In Mangum, County seat of Greer County, the tallest building in town was the hospital. three stories. It had the only elevator in Greer County. Its now the County museum. Been there and family's photos can be found if you look really closely. Our mother worked in and around doctors and hospitals all her life and I am quite comfortable with doctors, as long as I am not sitting on a plastic upholstered table with nothing on except the little gown that ties in the back. I decided I would give up doctors when I turned 71. Don't know why I chose 71 but it seemed like a good year. So, and maybe foolishly so, I just don't go. I like them personally. We have a doctor in our congregation. I love this young man and his family. He is genuine, he is devoted and I understand he is a good physician. Mate thinks so. I prefer not to see him in his office. So I don't. Another good thing about being 74 is that I don't have to do almost anything voluntarily, but of course there may come a day when they load me into an ambulance and take me to the hospital. If I am conscious and in my right mind I will in all likelihood protest.
Mate has had some bad luck with health problems but it seems to me that the first time he went to the doctor about them it became an never ending quest. One doctor led to another, one pill led to another, and on into infinity. We even spent several Saturdays driving to the Metroplex to a doctor who pressed on his ear. I watched one day and we decided if his ear needed pressing I could do it. I'm quick to catch on. Most people with health problems are in the same boat. It appears that there is no way to get out of the boat. So I decided just not to go for the ride. Now, admittedly, I am very lucky. I really don't ever have any medical problems (should I knock on wood) except for colds or flu or an infection here and there. I have always recognized the infections I have had and I do go to the doctor, explain what I have, they test, and sure enough its what I have and they give me an antibiotic and it goes away, and I go away from the doctor's office.
But this morning, I am going to the hospital, voluntarily, where I will lay on a table and hopefully I will leave in a few hours with beautiful oriental shaped eyes. Yep. Having plastic surgery. Chose the doctor carefully. Actually knew him when he was young. Son, cut a tendon in his finger while a freshman in high school. Met this doctor. So nice. I thought I had met Wichita County's Omar Sharif. My favorite movie came to life. We had hired Dr. Zhivago. Since then he has done surgery on Mate two times and I chose him for this endeavor. He has aged much better than Omar Sharif.
S0 I will keep you posted. I have read articles about doctors making mistakes, even in plastic surgery. I figure I will either have those beautiful oriental shaped eyes, and regain peripheral vision, OR will have bosoms like Dolly Partain, OR not be able to smile but sing like Kenny Rogers, OR just be plain ugly like Joan Rivers.
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
Sunday, May 16, 2010
Teapots and Traveling
Back in the 1980s we were privileged to travel several times in England and Scotland. We always went in the Summer. Even though it rains a lot, it also gets hot. The English do not do iced drinks. If you bought a canned drink you got it off the shelf and drank it luke warm. Americans, especially Texans thrive on iced drinks. The Coberg Hotel, Bayswater Street, right across from Hyde Park, and the place where Diana and Prince Charles lived, was where we always stayed in London. Every morning I would get up early, get a cup of coffee from the breakfast room, buy a paper, cross the street and sit on a bench right in front of the door of Diana's palace. Sort of felt like we were having coffee together. Of course she would have tea.
The hotel kept the same staff for years and we got to know many of them. Found that I could order a pot of tea, let it cool down, ask for ice in the bar and make me iced tea. They began to have a cool pot of tea waiting for me in the afternoon. I thought it wonderful. I don't think I ever got over ordering "Hot Tea please". They wondered what other kind was there.
Once we were on a train on our way to somewhere and Mate was hungry. The train always has a Buffet Car but it is pronounced buffey car. Mate went to the buffey car for a sandwich. Came back with two sandwiches and of course an inevitable warm coke. I asked why he got two. Said he had ordered a ham and cheese and he got one ham and one cheese. I don't think we ever figured out how to get one sandwich with both.
