What a lovely lovely story. Found you through Kate Thank you! I've never heard of this flock call for children as I always assumed that it was for animals. I sadly don't know how to whistle hard and it's a frustrating when a siren call is so much easier across a crowd and vast distances.
It was a joy to read this story of your dad's summons because I have always called my children with a whistle, too! My yells for them across the preschool playground sounded like the shriek of a harpy, so the whistle was born. Mine is a descending minor third, and though they are 15 and 17 years old now -- they still come when they hear it.
Love this story! A dear friend’s Mom had a similar “call” that she would use even with her friends. I think their entire circle knew the “call”. Such a fond memory. My Dad always whistled and my Mom would try to whistle but never really mastered it. Whistling is kind of a lost art in today’s world, but it always brings a smile to my face when I hear someone whistling away.
So funny—I taught it to my two granddaughters, and they loved it but couldn’t actually do it. They pretended really well, though. They’ll get it eventually. BTW, I heard that it is impossible to feel anxiety while humming or whistling. Interesting thought, especially if you see someone “whistling away.”
Heart-warming, Shell 🩷 I love that you have your own family tune. It's like when my brother calls us back home for dinner after playing outside and "ticking" our heads as we go in one after the other. Strange how we all have our family quirks, isn't it? Sweet that you keep your dad's memory alive through his whistle.
Yes, I like your “ticking head count.” 😉 And you never know how those memories are going to bubble up for each person at unexpected times in adulthood.
What a delightful family story, Shell, thank you for sharing! How truly special it is that your family is forever bonded by this unique and deeply personal sound ❤️. Isn't it just incredible how sounds are so deeply imprinted in our minds and conjure the most vivid, specific memories of people, places and moments?
It truly is incredible. As I was writing the story & practicing the whistle, it was such a strange feeling of being back in time and hearing it right from my father. That’s one reason I wanted the audio added to that post.
Shell, I listened to the story, which I don't often do. Thank you for recording it, as it added a great deal to the experience. My dad also had a whistle, and I write memoirs, so we have something in common. Have you ever done or considered doing The Moth? I think this story would be a great candidate! Thanks for sharing it!
I love this SO much! My family of origin doesn't have a call, we weren't close, rather just all sort of co-existed and made it through. My siblings and I are all super close now and lost my mom a few years ago. So while we don't have a signature family whistle, there's more of a silent history of trauma and resilience that pulls us together. As for my current family, gosh! This makes me want to create on. The closest I can think of is the kids were at the park and in order to get them to leave we yelled "come on, I have seaweed in the car" haha. They came running. I suppose that's a bit unique.
That's amazing to have a unique sound to pass down. Wouldn't it be cool to see how many generations that lasts?! Something for you to watch from up above.
Shell, your dad was some kind of special guy. You were very fortunate to have him in your life. He continues to live on through your recounting of his "ways." Keep those memories coming.
What a truly heartwarming story, I absolutely love the idea that you can recognise the whistle in a crowd in a heartbeat. We never had anything like this in our family, but I somehow now wished we did!
SHELL! I love this--my family had/has a similar whistle (two short low bursts, one high burst, and one in the middle), so your experience of feeling called/summoned by a particular sequence of notes felt so familiar.
Thanks for bringing back memories! I learned this cadence from an old friend and used it with my own children. They would recognize it as their own sound! Unfortunately, my mom just yelled my name down the street for all to hear when she needed me back home lol.
My mom had a similar whistle for me when I was out playing in the neighborhood, I could hear it from miles away. None of us kids could learn how to do it back though.
Well my mom can’t anymore, her voice has been affected by Parkinson’s. But she could up until a few years ago. When her grandkids were younger she would use it sometimes on them. I never learned how to do it.
I was fascinated by this as a special whistle passed down in a family like this is a practice I have never heard of before. Of course, it makes perfect sense.
Love this ♥️! But, I think I accidentally shared it with YOU 😂!?
What a lovely lovely story. Found you through Kate Thank you! I've never heard of this flock call for children as I always assumed that it was for animals. I sadly don't know how to whistle hard and it's a frustrating when a siren call is so much easier across a crowd and vast distances.
Welcome. So glad you enjoyed the story. The connections here are great.
