For today’s Thursday Inspiration, one of the themes is sisters, which is from the song “Red House” by Jimi Hendrix. In that song, the narrator appears to have been “ghosted” by his girlfriend, for she changes the locks and his key no longer works. He decides to visit her sister instead, from whom he hopes to get some love.
In the above pic, we have Jeannie guarding her master Major Nelson from whatever evil plot her sister is cooking up. Barbara Eden plays both sisters and Larry Hagman (RIP) plays Nelson. When Jeannie wears her pink outfit, she is the good and loving sister, though she often innocently gets Nelson into trouble regardless. When she wears her green sister costume, you know big drama is coming.
I Dream of Jeannie was one of my favorite TV shows for a long time, but when I began to watch it again in my 50s I didn’t like it at all. (Same thing happened with That Girl, Match Game, etc.) On the rewatch, the jokes all seemed super dumb, except when Paul Lynde (RIP) costarred, and so many eps were constructed around the sexist idea that a beautiful woman who could do anything only ever thought about snagging some dude to marry. That Girl was also horribly sexist, even for the time, and Match Game was just a bunch of drunk idiots. Bleh.
What was I talking about again? Oh yeah, the sister theme. Elvis has a fun song about a guy who is pleading with a girl not to jilt him “like your big sister done.” “Little Sister” was written by Doc Pomus and Mort Shuman, performed by Elvis Presley, and released in 1961 (a very good year!). It hit No. 5 on the Billboard Hot 100. Enjoy!
Maggie continues the Throwback Thursday series by asking about sensory memories. Interesting questions!
1. Do certain smells bring back memories for you? Maybe a flower, or a perfume, or the smell of a certain food cooking? If so, can you share one such memory?
Oh yes. Smell is strongly bound to memory, and in my case a whiff of Jean Naté conjures up my mom’s ghost. It probably would trigger a headache for me now.
2. Have you ever sensed a strong smell that reminded you of someone only to realize the smell was not actually present? How do you explain that?
I have not experienced a smell hallucination that reminded me of a person, but I often do have them before or during a migraine. For example, peanut butter is one of my favorite foods, but it sometimes smells like disgusting cigarettes during a migraine attack. I guess a sector of brain software gets damaged then and subsequently repairs itself.
3. What song immediately whisks you back to another place and time? Share a YouTube video, or name the song and tell us about the memory.
Many songs are associated with the past for me, but one song that completely freaks me out to this day is Lionel Ritchie’s “You Are the Sun.” I slow danced to this song in a bar in Chicago at closing time (2am) with a man I was madly in love with back in 1983. He seemed to like me, but when I had to work, he took another girl on a camping trip. Yep, I was so nuts over this guy I would have gone camping! But I have always put work first, above everything except my children. After that, I decided to move to California with my parents and create all new sad memories.
4. Is there a taste that reminds you of a person, place or memory? Does that food happen to be one of your ‘comfort foods’?
Spritz Christmas cookies remind me of my mom. We used to bake these every year and it was a lot of fun. But I no longer have the metal cookie press she used, and I don’t get good results from plastic ones. To be clear, I am not talking about any random Christmas cookies, but only homemade butter-sugar ones shaped like trees or wreaths or poinsettias and dotted with sprinkles. We would color one batch of dough green and half the other batch red, which usually came out pink. We left half a batch uncolored and sprinkled lots of deco on those. Once, my mom went wild and put peppermint flavor in the pink cookies instead of our usual vanilla or almond.
If I had these cookies now, I’m sure they’d be comforting, but I wouldn’t go to the trouble of baking them. It’s a lot of work!
5. Have you ever been somewhere new and immediately felt at home as if you have been there before?
I can’t recall feeling this ever. I’m usually uncomfortable in new places.
6. Have you ever experienced déjà vu? If so, how do you explain it?
Sometimes. It’s just a software glitch imo. Or it could be that I don’t have a lot of unique experiences, so many of them feel the same.
7/8/9. Are there sounds that remind you of another place and time? (Something like a clock ticking, a train whistle, a horse galloping, gentle rain, etc.) Do certain textures or colors trigger memories? Do certain stories, books, or poems remind you of someone from your past?
No to all.
10. What sensory stimuli surrounding you and your present environment do you think might evoke memories of you for your family or friends?
