MelaniePenelope

Saturday 9: Give A Little Love

Hello, friends. Well, a sad week is upon us S-9ers, that's for sure. I bet I'm not the only one who could say I grew up with the Judds on the TV now and then. RIP, Naomi.

I've battled this same demon for years and years myself, and so far, I've won every battle. Fingers are crossed I'll win every single one to come, and if any of you are along in the same boat, you'll win yours, too.

If you need help:

NATIONAL SUICIDE PREVENTION HOTLINE: 800.273.8255

or text "STRENGTH" TO 741-741

or visit suicidepreventionlifeline.org 

Let's do this. Link up here if you're yakking along with us this week:

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Saturday 9: Give a Little Love (1988)

Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here.

In memory of Naomi Judd (1946-2022)

1) In this week's song, the Judds tell us they aren't impressed by diamonds or foreign travel. If you had your choice, would you prefer a $1,500 diamond pendant or a $1,500 voucher from United Airlines?

 

 

Ten times out of ten, I'd rather go somewhere.

 

2) In the video for this song, the Judds are shown having fun on the beach. Do you have any trips to the beach planned for the upcoming summer months?

 

 

Most definitely! We only live about 30-40 min from the ocean, so I've been biding my time for the RIGHT time. Sophia (our youngest)  wanted to take me there for her Mother's Day gift to me, but it ended up being cold & rainy, like it was for a whille before then, like it's been ever since... But as soon as the day is right, That's what we'll be doing!

 

3) Early in their career, this mother-daughter duo performed in clubs venues around San Francisco, where they called themselves The Hillbilly Women. Have you recently been to a bar or restaurant with live music?

 

Nah. We did a LOT of that in Miami, I think lastly in Key Largo, but none of that in Idaho and none yet here in Maryland. I hope to. But we left Florida in March 2017, so it would be at least 5 years since we listened to live music.

 

4) They moved to Nashville in 1979 in search of greater success. During the three years it took them to score a record contract, Naomi supported the family as a part-time nurse and occasional model. She enjoyed the flexibility so her schedule could accommodate auditions. Do you like having a pre-planned schedule? Or would you rather keep things loose?

 

 

Okay, bear with me on this journey for just a moment. In 7th grade, my English teacher was Mrs. Trainham. And one day, Mrs. Trainham explained that some people were very much like a box in their thinking. In the box, always. They were boxy folks. Others people might be squiggles. Like, you could never pin down, never predict where they might be - maybe even while asking them, such out of the box thinkers they were. And then Mrs. Trainham explained we also can have boxy squiggles and squiggly boxes. I literally have spent my entire adulthood-plus going back and forth on which of those last two I am.

 

So anyway, for some things, for me, pre-planned is absolutely the way to go. But for many others, I love being unscheduled and having the freedom to do what I want. It's perfect... or it would be, if only I had the good health to take advantage of it.

 

5) Wynona sang the Elvis classic "Burning Love" in 2002 Disney movie Lilo and Stitch. What's the most recent Disney movie you've seen?

 

 

Chloë, Hubs, and I watched Turning Red most recently. I want to watch it with Sophia now.

 

6) In 2011, Wynona wrote her first novel, Restless Heart, about a country singer struggling with the price of fame. Have you ever tried your hand at writing fiction?

 

It's funny, I much prefer to read fiction over nonfiction, but I almost always write nonfiction.

 

7) Kid sister Ashley Judd is the only woman in her immediate family to not change her first name. Naomi was born Diana, and Wynona was originally Christina. Do you like your first name?

 

I did not, growing up. But as an adult, I have definitely come to love my name. I still don't like my middle name, Ann!

 
8) In 1988, the year this song was popular, Sonny Bono went from entertainer to politician when he was elected Mayor of Palm Springs. Have you met the mayor of your town?

 

 

Pffft. His name is Jake Day of Salisbury, Maryland, and no, I have never met him nor any other mayor of any place I've lived. Should I add it to my Bucket List?

 

9) Random question: Were you a member of the Columbia House Record Club?

Oh, you know I was - at least twice over! So funny. I haven't thought about that in years!

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Have you guys watched "Bling Empire" on Netflix? I'm watching it now - it's great! Totally binge-worthy. Check it out.

Fin.

