1) In the lyrics, Don McLean refers to having once been a paper boy. When you were a kid, what job or household chores did you do for spending money? I babysat local kids for $1/hour, $1.50/hour after midnight. It's still the best job I ever had. The wee ones always went to bed early, so I got paid to watch TV and eat potato chips.
2) Them good old boys were drinking whiskey and rye. What's the last drink you ordered?
An airmail -- rum, honey, lime and a touch of sparkling wine.
3) He drove to the levee but it was dry. When is the last time it rained where you are? This afternoon. And yesterday. And probably tomorrow. I'd complain about it, except then I remember all the news stories I heard about drought when I was in LA. The rain really is our friend!
4) When McLean was working on the song, he wrote the lyrics out in long hand. It took him 16 pages of lined notebook paper. Today it's a laptop/smartphone/tablet world, and Sam can't remember the last time she hand wrote anything longer than a sign on her front door that read, "Bell broken. Plz knock." What about you? What's the last thing you wrote with pen or pencil? I take notes in longhand all the time in meetings, scribbling all over any handouts I'm given.
5) McLean's most recent CD is called "Addicted to Black," in reference to Olivia in The Twelfth Night. Quick! Without looking it up, name another character from Shakespeare. Petruchio. I've always thought he was hot, and never more charming than when he was played by David Addison on Moonlighting. This clip makes me want to dig out those DVDs and have a Blue Moon binge.
6) Don was born in New Rochelle, New York, which was named one of The Best Walking Cities in America by the American Podiatric Medical Association (APMA). What about your neighborhood? Is it easily walkable? Very.
7) In 1971, the year this song was popular, Walt Disney World officially opened. Have you ever been to DisneyLand or Disney World? Yes. I'd love to go back, to either one.
8) Also in 1971, Mattel introduced Malibu Barbie. This doll was a "sun-loving California girl" and had a distinct tan. Have you ever used a tanning bed? Not in 20 years.
9) American Pie is also the name of a 1999 movie. Have you seen it? Not the whole thing. Just seems like such a guy movie.
The Airmail, sounds good! I never saw a drink before that had honey in it.
ReplyDeleteThat drink sounds interesting! May have to try it!
ReplyDeleteI'm coming across some wonderful names for drinks. I may try this Airmail sometime soon! Good for you on the babysitting. My nieces and nephews used to run circles round me the second their mum and dad walked out the door...!
ReplyDeleteI'm intrigued by the Airmail! And yeah, American Pie is boy humor. LOL
ReplyDeleteYeah, babysitting was a good gig at night. Free food, usually tons of books to read my parents wouldn't have in the house, and TV. Daytime sitting sucked though....all that entertaining of the children got really old. ;-)
ReplyDeleteI'd forgotten about that Moonlighting setup. heh
That Shrew clip was hilarious! Hahahahaha! Gonna share it with Mr. Z.
ReplyDeleteWow, you got paid a lot for baby sitting. I got 50 cents an hour, and one family piled on their friends' kids. I quit that one! Wow that drink sounds very good. Must try it sometime, soon.
I have never learned how to take notes (definitely a bad thing for me!). I can take them but can never read them afterwards.
ReplyDeleteNever saw that clip before. Cool. Never heard of an Airmail, either. I think the last mixed drink I had, about 30 years ago, was called Sex on the Beach.
ReplyDeleteI wasn't a big fan of that movie either. It was kind of dumb if you ask me.
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