Friends and family variously associate me with cupcakes, avocado, cats, otters, and migraines. Everyone knows I hate perfume, bright light, and loud or repetitive noise. I have a rep for getting lost and being somewhat funny. My theme song is “Hotel California” by the Eagles. My motto is “eww people.”
She liked John Wayne; He watched Swan Lake. While he read the paper, She puttered in the garden. He wanted to go to Paris; She suggested Nashville. They both enjoyed burgers, Brandy and the Beatles. For all their differences, Their love was on the same page.
Melanie starts our week off right with a new group of Share Your World questions. Let’s get to it!
1. When you were a kid, did you eat the crusts on your sandwich or not?
I ate them and I’ve never understood the thing about cutting them off. Unless you bake your own bread and the edges are stale, it makes no sense ~ commercial loaves of bread are soft all the way through. I didn’t cut the crusts of sandwiches for my kids either. If they didn’t want crusts, they could have eaten the middles only, but I don’t remember that happening.
2. Are you a fan of musicals—why or why not?
I totally adore musicals! I just rewatched Chicago last week, and I regularly rewatch Mamma Mia 1 and 2. Other faves are The Sound of Music, Hair, Fiddler on the Roof, Walk the Line, My Fair Lady, and Footloose (especially the remake).
3. Is it difficult to do what you do? (for a living, hobby etc.). If you’re retired, what you ‘did’ previously for a job can be substituted.
I’m a legal secretary (transactional real estate), and it’s not that difficult for me because I am obsessed with details, but it might be harder for someone who isn’t good with numbers, names, and proofreading.
4. What’s the best concert you’ve ever been to? (Doesn’t have to be a rock concert either).
I haven’t been to many. Pat Benatar’s back in the 1980s was great.
5. Looking back over your life, what is one thing you’re grateful for? One thing you really regret?
Every day I’m grateful that I had children. My daughters are the best thing in my life and bring me the most happiness. I love them both so much and my grands too! I do regret not getting divorced from their father sooner, as I might have had a chance for a successful new romance without so much emotional baggage from that marriage. But it’s fine, and I have learned to enjoy being single and NOT looking. I used to say that I regret not going to Northwestern when I had the chance, but if I had, I probably wouldn’t have met my children’s father, so I don’t really regret that. Like everyone who misses someone who’s gone, I regret not spending more time with my mom, but no amount would have been enough…
I just began watching Stranger Things (S1, E1) because my daughter loves it so much. She’s on the current Season 4, so I have to hurry and catch up. She hooked me up with the S4 soundtrack on Spotify and it’s fab!
She was a bit worried it might be traumatic for me because of bullies and such, but then she remembered that I was in high school in the 1970s not the ‘80s, so it’s all good, lol. My other daughter warns me it gets super scary in S2, so we’ll see how it goes…
I won’t get to light 100 candles for my darling mommy. Though she didn’t even make it to 77, I never stop thinking of her. She was beautiful, smart, creative, energetic, and funny. Generous with her time. Loving and kind. She loved me so much and she loved my daughters more than anything. She would have been thrilled beyond belief to know she has two adorable great-grandchildren. She loved to garden, cook, and sew. She enjoyed Johnny Cash, boysenberry pie, and John Wayne movies. I love you, Mom, and I miss you every day of my life. Happy Birthday!
Melanie has a new batch of Share Your World questions for us this Memorial Day. Let’s get to it!
1. Has anyone ever tried to scam you?
Well, like everyone else online, I’ve been subjected to the usual barrage of scam-related emails, texts, calls, etc. Back in 2016, this assh0le guy from an assh0le company convinced a sheriff I was still married, so he got an order to put a lien on my checking account for $4,000 to settle a debt of my ex-husband’s. THANK GOD I work for lawyers and one of them fixed the problem. Also, when I used to be on dating sites, there were the usual scammy messages from guys in foreign countries, etc. If I had followed up with any of them, there would have been a request for money, but I didn’t, so there wasn’t. Finally, on Twitter, a scammer was impersonating a singer and I had fun leading him on for several messages until I reported him and got his account shut down.
2. What’s the best thing about parties?
Going home.
3. Do you listen to people’s advice if you didn’t ask for it?
I can’t remember ever doing that, but if someone gives me advice I find interesting or valuable, I might consider it regardless of the circumstances. I also consider the source. If someone I respect gives advice (see no. 1), I would definitely take it or at least think about it. If it’s a stranger or someone with ulterior motives (like the assh0les on dating sites) getting in my face with unwanted advice, then NO.