The greatest trip we ever had was with my sister and brother in law. It was also our last trip overseas in either the late 80s or early 90s. We had a 21 day Brit Rail pass and traveled all over England and Scotland staying in Bed & Breakfast establishments. Wonderful trip. Stayed in Edinburgh for a while. Sister and I are big time readers and both of us love the story of Greyfriars Bobby. Based on a true story of a cemetery keeper in Edinburgh and his little dog, Bobby. When the keeper died he was buried there and the little dog would not leave. Slept every night on his grave. Became a fixture in the neighborhood and was fed by the local pub owners. It also made a great tear jerker movie. We read there was a pub named Greyfriars Bobby and a statute of the little dog. We found the pub but walked and walked and still could not find the statute. Well you know those things become an obsession and you just have to find it. We would walk a while and ask and would be directed back to the Pub. Brother in law and Mate quit walking and sat at a bench on the sidewalk waiting on us to finally find the dog. Brother in law turned around and there right behind them all the while was the statute of Bobby. It is very small and at eye level. So if you happen to be in Edinburgh and would like to see the little black dog, don't go any further than Greyfriars Pub.
Seems to me that we should always look upward when asking God for blessings but we must remember that the blessing may have been there all the time. Right in front of our eyes,
The hotel kept the same staff for years and we got to know many of them. Found that I could order a pot of tea, let it cool down, ask for ice in the bar and make me iced tea. They began to have a cool pot of tea waiting for me in the afternoon. I thought it wonderful. I don't think I ever got over ordering "Hot Tea please". They wondered what other kind was there.
Once we were on a train on our way to somewhere and Mate was hungry. The train always has a Buffet Car but it is pronounced buffey car. Mate went to the buffey car for a sandwich. Came back with two sandwiches and of course an inevitable warm coke. I asked why he got two. Said he had ordered a ham and cheese and he got one ham and one cheese. I don't think we ever figured out how to get one sandwich with both.
The greatest trip we ever had was with my sister and brother in law. It was also our last trip overseas in either the late 80s or early 90s. We had a 21 day Brit Rail pass and traveled all over England and Scotland staying in Bed & Breakfast establishments. Wonderful trip. Stayed in Edinburgh for a while. Sister and I are big time readers and both of us love the story of Greyfriars Bobby. Based on a true story of a cemetery keeper in Edinburgh and his little dog, Bobby. When the keeper died he was buried there and the little dog would not leave. Slept every night on his grave. Became a fixture in the neighborhood and was fed by the local pub owners. It also made a great tear jerker movie. We read there was a pub named Greyfriars Bobby and a statute of the little dog. We found the pub but walked and walked and still could not find the statute. Well you know those things become an obsession and you just have to find it. We would walk a while and ask and would be directed back to the Pub. Brother in law and Mate quit walking and sat at a bench on the sidewalk waiting on us to finally find the dog. Brother in law turned around and there right behind them all the while was the statute of Bobby. It is very small and at eye level. So if you happen to be in Edinburgh and would like to see the little black dog, don't go any further than Greyfriars Pub.
Seems to me that we should always look upward when asking God for blessings but we must remember that the blessing may have been there all the time. Right in front of our eyes,
Saturday, May 15, 2010
Age Does Bring Wisdom
Actually I have always, or at least for the past several years, known that you get wiser as you get older My sister has preached that for years now This was proven correct just yesterday.
For about 20 years or maybe even more, Mate and I have owned two lamps. They are those neat "touch" lamps. Just turn over and touch it and it comes on, two more touches and it goes off. I remember buying them. $19.95 at Walmart. I think that they still sell the same ones and I don't think that they are much more than that. They have sat by the side of our bed all these years.
The lamps have a quirk. When the electricity blinks, they come on. For all this time we would wake up and touch two more times and they would go off and we would go back to sleep. Not rocket science, just touch and sleep.
On Thursday night in Wichita Falls, we had spectacular lightening strikes, all night long. Thankfully, our electricity did not go off for any extended period of time, just blinked probably twelve different times. Twelve different times we woke and touched two more times.
Friday morning at breakfast we discussed lack of sleep. Light then went on without touching anything! We can unplug the lamps.
Life is sort of like that. What you think is a pressing, maybe insurmountable problem often times has a very simple solution. We tend to overlook the obvious and make things more difficult than they really are. So simple to talk to the Master and ask His help. Hard part is waiting for the answer. Like unplugging the lamp.
For about 20 years or maybe even more, Mate and I have owned two lamps. They are those neat "touch" lamps. Just turn over and touch it and it comes on, two more touches and it goes off. I remember buying them. $19.95 at Walmart. I think that they still sell the same ones and I don't think that they are much more than that. They have sat by the side of our bed all these years.
The lamps have a quirk. When the electricity blinks, they come on. For all this time we would wake up and touch two more times and they would go off and we would go back to sleep. Not rocket science, just touch and sleep.
