT]

13. How fabulous!

A few years ago I came across something I thought I'd thrown away, and the joy of finding it was immense, although no where near as personal as your discovery.

I am so glad you found this recording.

[MADem]

14. Make copies and distribute them to loved ones!!!

Things like this are best shared.....

[calimary]

15. EXCELLENT! That's a really nice little "present from Fate"!

So glad it's still playable, too!!! You were meant to have it and listen to it again. (And again... and again... )

[oldandhappy]

16. I am happy for you.

That is a gift. I have a CD of an old tape with my grandfather's voice on it. The scratchy stuff does not dim the meaning of hearing my grandfather's voice -- nor does it change anything for you re hearing the voice of your father.

[mackerel]

17. Oh to hear me Da's voice again.

What great fortune for you

[Mira]

18. I have a hunch I know how you feel

about a half hour ago I pulled a large book off the shelves that I've had for decades, and out fell letters my mother kept. She died last July.
Not so important things - but worthy of study tomorrow.

More importantly it was letters from the Martin Niemöller sons/heirs telling her there was an extensive correspondence between my late father and their famous father.
So I too might have found a rare treasure today.

[NJCher]

19. that's pretty amazing!

Two of these, in one day.

Your loved ones were saying, "Hello."


Cher

[myrna minx]

21. What a wonderful gift to have found after all these years.

[Prisoner_Number_Six]

22. Next morning UPDATE

Well, I kicked back and listened to the whole thing last night, and I must say some of the stuff that came from my mind is, to say it kindly, embarrassing. I guess you can call that early writing phase (my mid-20s) my Bohemian Years. (I was also a raging drunk during that time.) Some of it was just word and expression experimentation, but most of the core ideas are still sound. I'll have some fun writing it all down and perhaps updating and refining it. It'll be nice to add it all to my current manuscript.

Many thanks for all the comments and Greatest nominations. Incredible. Glad I was able to touch a few people. I don't seem to do that enough these days.

[DesertDiamond]

23. What a wonderful, wonderful treasure - as you say, your poetry AND your dad's voice!

[Curmudgeoness]

24. How I wish that I had something like that to hear my parents' voices.

He must have been very proud of you to have taken the time to do that. I understand the embarrassment....every time I run into some of my old poems and drawings, I have to laugh.

[niyad]

25. how lovely!!

[Bertha Venation]

26. Wonderful.

[blondie58]

27. What a wonderful surprise!

Enjoy Going Through everything.
This Reminds me- i need to see if my Dad left a Voice Message on my Fone- he Died in December. 😟 i am a big believer in living for the Moment.
Have a wonderful Monday!

[mountain grammy]

28. Wonderful. I'm so happy for you..

What I wouldn't give to hear my parents' voices one more time, and reading something you wrote, what a blessing.

[Aldo Leopold]

29. A treasure indeed.

[TDale313]

30. That is truly fantastic.

So great to have found that wonderful gift from your father again. Oh, and on a side note, love your user name

[grilled onions]

31. It Proves Memories Linger

and you can't buy this kind of happiness. We all should remember that perhaps we should record a voice--especially the elder people in our lives and pictures too. It will bring much joy to you and other family members in years beyond.

[Hekate]

32. Truly awesome, truly a priceless treasure.

I have some old cassettes of long-gone family members...

[Maraya1969]

33. How Wonderful!!!!

[whistler162]

34. Very cool.

After my father passed away we found a cassette copy of a LP his parents and his mothers father made, borrowed recording equipment from a friend, at their home in 1957. It was amazing to hear the voices of my grandfather and great-grandfather who died in the 1970's and my grandmother who died in 1958. It was surprising how much my aunt sounds like my grandmother. Very special since they played the piece of music my grandfather composed for my grandmother when they where courting.

[Ohio Dem]

35. That is awesome!

My father passed in 2013, and I have been kicking myself because I didn't have him record something. Anything. Good for you!

[alfredo]

36. That is wonderful!

[Iwillnevergiveup]

37. Oh, Prisoner_Number_Six

I can see a glow about you from here. How utterly wonderful - a priceless gift.

[pnwmom]

38. Your father obviously loved you very much. That may be the best part.