A Big Thank you, to Albert Porter...from My Mother

I am one of many boomers who are facing the declining health of their parent(s), and it is a difficult event to face in many ways. My mother divorced my father when I was a baby, and never remarried. Intimate details but ones that are crucial to her story.

She has lived in the same home in a small suburb of a thriving metropolis area since 1965. In March, she experienced a health event that forever changed her life. No health professional would sign off on her return to live on her own going forward. My Mother insisted she knew her health best and was determined to return to the childhood home where she raised my brother and I from ages 14 and 9 respectively. Unfortunately, my brother was forced to invoke the POA, which would not allow her to do so and made it essential that she move into an assisted living facility. I was fortunate to be able to find her a nice Assisted Living Facility, about 10 miles from my home, and 5 miles from her original residence.

What does this have to do with Albert Porter? I recently had the privilege of cleaning out our mother's home of 43 years of memories, love, and treasures. One of those was her treasured stereo system, which she quit using approximately 8 years ago: A Yamaha Natural Sound Stereo Receiver CR-420; Dual Turntable (Model 1237); Yamaha Loudspeakers (Model NS5); and original Discwasher. These were purchased new from Arnold & Morgan's Sales Manager Albert Porter & a salesman I was dating at the time, John Fort. Albert & John cut my mom quite a deal because she was living on limited hourly wages from Texas Instruments. I will always be grateful to their generosity and assistance in helping this transaction become a reality for my mother in late 1977. She wanted this stereo so much, and it was a memorable day for the two of us when she purchased it (I was a witness and will always treasure this day that we shared together).

Albert, my Mom gave me this wonderful stereo system this past weekend. It never moved once setup in her home in 1977. It is pristine. In fact, the receiver still had the "Reserved for Yamaha Orthodynamic Headphones" plug in the headphone inputs. She said, "Please tell Mr. Porter and Mr. Fort how much this stereo meant to me." Yes, Albert and John...she remembered your names. That is the type of woman she is.

I want to thank you, Albert, for making this dream come true for her. Unfortunately, it will not fit in her apartment at the AFL where she now is a resident. But, it will live on in my household and only be handed down to someone in our family who is willing to honor its "true" value.

Not only did she give me this wonderful stereo system, but she gave me her precious LPs. So, I am going to go spin a few LPs in my Mother's honor, but also in honor of the wonderful dealers who exist in our midst, such as Albert Porter and John Fort.

Next up: Sam Cooke's "Twistin' the Night Away"

Thank you, Albert and John. And, thank you, Mom for passing along your love of music. I consider it a privilege to have the honor of caring for you. And, I love you. We are going to make the most of the years ahead!!!

--mcrheist--