On Thursday night in Wichita Falls, we had spectacular lightening strikes, all night long. Thankfully, our electricity did not go off for any extended period of time, just blinked probably twelve different times. Twelve different times we woke and touched two more times.
Friday morning at breakfast we discussed lack of sleep. Light then went on without touching anything! We can unplug the lamps.
Life is sort of like that. What you think is a pressing, maybe insurmountable problem often times has a very simple solution. We tend to overlook the obvious and make things more difficult than they really are. So simple to talk to the Master and ask His help. Hard part is waiting for the answer. Like unplugging the lamp.
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
Water With Lemon Please
Its said that if you die in Texas, before you can go to Heaven or the other place, you have to go through either Dallas or Houston. Goodness knows if you want to fly out of the State this is certainly true. Those are our two hubs. When Mate an I go to California, we can oft times come out cheaper flying to Dallas from our home and connecting on to California; If we drive to Dallas and fly out, we have to get up early, pay parking for four or more days and then when we return we have to drive back home when we are really tired and it is dark and we are old....and so forth and so forth Also you can mark it up that Mate and I will have an argument on the way to the airport and on the way home. That would be because I am sure to stop at Starbucks and order a speciality drink for which we will pay in the neighborhood of $4.50, This will put Mate in a bad mood from Decatur all the way to the airport. This doesn't take into account the fact that on the way home from the airport I will cajole until we have stopped at Joe's Crab Shack. He doesn't mind stopping or what I order. BUT, at Joe's, I will order iced tea.
I need to explain about Mate and drinks ordered at eating establishments. He is against them. For over 57 years I have heard the same argument about how much tea you can make for what they charge for a single glass or how much coffee you can buy for what is charged for a single cup. And don't even mention Starbucks to him. He is against it.
I really don't order tea at every meal even though it is my drink of choice. As you know if you have followed along with me, Mate and I do eat out a lot. Therefore, I know all the places where the tea, in my judgment, is worth ordering For instance: Red Lobster, always order iced tea at Red Lobster, Second best in our City, They even have blue sweetner and I don't have to use my own that is always in my purse for emergencies. Cheddars and Applebees. Don't even think about it. No blue packets and the tea just is not that good. Long John Silver is pretty good but they have the pink stuff so i use my blue packets. Number one, best tea in town, hands down winner, Subway Sandwich Shop. It is ( in my not so humble opinion) the best in our City. BUT, again you have to use your own blue sweetner.
Most people think eating out is easy. Not so. It takes a vast amount of knowledge and planning, I just happen to be one of the educated ones who has a lot of experience and knows my way around a menu. Mate always orders water with lemon and if no one is looking he will make lemonade. Not long ago at a favorite restaurant, he told the young waiter he needed a lot of lemon because he was going to make lemonade. Young waiter comes back to the table with a glass of lemonade and sets it down; tells Mate that he remembers last time and its easier to bring him lemonade than to clean up the table, Mate has also learned how to get around a menu.
I usually know what I am going to order at any given place and I am pretty sure what Mate will order. Neither one of us is big on change. I don't dare tell him what I know he is going to order because just to prove me wrong he will order something else. Then of course, he is not happy with his meal. See this is complicated and we have worked out all these bugs over the years. We eat at a place that serves among other items, Mexican food with french fries, Mates favorite meal. Its one of my least favorite places, but I will go anywhere. Just as long as I don't have to put it together at home,
So the next time you hear that we are flying to California to see the kids, you can pretty well bet that we are either at the Wichita Falls Municipal Airport, or at Joe's Crab Shack drinking iced tea.
I need to explain about Mate and drinks ordered at eating establishments. He is against them. For over 57 years I have heard the same argument about how much tea you can make for what they charge for a single glass or how much coffee you can buy for what is charged for a single cup. And don't even mention Starbucks to him. He is against it.
I really don't order tea at every meal even though it is my drink of choice. As you know if you have followed along with me, Mate and I do eat out a lot. Therefore, I know all the places where the tea, in my judgment, is worth ordering For instance: Red Lobster, always order iced tea at Red Lobster, Second best in our City, They even have blue sweetner and I don't have to use my own that is always in my purse for emergencies. Cheddars and Applebees. Don't even think about it. No blue packets and the tea just is not that good. Long John Silver is pretty good but they have the pink stuff so i use my blue packets. Number one, best tea in town, hands down winner, Subway Sandwich Shop. It is ( in my not so humble opinion) the best in our City. BUT, again you have to use your own blue sweetner.
