This was a great read! Growing up our mother had a particular two finger whistle that our entire community of kids knew. If we heard it, we’d better get our asses back! It was usually on the second whistle that we’d really kick it in gear 🤣
I never knew about the gender discrepancies when it came to whistling, how odd!
You are so cool! I used to be able to do the two-finger whistle, albeit somewhat feebly. Not nearly loud enough to reach anyone at a distance or to scare the hell out of anyone nearby, but just enough that I felt giddy with achievement. I can't do it anymore and I suspect it's because my fake teeth don't understand the concept.
Love the picture of you in the flowers. It's a treasure!
What a great choice of topic! I appreciate the education on the history of whistling, I learned a lot. I do not have this skill but using it to find your husband in a crowded space is brilliant so I might have to work on it!
I believe there must be a "whistling gene". In my family, my father, both brothers, myself, my son, and oldest grandson are all whistlers. My mother, sister, daughter and nieces are not. Sometimes we, whistlers whistle and aren't even aware of it until a non- Whistler hisses,"Stop whistling!". Yikes...sorry...(not)
“And speaking of strange, we can’t forget the seven dwarves who whistled on their way to work. They function well enough to run a synchronized mining operation but lose the ability to care for themselves the moment a runaway teenage princess moves in. Heigh-ho, that tracks.”
I never mastered whistling beyond quiet little ditties akin to a hum, so I think I'll check out the tutorial and see if I can master this new language.
You never cease to make me laugh, Elizabeth, especially with your comment on the seven dwarfs. 🤣
My mother was the one with the kid-summoning whistle in our family, and I wonder if that is usually the case when kid-calling is the purpose. Dad didn’t whistle, but he always sang silly songs when we were on our way home from a long and tiring Sunday car ride.
In a Netflix movie I watched last night, a German soldier was whistling as he hung a half dozen “Jew lovers.” That’s another purpose of whistling in film; to highlight a psychopath’s cruelty.
Oh, great detail, a loud whistle to halt the husband who has forgotten his lunch lol!
I’m a whistler, although I’ve never stuck fingers in my mouth to make it more piercing. I just whistle when I’m happy. As an Aussie, we’re derived from English stock and I have no doubt that whistling was considered un-feminine to the British. Such is life.
My grandmother’s version was “Whistling girls and crowing hens always come to some bad ends.” Not that it stopped me from whistling. (And do hens crow?)
Oh my gosh. You just made me remember that my mom had a special whistle she would do to get our attention to come home. I haven’t thought of that in decades. But I hear it now loud and clear. Thanks for the memories.
You have uncovered several mini-themes... You can imagine how that sends an ADD mind on journeys all over the place.. However... I know about whistling.... I can do the 2 finger whistle or I can do it without the 2 fingers... Isn't that magnificent,? Just so I will puzzle you a little bit and you might wanna try a new technique my 2 finger whistle occurs from the fingers on my left hand only, and they include my thumb and index finger... Never used 2 hands... I love the songs that you've listed that you whistle along with, because I think whistling can be signs of alert... notification... or just plain old melody.. in attempting to whistle along with a great hit... This leads me to my last statement which I think you will know the person whom I refer... It was on a winter youth retreat probably in the 1970s... When one of my super youth was whistling in the darkness of evening... I loved what he was whistling but did not know the song.... So at our worship time where we were taking holy communion.... After we had finished.... I ask him to identify that beautiful cool song.. He smiled... and that, now 70-year-old teenager, said it was "Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard" by Paul Simon .".. So now I have an earworm going on and me and Julio are dancing all over my yard... .
My favorite teacher in elementary school used a two-fingered to call us in from the playground. We all thought she was amazing. Though, now that I think of it, the other (older) teachers did look at her askance.
Oh, Elizabeth! What a delight--pointed, surprising and amusing. Thank you.
This was a great read! Growing up our mother had a particular two finger whistle that our entire community of kids knew. If we heard it, we’d better get our asses back! It was usually on the second whistle that we’d really kick it in gear 🤣
I never knew about the gender discrepancies when it came to whistling, how odd!
