Saturday 9: I'll Never Get Out of This World Alive

Hey, everybody! Welcome back to another week of Saturday 9, this time with Hank Williams.

But first, let me say that I enjoyed the Nancy/Frank Sinatra song so much last week that I've had Nancy Sinatra songs loaded in my Spotify all week, most of which have been added to my playlist. Fun stuff. So thanks for that, Crazy Sam.

It's been a busy week. It'll be interesting to see what shakes out in this week's questions. Ready to join us? Link up here. Let's get into it.

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Saturday 9: I'll Never Get Out of This World Alive (1952)

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

1) In this song, Hank Williams sings that his fishing pole is broke and the creek is full of sand. OK, so he can't spend his Saturday fishing. What are your Saturday plans?

We were supposed to go to the beach yesterday (Friday), but my husband had to take our son to confer with the hand surgeon. Perhaps we'll make it today? We haven't actually been to the water yet this season, only the boardwalk three times. Must rectify that pronto!

2) He regrets how shabby his shoes are. Do you shop for shoes online, or do you prefer going to the store and trying them on?

I hate trying things on in store and generally half a good idea how big my feet are for a brand. I usually buy online, except for the Rainbow Checkerboard Vans fiasco. These Vans, which I REALLY want, come in kids' sizes but not women's sizes. Fortunately, I have tiny feet, so I calculated what size kids' shoes I should buy, but when they came from Kohl's, they were just a hair - a literal hair - too small. As in, my daughter Chloë basically wears the same size shoes as me, but they fit her and she eventually went home with her after I could not take them back to Kohl's and find the ½-size larger pair for months and months and months. She was happy. I'm still pouting. Life is hard, y'all.

3) This was the last Hank Williams song to be released during his lifetime. Though he was only 29 when he died, he left an enduring mark on American music and is considered one of country music's greatest singer/songwriters. Who is your favorite country music performer?

I don't normally listen to much Country, but I was just doing that last night, shocking the shit out of both Rob and especially myself, the long-avowed Country-hater. Especially since I now have a rudimentary Country playlist started on my Spotify. Life is also weird, y'all. BUT, to answer the question, I really enjoyed every Christ Stapleton song that bubbled up.

4) Elvis was a big fan and his favorite Hank Williams song was "I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry." What's your favorite Elvis song?

Oh, gosh. That's a HARD one for me. My dad has always loved Elvis, I mean LOVED, so I have heard all of his songs all of my life. There are very few with which I'm not familiar and, I must say, I like most of them. Dad also liked to perform them (maybe he still does, I don't know; he'll be 82 in a month) and even had an Elvis-like jumpsuit and scarf for a while!

The toss-up for me came down to "Hound Dog," "Jailhouse Rock," and "Burning Love." I ended up giving it to the dog because of my own love for singing it.

5) Johnny Cash was a big Hank Williams fan, too. He performed Hank's gospel song, "I Saw the Light" often in concert and during his guest starring role in a 1974 episode of Columbo. Did you watch Columbo, or do you stream it or catch it in reruns?

I don't watch it now, but I used to watch it with my grandfather, here in 2007 with my husband and kids on campus with me at the University of Miami. He was a big fan.

6) Hank was a prolific songwriter, composing songs on his guitar and then printing the lyrics by hand on notepaper. He never learned to read music. Can you read music?

Sort of. Not well. I've been taught to sight-read for both organ/piano and voice, over many, many years. There's just one undeniable fact: I suck at sight-reading!

7) When he was a teen, Hank sang and played his guitar on the sidewalk in front of a local radio station, making a little money and hoping to be discovered. His plan worked and he was occasionally invited in to play with the radio station's house band. Were you a hard-working teen?

I was always hard-working, yes. I busted my ass in school, babysat wherever I was asked and then, when I was 15, I started working as much I as I humanly could (or was legally allowed, take your pick) at the Big M in Baldwinsville, New York, to get away from my house. My dad's office was across the street, and he often "employed" me (gratis, naturally) there, and of course I was always responsible for cleaning the house.

8) Hank suffered from a congenital spinal condition and began self-medicating with alcohol during his teen years. He was warned against this early on by country superstar Ray Acuff, but Hank was unable to deal with the pain without liquor. Can you recall wise advise you wish you'd taken, but didn't?

First one that comes to mind is my dad constantly haranguing me as a kid about becoming more financially savvy. It didn't interest me much - money, amassing wealth, etc. - because it seemed that women and wealth were all that interested him. No thanks! But - don't tell him or Elvis - I've been trying to learn.

9) Random question: What's your favorite Mexican food?

I love the vegetarian platters you'll find at any Mexican restaurant. Y'know, a bean and cheese burrito, more beans and cheese on the side, rice and beans, some guac... Mmm. Rob's favorite cuisine is Mexican. Maybe we'll have to try out one of the restaurants we haven't been to yet here in town, like the one this photo came from La Tolteca.

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Welp, y'all, thanks for stopping in. It's been a fun week. I'm going to start peeping in on some of you, but I'm starving so I don't know how long I'll last!

Fin.