Most people think eating out is easy. Not so. It takes a vast amount of knowledge and planning, I just happen to be one of the educated ones who has a lot of experience and knows my way around a menu. Mate always orders water with lemon and if no one is looking he will make lemonade. Not long ago at a favorite restaurant, he told the young waiter he needed a lot of lemon because he was going to make lemonade. Young waiter comes back to the table with a glass of lemonade and sets it down; tells Mate that he remembers last time and its easier to bring him lemonade than to clean up the table, Mate has also learned how to get around a menu.
I usually know what I am going to order at any given place and I am pretty sure what Mate will order. Neither one of us is big on change. I don't dare tell him what I know he is going to order because just to prove me wrong he will order something else. Then of course, he is not happy with his meal. See this is complicated and we have worked out all these bugs over the years. We eat at a place that serves among other items, Mexican food with french fries, Mates favorite meal. Its one of my least favorite places, but I will go anywhere. Just as long as I don't have to put it together at home,
So the next time you hear that we are flying to California to see the kids, you can pretty well bet that we are either at the Wichita Falls Municipal Airport, or at Joe's Crab Shack drinking iced tea.
What Time Is It?
Its Howdy Doody "Time". There may be some that do not remember Howdy and Buffalo Bob. I came to know them because I had a small son. Before that I knew Ding Dong School because I had a daughter. That is really reaching back in" time".
Mate has always been rather precise about "time." He wants to know the minute, like its 8:42. I just want to know what day it is, and I'm not too particular about that. Mate and I have always spent a lot of "Time", discussing "Time." Seems like (pardon the pun) a waste of "Time" to me.
He always wanted to be the first to arrive anywhere we were going. I was always just a few steps behind. Sunday morning used to be the worst. He would be ready leaning against the door sighing and I would be putting the last of the make up on. I would always thank him for helping me to hurry by sighing, I was of course being sarcastic, but it never stopped him from sighing.
Something happens as you get older, "Time" to get somewhere is not quite as important as the journey. We go slower, we need less "Time" to get ready. Amazing how when you are older you don't have to do as much. I think its because we discovered that it doesn't really matter if our outlook is perfect. Its more our inlook we think about now days.
Mate has always been rather precise about "time." He wants to know the minute, like its 8:42. I just want to know what day it is, and I'm not too particular about that. Mate and I have always spent a lot of "Time", discussing "Time." Seems like (pardon the pun) a waste of "Time" to me.
He always wanted to be the first to arrive anywhere we were going. I was always just a few steps behind. Sunday morning used to be the worst. He would be ready leaning against the door sighing and I would be putting the last of the make up on. I would always thank him for helping me to hurry by sighing, I was of course being sarcastic, but it never stopped him from sighing.
Something happens as you get older, "Time" to get somewhere is not quite as important as the journey. We go slower, we need less "Time" to get ready. Amazing how when you are older you don't have to do as much. I think its because we discovered that it doesn't really matter if our outlook is perfect. Its more our inlook we think about now days.
Thursday, May 6, 2010
Silk, Sports, Spectators
Mate loves sports. If it has a ball involved, he is a fan. That is outside of soccer which has not appealed to him yet, but there is still time. Basketball is, I think, his favorite, followed closely by football, golf, baseball and tennis. Baseball and tennis are not really that important to him, but he does read the sports page from cover to cover each morning and if you mention a player's name he instantly knows which team he plays for and where they are in the standings. It is amazing to me that this man who has to make a note and post it on the bathroom mirror to remember a haircut or a doctor's appointment, can tell you what the score of the game was when Dallas played San Antonio in February, 2009. First and foremost in his sports life are the Texas Longhorns. We do not talk when the Longhorns play.
Many times Mate and Son watch a game together. Mate is a devoted Maverick fan; Son, the Lakers. They get on the phone together and I can hear both of them cheering. Its one of the good things about sports. Mate has Lakers as his second most favorite team, all because of Son.
Sports are just not my thing. I find I really don't care if the Cowboys have a new stadium,or if they win, or if the Mavericks have a short or tall Center, or even if the University of Texas beats Oklahoma. However, I do hope that you won't mention that University of Texas-Oklahoma thing to mate. It would not go well.
