B92: The Wind Beneath My Wings

​It might seem strange to the Facebook and Instagram generation, but I have only a handful of photos of me with my family from my early childhood in the 60s and 70s.  Those I have are in black and white and often blurry.  I treasure them all the more as the memories associated with them are not blurry at all.

​This particular photo is a special favourite of mine.  It was taken I believe in the summer of 1970 in the garden of Daddy’s sister, my Aunt Kattie and her husband, Bill Foley known to us as Billbo in Garravoone. In it are: Back Row: (L-R) My Dad Mickey Whelan/Phelan, Bill Foley, Betty Foley Harris, My Mam Peggy Gough Phelan, Kattie Phelan Foley.  Front Row: (L-R) Martin Phelan, Elaine Harris Walsh, Mary Phelan. 

Garravoone - Summer 1970

My mother Peggy came from a large family and on the Gough side I have almost 50 first cousins.  Daddy on the other hand came from a small family of four: Paddy the first born, then my Dad, then Kattie and then a little sister, Hannah who died at the age of 3 from diphtheria in 1923.  Paddy and his wife Nan had no children whilst Kattie had two, Betty and Tom. So on Daddy’s side I only have 2 first cousins.

In the photo my first cousin, Betty, was home on holidays from London with her husband, Peter, and their only daughter Elaine.  In later years they returned to live in Garravoone beside Kattie, Tom and his wife Peggy.   Like me, Betty only had one brother, Tom. He may have been the one taking the photo or maybe it was Peter.

Why I love it so much is that for me it epitomises the closeness of small families.  There Betty and I are with our Mammies and Daddies.  And to my right is my right hand man – my brother Martin.  Elaine is a bit camera shy but the rest of us are squinting into the sun.

I remember the pride Bill and Tom took in showing us around the garden every year…..often discussing the results of a recent GAA match.  Kattie’s house was always gleaming and I remember one year she had a new pouffe from the Green Shield Stamps that was mine to sit on for the duration of the visit.  I wanted so much to bring it home.

Me on the Pouffe - c.Sumer 1972 at Aunt Kattie's, Garravoone

Visits to Kattie always involved us staying for tea….where we tucked into ham and tomato salads with the plates piled high with bread and butter and washed down with lashings of tea.  One year I prompted huge hilarity causing Billbo to splutter  out his tea.  When asked by Aunt Kattie if I’d like a refill of tea, I piped up “ Yes please, a cup without tea-leaves!!”

Tea usually ended with homemade apple tarts or scones to top it all off.  Maura (Kattie’s friend and neighbour and another Whelan/Phelan cousin) often popped in for a chat and to help with the washing up – no mechanical dishwashers in those days only human ones.

I look at our family in those photos and feel very grateful for the idyllic childhood I had.  These were the people that formed me – the wind beneath my wings!  So in today's blog I feature this very song which is a favourite of mine......and remember all those in the photos no longer with us.❤️

And the words beautifully sung my Bette Midler:

Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
It must have been cold there in my shadow
To never have sunlight on your face
You were content to let me shine, that's your way
You always walked a step behind
So I was the one with all the glory
While you were the one with all the strength
A beautiful face without a name for so long
A beautiful smile to hide the pain

Did you ever know that you're my hero
And everything I would like to be?
I can fly higher than an eagle
For you are the wind beneath my wings

It might have appeared to go unnoticed
But I've got it all here in my heart
I want you to know I know the truth, of course I know it
I would be nothing without you

Did you ever know that you're my hero?
You're everything I wish I could be
I could fly higher than an eagle
For you are the wind beneath my wings

Did I ever tell you you're my hero?
You're everything, everything I wish I could be
Oh, and I, I could fly higher than an eagle
For you are the wind beneath my wings
'Cause you are the wind beneath my wings
Oh, the wind beneath my wings
You, you, you, you are the wind beneath my wings
Fly, fly, fly away, you let me fly so high
Oh, you, you, you, the wind beneath my wings
Oh, you, you, you, the wind beneath my wings
Fly, fly, fly high against the sky
So high I almost touch the sky
Thank you, thank you
Thank God for you, the wind beneath my wings
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Source: LyricFind
Songwriters: Jeff Silbar / Larry Henley
Wind Beneath My Wings lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Warner Chappell Music, Inc
 

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Bucket List Items Ticked Off in the above Blog 92
​Number 74 - Experiences - Pick 80 Songs/ Pieces of Music

• "The Wind Beneath My Wings" by Bette Midler

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​Other Blog Posts
Blog 11 - Sydney, Australia
Blog 12 - Hong Kong, China
Blog 17 - Beijing, Xi'an & Shanghai, China
Blog 19 - California, USA
Blog 27 - Scotland
Blog 28 - Barbados
Blog 29 - Canada
Blog 30 - Alaska
Blog 31 - Everglades, Florida

What are your favourite songs?  Tell me about them in the comments section below.
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