Ticket to Knoxville
[My
contacts in Nashville had me change this otherwise true story.
It was too unusual – they felt others would not be able to relate to
it:
I
knew from writing family biographies that I had relatives in the U.S.
When I was in my thirties, I found Aunt Hilda, a second cousin of mine.
My Dad was very old when he had me, and Aunt Hilda was about his age.
She
lived in a blue-and-white trailer, in a trailer park outside Knoxville. – Does
that qualify me to write country music – or what?
She
came to meet me in NYC, and I discovered that she still spoke our low German
dialect. I suggested that she visit
my Aunt Liddy and Uncle Otto, back in my home town, and she did.
The
next year, the three of them traveled around the U.S. for six weeks.
I was unable to join them because I had a miserable job that wouldn’t
let me take a vacation.
When I was
fired anyway, I called Knoxville, but no one answered,
I named my recording company after Aunt Hilda and told her story in my News Page
on this Website.
During a trip to
Nashville, I visited Aunt Hilda’s trailer, but couldn’t find a trace of her
– i.e., my – family.
Many
years later, I received a call: Aunt
Hilda’s daughter spent some time googling.
She said she missed her mother so much that she put her name into the
search engine.
That’s how she
found my Website. We are planning to
meet some time in the future.
Isn’t
technology wonderful? -
Here’s the song, as recorded:]
Aunt Hilda's house on
Chestnut Street was painted blue and white.
Her Caddy was ancient as the Smokies, where we'd go and ride.
She'd stop to show me field hawks gliding in the skies
But then we moved and I said through the tears in my eyes:
I'll buy a Ticket to Knoxville,
I'll find a way.
I'll buy a Ticket to Knoxville
As soon as I can take a day.
I promise you I'll be there, I'll save some money, you'll see.
I'll buy that ticket and visit you in Knoxville, Tennessee.
Soon I started working, but not in Tennessee.
Love changed all my plans around. I
started a family.
We worked and watched our baby. We
couldn’t get away,
So for Aunt Hilda's birthday I called to say:
I'll buy a Ticket to Knoxville,
I'll find a way.
I'll buy a Ticket to Knoxville
As soon as I can take a day.
I promise you I'll be there, I'll save some money, you'll see.
I'll buy that ticket and visit you in Knoxville, Tennessee.
Finally I found the time, our little girl was three.
I called Aunt Hilda's number. Her
neighbor answered me:
"I'm so sorry to tell you - your aunt just passed away.
She used to be so proud of you. She'd
talk of you all day."
And I knew right there and then: From
now on
I'll make time for those I love before they're gone.
I bought that Ticket to Knoxville.
I managed to get away.
Somehow I found the money,
But it wasn't how I'd dreamed that day.
Hawks flew over Chestnut Street for my little girl to see,
But I wish she'd met Aunt Hilda in Knoxville, Tennessee.
© 2001 - Ingrid Heldt