I was a Dallas Cowboy fan until they fired Tom Landry. What kind of person in their right mind would fire Tom Landry. Oh I remember, Jerry Jones. I enjoyed Don Meredith, Roger throwing to Drew, and my favorite, Walt Garrison. See I do know some sports, but then Jerry Jones fired Tom Landry! First thing you know,someone named Michael was in jail; they were mouthing obscenities at the camera and class left the Dallas Cowboys. The Day They Fired Tom Landry. (I feel a Country Western song here) Found out I did not need the Dallas Cowboys without Tom Landry. So I left professional football. Personally I have a lot of trouble being loyal to a bunch of grown men, making more money than we can even think about and they don't win every week. If I did my job like they do I would be fired.
My favorite time with sports ....... the Olympics when the USA team played Russia. I don't remember what year. Mate would. But we would rush home from work to watch the game. The most excited I ever was about something I knew nothing about, didn't take time to learn and would never really watch again in my lifetime. Had not a clue what the rules were, did not care. Not only was it Team USA, there was a player named Silk! Guess what my sister and I have for our last name.....thats right Silk. We do know that somewhere down the line we were kin but we didn't look him up and probably he never looked for us since we never heard from him. I think of anything I ever watched that was termed sport, this was the most exciting. People who had never seen a hockey puck were talking about Team USA in the elevators all over the country,
The second and last thing I found exciting in professional sports was watching Nolan Ryan on his way to his 5000th strikeout. Now in case you don't know Mr. Ryan...he lives in Alvin Texas and was a premier pitcher, not just for the Rangers but everywhere he played. Such a sportsman,
Spectator Sports was just more fun when it was played by gentlemen who didn't go to jail, or didn't go to rehab. It was a kinder gentler time. Sadly spectator sports mirror society. Wish we were gentle persons again.
Many times Mate and Son watch a game together. Mate is a devoted Maverick fan; Son, the Lakers. They get on the phone together and I can hear both of them cheering. Its one of the good things about sports. Mate has Lakers as his second most favorite team, all because of Son.
Sports are just not my thing. I find I really don't care if the Cowboys have a new stadium,or if they win, or if the Mavericks have a short or tall Center, or even if the University of Texas beats Oklahoma. However, I do hope that you won't mention that University of Texas-Oklahoma thing to mate. It would not go well.
I was a Dallas Cowboy fan until they fired Tom Landry. What kind of person in their right mind would fire Tom Landry. Oh I remember, Jerry Jones. I enjoyed Don Meredith, Roger throwing to Drew, and my favorite, Walt Garrison. See I do know some sports, but then Jerry Jones fired Tom Landry! First thing you know,someone named Michael was in jail; they were mouthing obscenities at the camera and class left the Dallas Cowboys. The Day They Fired Tom Landry. (I feel a Country Western song here) Found out I did not need the Dallas Cowboys without Tom Landry. So I left professional football. Personally I have a lot of trouble being loyal to a bunch of grown men, making more money than we can even think about and they don't win every week. If I did my job like they do I would be fired.
My favorite time with sports ....... the Olympics when the USA team played Russia. I don't remember what year. Mate would. But we would rush home from work to watch the game. The most excited I ever was about something I knew nothing about, didn't take time to learn and would never really watch again in my lifetime. Had not a clue what the rules were, did not care. Not only was it Team USA, there was a player named Silk! Guess what my sister and I have for our last name.....thats right Silk. We do know that somewhere down the line we were kin but we didn't look him up and probably he never looked for us since we never heard from him. I think of anything I ever watched that was termed sport, this was the most exciting. People who had never seen a hockey puck were talking about Team USA in the elevators all over the country,
The second and last thing I found exciting in professional sports was watching Nolan Ryan on his way to his 5000th strikeout. Now in case you don't know Mr. Ryan...he lives in Alvin Texas and was a premier pitcher, not just for the Rangers but everywhere he played. Such a sportsman,
Spectator Sports was just more fun when it was played by gentlemen who didn't go to jail, or didn't go to rehab. It was a kinder gentler time. Sadly spectator sports mirror society. Wish we were gentle persons again.
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
Where'd Baby Girl Go
In Texas we use a lot of "made up" words. I don't think 'where'd' is really a word, but we use it. We mean it to be a contraction of Where and Did. 'Where'd you put (insert anything you can't find here) . Not in the dictionary.