Saturday 9: Your Mother Should Know

Howdy, folks! Glad to see you and be with you all again, if we manage to meet. I'm late to the party again, but at least I'm trying to drop off my "gift." Haha.

Link up with all the rest of S9ers - and Crazy Sam - here, if you want to play along this weekend.

 

Saturday 9: Your Mother Should Know (1967)

Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here.

1) This week's featured artists, The Beatles, invite us to get up and dance to a song that was a hit before your mother was born. Do you enjoy the oldies? How old must a song be before you consider it "old?"

 

 

I consider anything that was popular before I was born "old," but definitely anything that was popular at my parents' ages.

2) Paul McCartney knew bandmate John Lennon's mom, Julia, and credits her with introducing him to the ukulele. Do you recall any of your childhood friends' mothers with fondness?

 

 

Oh yeah, definitely. All my friends' moms gave me positive memories that I hang on to to this day, which is more than I can I say for what my stepmother did for them! :/

 
3) Paul's own mother, Mary, tried to instill in her son a sense of pride in his appearance and saw to it he always left the house in a clean, ironed shirt. Paul says that, to this day, when he smells fresh laundry, he thinks of his mum. Is there a scent or sound that reminds you of someone you love who is no longer with us?

 

 

Yes. Anything citrus, I love. It brings me back to my grandparents' condo. Grandma always had a bag of clementines ready whenever we got there to visit, partly because they were easy to open. But now, yeah, I love the small of all citrus (and really all fruit).

 

4) George Harrison was the only member of the band to have any formal musical training. His mother, Louise, supported her son's musical ambitions and made sure he got guitar lessons. Did you take music classes as a child?

 

 

Yes. After Mom died, I wanted to make sure her organ didn't sit idle, so I asked to start taking organ lessons, which I did. When my stepsister, A, asked to start taking lessons on my mother's same organ, I burned with frustration and anger. Shortly afterward, I stopped those lessons.  (I was, like, 8.) Shortly after, I started vocal instruction, which I continued throughout school.

 

5) Ringo Starr was a sickly and often hospitalized little boy. His mother, Elsie, took a job as a barmaid so she could work at night, leaving her days free during visiting hours. When were you most recently in a hospital? Were you an admitted patient, there for an outpatient procedure, or visiting someone?

 

 

Crazily enough, it was not me as the patient for once. Just a few weeks ago, my husband took our 19-year-old son to the hospital after many complaints of abdominal pain, and of course, it turned out to be appendicitis. He had an appendectomy within hours.

6) Mother Winters always gave our own Crazy Sam peppermint tea to calm her stomach. Do you have any tried-and-true home remedies to share?

 

I don't really know home remedies, having grown up in a no-medicine cult such as I did. I have, however, developed a method to swallow a stray pill, or piece of food, or whatever that may be stuck in the throat and won't go down. It's worked for me countless times, so I finally started sharing it with my kids & hubs, and it still works!

7) Sam's mother always tips 15% in restaurants. Sam has worked in food service and is more judgmental, tipping between 10% and 25%, depending on the quality of the service. What's your tipping policy?

 

 

 Mine is much like Crazy Sam's. Maybe exactly. And even in a place like Waffle House, where I might just have had a cup of coffee, I was taught by the office manager (and a friend) never to leave less than $2 for a tip. So that's what I do. Min of two bucks no matter what.

 

8) Sam's mother still gets the Sunday paper because of the sales fliers. She makes separate lists for each store, picking up grocery and household items where she knows they are on sale. Sam thinks her mother's strategy is a waste of time and gas and prefers one-stop shopping (even better, online one-stop shopping). Are you more like mother or daughter?

 

 

Hmm, well, somewhere in between. I don't get the paper, but I do order four copies of the Sunday coupons per week. I do my shopping almost entirely online, and it either gets shipped, or Rob goes to pick it up. It's very rare that I shop in-store and pay in-store. I do shop at multiple (online) stores, wherever there's a good deal that we can use.

 

9) Sam is celebrating Mother's Day with her mother's favorite, Hershey Bars. Would you prefer classic milk chocolate, dark chocolate or chocolate with almonds?

 

Mmm, mmm, mmm! Happy Mother's Day to all the moms out there, and I hope you're able to celebrate however you'd like best. Cheers!

 

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Fin.