JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — I just found this out. I was talking with my mom the other day, and she says, "You know Taylor Swift, right?"
I said, "Yes." I was instantly curious. My mom is super sharp at age 92, but talking about Taylor Swift?
Well, turns out my mom went to school with Taylor Swift's grandmother, Marjorie Moehlenkamp Finlay.
My mom said, "We were friends in college. We were both music majors."
It was 1949.
Mom says, "I got out my old Lindenwood College yearbook." Then she points to a young woman and says, "This is Marjorie here with the pearls. Sweaters and pearls were big in college back then. And here I am." Mom was a freshman and Marjorie was a senior.
Their college, an all-female school back then, is near St. Louis in St. Charles, Mo.
Mom clearly remembers going to Marjorie's senior recital in college. She says, "Her voice was magnificent. It was a high soprano and she was really a coloratura." That means she had an operatic voice with the rare talent of singing trills and agile runs.
Taylor Swift wrote a song called "Marjorie," which released in 2020 and is a tribute to her grandmother.
In 2003, Marjorie died at age 74. Swift was a young teenager with an amazing career ahead of her.
Mom wishes Marjorie could see Taylor now. "She'd be extremely proud of what she's done," my Mom said.
And one more cool note here... My mom now has 'Swiftie' friendship bracelets to wear. "I particularly like this one with 'M-A-J-O-R-I-E on it," she said.
Then her face lights up and she said, "I am officially a Swiftie."
(Way to go, Mom! I love you a bunch.)