Our favorite word in Texas is "fixin to"( one word) . Son moved to California. He thinks they know how to talk out there. He 'useta' (always one word) point out every time I was "fixin to" do something. Still does occasionally.
Our favorite word in Texas is "fixin to"( one word) . Son moved to California. He thinks they know how to talk out there. He 'useta' (always one word) point out every time I was "fixin to" do something. Still does occasionally.
I useta have a baby girl. I don't know where she went. Little baby, sweet and cuddly. Came along before Pampers and ready made formula. Pet milk, Karo ( one of those branded things, any clear syrup was called Karo) and water. Every family had a sterilizer. Big pan on the stove, and if you were lucky it had a rack where you stood the bottles after you filled them . Then you cooked 'em (Texas contraction for them) Got em piping hot. Then Refrigerated. Time to feed you heated "em" up again. Not too hot, not too cold. Did you know that the inside of the mother's wrist was put there by God to use when testing the warmth of the baby's milk. You can look it up. I'm sure its in the Bible.
Washing was done in machine that someone gave mate and I. A big tub with an agitator inside. You filled it with scalding water, turned it on and stood back. It agitated. You lifted items out one at a time, put them in a galvanized tub where you rinsed and then repeated this. We had a woven wicker clothes basket to put the wet clothes in. Some of the wicker strips would come loose and it was usual to be wounded. Laundry was dangerous work. A wire stretched across the back yard and you hung clothes on the line with wooden contraptions called clothes pins. In the winter diapers froze and in the spring they got rained on. Finally the clothes dried and then you ironed nearly everything and put them up. You were through. Wash days were always on Monday. ALL DAY MONDAY!! Some women with large families would disappear for days. Now you know why my generation hangs a towel up to dry and uses it again. You may forget your first day of school, you may forget friends names, and personally, I have never stopped to remember the Alamo (I was after all born in Oklahoma) but I will never forget Mondays.
Washing was done in machine that someone gave mate and I. A big tub with an agitator inside. You filled it with scalding water, turned it on and stood back. It agitated. You lifted items out one at a time, put them in a galvanized tub where you rinsed and then repeated this. We had a woven wicker clothes basket to put the wet clothes in. Some of the wicker strips would come loose and it was usual to be wounded. Laundry was dangerous work. A wire stretched across the back yard and you hung clothes on the line with wooden contraptions called clothes pins. In the winter diapers froze and in the spring they got rained on. Finally the clothes dried and then you ironed nearly everything and put them up. You were through. Wash days were always on Monday. ALL DAY MONDAY!! Some women with large families would disappear for days. Now you know why my generation hangs a towel up to dry and uses it again. You may forget your first day of school, you may forget friends names, and personally, I have never stopped to remember the Alamo (I was after all born in Oklahoma) but I will never forget Mondays.
Baby girl had all cotton dresses. Everything had to be ironed. Nothing wash and wear. Great-Grandmother made little dresses out of gingham check. She had every color that was marketed. The first grand child, the instrument by which I was forgiven for running off and getting married. I never lacked for a baby sitter. The child that cuddled as close to you as possible as a baby and as a teenager seemed as far away as possible. But where did Baby girl go? I really do know the answer. When I wasn't looking, she grew up.
I post this on Baby Girl's birthday. Now a grandmother, and a good one; my friend, and a good one. We fought many battles. I look back and see how unimportant the things we fought over really were. Spent a lot of time on hair. For goodness sakes why? We missed a lot by arguing. Spent a lot of time on clothes. She was always covered, so why? Spent a lot of time on school. Even though not the best grades in the class, she finished. So why? I never knew how to pick my battles. Little things seemed important. Wanted her neat. Wanted her to be the best in class. Wanted her to reflect how good a mother I was. I know now most of what I wanted was for me. It took me a while, and I still slip but I grew up. Now what I pray for is for her to know God, to know how to pray. I want her in Heaven. I want her to know I love her. Much more important than clothes, hair and grades. Happy Birthday Baby Girl.
Saturday, May 1, 2010
Barry Manilow
"I write the Songs". One of my top ten favorites. Everything Barry Manilow wrote are favorites; from "Mandy" to "Copa Cabana". Many remember things in our past by hearing a certain song. If I hear "Wheel of Fortune" (a song before it was a game show) by Kay Starr I am taken back to working at F.W. Woolworth record counter. I got to chose the record to play on speakers in the store. They knew I was at work when "Wheel" started playing. "Slow Boat to China" by Jo Stafford and "Peace in the Valley" by Red Foley were my Dad's favorites. Mother loved a tune called "Up A Lazy River".