4. Why is it impossible to spell funeral without fun?
Uh, I don’t know. I’ve never actually been to one, but I’ve read that Irish wakes are supposedly fun. My parents did not want funerals.
5. How was last week for you?
I had a fabulous weekend in San Diego with friends, plus I got a bonus of brunch with my daughter and son-in-law (and doggos) on Sunday, which was awesome. Today I’m seeing TOP GUN: MAVERICK, and I’m totally looking forward to that!
In this week’s episode of Throwback Thursday, Lauren asks about our birthday memories. The above pic of a delicious vanilla cupcake from Sprinkles is from a more recent bday, before I moved. Now I have a larger place (shared), but a smaller kitchen.
1) What’s your earliest birthday memory?
I don’t remember this one, because I’d only just turned one, but a photo counts as a memory, right?
2) What was your favorite birthday and why?
Probably 2021 when I got to see most of my friends (outside) after over a year of almost no socializing in person.
3) What’s the best birthday present you have ever received?
An adorable “stay calm and have a cupcake” charm from my daughters. Also, they got me a new iPhone in 2020, which was/is fab.
4) Did you ever get money as a birthday gift?
Yes, my paternal grandparents gave money. Also, my ex’s parents did too. RIP to all.
5) What did you like to do on your birthday as a kid? What do you like to do now?
This may sound weird, but even though I was an only child, my parents didn’t make a BFD out of my birthday. Usually, we’d just go out to dinner and I’d get a small gift. I don’t remember any parties.
Now? It’s always great to see my family and have some cake. Or have cake with friends. Or have a cupcake by myself. Cake!!!
6) Did you have birthday parties with friends or family parties?
Family dinners ~ I wouldn’t call them parties.
7) Did you get to pick the food for your birthday? Did you prefer to eat a home cooked meal or to eat out at a restaurant on your birthday?
I don’t remember, but I’m sure we always went somewhere I liked. We went out a lot though, so staying home was fine too… as long as there was… you know. CAKE!!!
8) Did your family have any fun birthday traditions? Did you continue those traditions with your own kids?
Not really. I probably went a bit overboard with my girls, since everyone we knew had birthday parties for kids, and I got super into the whole themed aspect.
9) Did you ever get to take the day off school on your birthday? As an adult did/do you take the day off?
Lol, no. School was more important! I don’t usually take my birthday off from work unless it is on a Friday or Monday and I’m planning a trip or something.
10) Have you ever had a surprise birthday party? Was it a real surprise, or did you know it was coming?
No. And I hate surprises anyway.
Bonus Question: If you had a million dollars to spend only on your next birthday, what would you do?
Rent a posh beach house (and chef) for my family to come stay and play at for a week!
Every day I miss you more, As if you’d left just hours before, Your voice still green in my mind. But silly movies make me cry, And loss lingers close behind— I touch it like a purpled bruise; I just can’t shake these blues. Every day I miss you more. Pain hasn’t passed with time, For as the years roll on I find Your face comes in sharper focus, And memories are turning golden. Grey days blur into each other Like a monochromic watercolor. Every day I miss you more.
Especially if you’re Oddjob. Seriously, no need to take your hat off on my account, Mr. O. Although Tony Soprano might have had something to say about it, if anyone remembers that classic restaurant scene. It’s simply uncouth to wear a hat whilst eating spaghetti next to a mob boss and he is not going to put up with such boorish behavior. In the old days, men wore cool hats… not baseball caps so much, but nice hats that went with suits and sports jackets, like in Mad Men. My dad had hats… I remember once he and my mom had a terrible argument and he was about to walk out but stopped to get his hat. It was a habit, and even if you’re upset, you don’t forget your hat. Anyway, I told him not to go (I was 6 years old) and he didn’t. Yep, it was just like that song “Daddy, Don’t You Walk So Fast,” except he hadn’t left yet. After that, I always felt it was my responsibility to defuse their fights and make things right. I became expert at sensing their moods ~ some people say that’s what creates an empath, but I never call myself one. I’m not that good at figuring out other people’s moods if they aren’t obvious. Mostly, I’d rather not even know. Knowing conveys a vague sense of guilt and cloaks me in a “do something,” even if the problem has nothing to do with me. I’m not talking about joy or any kind of happy emotions, but bad/sad moods.
Anyway, hats. They are nifty. I should wear mine more often.
Light Motifs II 