It was a joy to read this story of your dad's summons because I have always called my children with a whistle, too! My yells for them across the preschool playground sounded like the shriek of a harpy, so the whistle was born. Mine is a descending minor third, and though they are 15 and 17 years old now -- they still come when they hear it.
😍 Love that you do a whistle too! “The shriek of a harpy”!!! hahah
Love this story! A dear friend’s Mom had a similar “call” that she would use even with her friends. I think their entire circle knew the “call”. Such a fond memory. My Dad always whistled and my Mom would try to whistle but never really mastered it. Whistling is kind of a lost art in today’s world, but it always brings a smile to my face when I hear someone whistling away.
So funny—I taught it to my two granddaughters, and they loved it but couldn’t actually do it. They pretended really well, though. They’ll get it eventually. BTW, I heard that it is impossible to feel anxiety while humming or whistling. Interesting thought, especially if you see someone “whistling away.”
Heart-warming, Shell 🩷 I love that you have your own family tune. It's like when my brother calls us back home for dinner after playing outside and "ticking" our heads as we go in one after the other. Strange how we all have our family quirks, isn't it? Sweet that you keep your dad's memory alive through his whistle.
Yes, I like your “ticking head count.” 😉 And you never know how those memories are going to bubble up for each person at unexpected times in adulthood.
Very sweet, Shell. Both of my parents had a certain whistle as well. I wish they would have taught us that sound. I can still hear it in my memory.
What a delightful family story, Shell, thank you for sharing! How truly special it is that your family is forever bonded by this unique and deeply personal sound ❤️. Isn't it just incredible how sounds are so deeply imprinted in our minds and conjure the most vivid, specific memories of people, places and moments?
It truly is incredible. As I was writing the story & practicing the whistle, it was such a strange feeling of being back in time and hearing it right from my father. That’s one reason I wanted the audio added to that post.
Enjoyable audio version! I love how you pull the reader in further by using the two different senses. Nicely done.
Thank you for listening. 🎧
Shell, I listened to the story, which I don't often do. Thank you for recording it, as it added a great deal to the experience. My dad also had a whistle, and I write memoirs, so we have something in common. Have you ever done or considered doing The Moth? I think this story would be a great candidate! Thanks for sharing it!
Well, no, I have not looked at the moth, but you have piqued my interest. I will look into it.
I love this SO much! My family of origin doesn't have a call, we weren't close, rather just all sort of co-existed and made it through. My siblings and I are all super close now and lost my mom a few years ago. So while we don't have a signature family whistle, there's more of a silent history of trauma and resilience that pulls us together. As for my current family, gosh! This makes me want to create on. The closest I can think of is the kids were at the park and in order to get them to leave we yelled "come on, I have seaweed in the car" haha. They came running. I suppose that's a bit unique.
Haha! Seaweed could be your code word. I just yesterday taught our old whistle to my granddaughters. They were fascinated.
That's amazing to have a unique sound to pass down. Wouldn't it be cool to see how many generations that lasts?! Something for you to watch from up above.
Shell, your dad was some kind of special guy. You were very fortunate to have him in your life. He continues to live on through your recounting of his "ways." Keep those memories coming.
What a truly heartwarming story, I absolutely love the idea that you can recognise the whistle in a crowd in a heartbeat. We never had anything like this in our family, but I somehow now wished we did!
Thank you, Paul. I’m really glad you enjoyed the story. And thank you for the restack too. Love how this community motivates each other.
SHELL! I love this--my family had/has a similar whistle (two short low bursts, one high burst, and one in the middle), so your experience of feeling called/summoned by a particular sequence of notes felt so familiar.
Ooh that’s so cool! Carrying on the tradition?
You know, I hadn’t thought about it in years until I read this, but I think I will!
Thanks for bringing back memories! I learned this cadence from an old friend and used it with my own children. They would recognize it as their own sound! Unfortunately, my mom just yelled my name down the street for all to hear when she needed me back home lol.
My mom had a similar whistle for me when I was out playing in the neighborhood, I could hear it from miles away. None of us kids could learn how to do it back though.
Well my mom can’t anymore, her voice has been affected by Parkinson’s. But she could up until a few years ago. When her grandkids were younger she would use it sometimes on them. I never learned how to do it.
Do you still use it today?
I was fascinated by this as a special whistle passed down in a family like this is a practice I have never heard of before. Of course, it makes perfect sense.
And here I was thinking maybe everyone does this!