Never tried it, just did, worked first time. Probably because I drove stick for years.
This made me smile (and whistle,) thank you!
You are so cool! I used to be able to do the two-finger whistle, albeit somewhat feebly. Not nearly loud enough to reach anyone at a distance or to scare the hell out of anyone nearby, but just enough that I felt giddy with achievement. I can't do it anymore and I suspect it's because my fake teeth don't understand the concept.
Love the picture of you in the flowers. It's a treasure!
We played Kick the Can, Release, Spud, and more. And Charlie Chips were delivered regularly to our door!
What a great choice of topic! I appreciate the education on the history of whistling, I learned a lot. I do not have this skill but using it to find your husband in a crowded space is brilliant so I might have to work on it!
I believe there must be a "whistling gene". In my family, my father, both brothers, myself, my son, and oldest grandson are all whistlers. My mother, sister, daughter and nieces are not. Sometimes we, whistlers whistle and aren't even aware of it until a non- Whistler hisses,"Stop whistling!". Yikes...sorry...(not)
“And speaking of strange, we can’t forget the seven dwarves who whistled on their way to work. They function well enough to run a synchronized mining operation but lose the ability to care for themselves the moment a runaway teenage princess moves in. Heigh-ho, that tracks.”
🤣🤣🤣 Loved it all!
I never mastered whistling beyond quiet little ditties akin to a hum, so I think I'll check out the tutorial and see if I can master this new language.
I couldn’t do a two-finger whistle, but did a few tunes in my day.
But I was obnoxiously good at blowing grass! Yessiree … a long blade, held taut between thumb tips and heels … simply screamed!!!
cj
You never cease to make me laugh, Elizabeth, especially with your comment on the seven dwarfs. 🤣
My mother was the one with the kid-summoning whistle in our family, and I wonder if that is usually the case when kid-calling is the purpose. Dad didn’t whistle, but he always sang silly songs when we were on our way home from a long and tiring Sunday car ride.
In a Netflix movie I watched last night, a German soldier was whistling as he hung a half dozen “Jew lovers.” That’s another purpose of whistling in film; to highlight a psychopath’s cruelty.
Oh, great detail, a loud whistle to halt the husband who has forgotten his lunch lol!
I’m a whistler, although I’ve never stuck fingers in my mouth to make it more piercing. I just whistle when I’m happy. As an Aussie, we’re derived from English stock and I have no doubt that whistling was considered un-feminine to the British. Such is life.
Another excellent read. Thanks so much.
My grandmother’s version was “Whistling girls and crowing hens always come to some bad ends.” Not that it stopped me from whistling. (And do hens crow?)
Oh my gosh. You just made me remember that my mom had a special whistle she would do to get our attention to come home. I haven’t thought of that in decades. But I hear it now loud and clear. Thanks for the memories.
You have uncovered several mini-themes... You can imagine how that sends an ADD mind on journeys all over the place.. However... I know about whistling.... I can do the 2 finger whistle or I can do it without the 2 fingers... Isn't that magnificent,? Just so I will puzzle you a little bit and you might wanna try a new technique my 2 finger whistle occurs from the fingers on my left hand only, and they include my thumb and index finger... Never used 2 hands... I love the songs that you've listed that you whistle along with, because I think whistling can be signs of alert... notification... or just plain old melody.. in attempting to whistle along with a great hit... This leads me to my last statement which I think you will know the person whom I refer... It was on a winter youth retreat probably in the 1970s... When one of my super youth was whistling in the darkness of evening... I loved what he was whistling but did not know the song.... So at our worship time where we were taking holy communion.... After we had finished.... I ask him to identify that beautiful cool song.. He smiled... and that, now 70-year-old teenager, said it was "Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard" by Paul Simon .".. So now I have an earworm going on and me and Julio are dancing all over my yard... .
My favorite teacher in elementary school used a two-fingered to call us in from the playground. We all thought she was amazing. Though, now that I think of it, the other (older) teachers did look at her askance.