My favorite TV show was "Your Hit Parade" It featured four singers, Dorothy Collins, Richard Arms, Gisele McKensie and Snooky Lansen. Aired Saturday night, sponsored by Lucky Strike cigarettes. The premise was to take the top songs of the week and present them in what was the forerunner of MTV. But with clothes on and without gestures that would embarrass your grandparents. Our generation's music video.
I have always loved music. I think most of us do. At one time I knew the words to every song recorded by Tammy Wynette. (special but not on my list of top ten accomplishments in life). Had all the songs by the Statler Bros., The Oak Ridge Boys. (don't you still enjoy Elvira), Roy Clark. None gotten stale. Never listened to Rod Stewart until he came out with three volumes of oldies (if you are over 50 and don't have those recordings you should look into it)
Merle Haggard was and still is my favorite Okie from Muskogee and boy is he looking old.
Through owning every Gaither video that Bill has put out, I learned about song writers. I began to look in the book to see who wrote what. One of the greatest, Albert Brumley, wrote over 600 songs. Known as the Dean of Gospel Song Writers. Raised in Southeastern Oklahoma, son of sharecroppers. You will recognize " I'll Fly Away", "Turn Your Radio On", "I'll Meet you In the Morning" and my personal favorite, "Jesus Hold My Hand." I bring up Albert Brumley because at our congregation we have a young couple, Bob and Jane Brumley. Bob is the grandson of Albert Brumley. What a great musical heritage he has.
My California grandson has an IPod with almost every song you can imagine loaded on. When he was here a couple of years ago, "Salty Dog Rag" kept running over in my mind and as I am apt to do I would sing it off and on til one day he asked if that was really a song. Brought him into the computer, cranked up ITunes and found it by Roy Clark. Grandson liked the way it sounded. I clicked the magic button and for 99 cents we owned the record. Downloaded it on his IPod. I am not exaggerating when I say that he is probably the only 18 year old in Southern California with Salty Dog Rag loaded on his IPod. Its either a curse or a blessing. Now if I can just get him to listen to Barry Manilow
My favorite TV show was "Your Hit Parade" It featured four singers, Dorothy Collins, Richard Arms, Gisele McKensie and Snooky Lansen. Aired Saturday night, sponsored by Lucky Strike cigarettes. The premise was to take the top songs of the week and present them in what was the forerunner of MTV. But with clothes on and without gestures that would embarrass your grandparents. Our generation's music video.
I have always loved music. I think most of us do. At one time I knew the words to every song recorded by Tammy Wynette. (special but not on my list of top ten accomplishments in life). Had all the songs by the Statler Bros., The Oak Ridge Boys. (don't you still enjoy Elvira), Roy Clark. None gotten stale. Never listened to Rod Stewart until he came out with three volumes of oldies (if you are over 50 and don't have those recordings you should look into it)
Merle Haggard was and still is my favorite Okie from Muskogee and boy is he looking old.
Through owning every Gaither video that Bill has put out, I learned about song writers. I began to look in the book to see who wrote what. One of the greatest, Albert Brumley, wrote over 600 songs. Known as the Dean of Gospel Song Writers. Raised in Southeastern Oklahoma, son of sharecroppers. You will recognize " I'll Fly Away", "Turn Your Radio On", "I'll Meet you In the Morning" and my personal favorite, "Jesus Hold My Hand." I bring up Albert Brumley because at our congregation we have a young couple, Bob and Jane Brumley. Bob is the grandson of Albert Brumley. What a great musical heritage he has.
My California grandson has an IPod with almost every song you can imagine loaded on. When he was here a couple of years ago, "Salty Dog Rag" kept running over in my mind and as I am apt to do I would sing it off and on til one day he asked if that was really a song. Brought him into the computer, cranked up ITunes and found it by Roy Clark. Grandson liked the way it sounded. I clicked the magic button and for 99 cents we owned the record. Downloaded it on his IPod. I am not exaggerating when I say that he is probably the only 18 year old in Southern California with Salty Dog Rag loaded on his IPod. Its either a curse or a blessing. Now if I can just get him to listen to Barry Manilow
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