Nell MohneyOne of my 10 all-time favorite movies is “The Sound of Music.” Set in the breathtakingly beautiful countryside of Austria, it is a love story that developed during World War II when Hitler was on the march throughout Europe.
The heroine in the movie is Maria, an attractive young woman who is failing miserably at the convent where she is studying to be a nun. At the abbey, Maria is encouraged by the Mother Superior to take a job as governess in the home of the widowed naval officer, Capt. Von Trapp. Since their mother died, the seven Von Trapp children had become mischievous enough to run off several governesses. Maria’s combination of love, fun and music proved to be just what the children needed.
The two deterrents to the romance of Maria and Von Trapp were the facts that the captain had become engaged to a wealthy baroness from Salzburg. Also, Maria was on temporary assignment and would need to return to the abbey. After the deterrents were resolved, it was great to listen to the songs of the children.
The one I liked best was “So Long, Farewell,” which contains the lyrics: “So long, farewell. Auf Wiedersehen, adieu.” Interestingly, every time I feel down or discouraged, I find myself humming or singing that song or my favorite hymn, “Great Is Thy Faithfulness.” The first time this happened was in 2008 after the death of my husband of 59 years. Now, I sing them again as I write my final column for the Chattanooga Times Free Press.
My opportunity to write this column has taken me to places I’ve never been before. Most of all, it has put me in contact with people I never, otherwise, would have met. Recently, my caregiver, Judy Jones, brought in stacks of notes and cards from my readers. She said, “My goodness, all this mail makes it look as if there has been a death in the family.”
My reply, “Yes, but in the providence of God, every ending can have a new beginning.”
Let’s embrace them both. Auf Wiedersehen.
Contact Nell Mohney at nellwmohney@comcast.net.