Saturday 9

I'll Take You Home Again, Kathleen (1975)

Chosen because St. Patrick's Day is Tuesday.

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


1) This week's song is widely considered a traditional Irish ballad. Are you of Irish descent? I've got a wee bit of Irish blood, maybe 10%. My dad's mom was 1/4 Irish. Except for Grandma's branch, the rest of my family tree is, as far as I know, German.

2) It's a song from a groom to his homesick bride. Who did you most recently serenade? (Yes, "Happy Birthday" counts.) My cat, Connie. I work her name into songs all the time. As in, "Connie, how I love ya, how I love ya, my dear old Connie!" She's very patient with me.

3) Kathleen considers "home" her mother's cottage. How about you? Is "home" where you live now, or is it where you grew up? This condo. I've lived here since 2001. Though when I dream, I am alternately living in parents' home, or in my previous apartment. I wonder why that it is.


4) St. Patrick is credited with driving snakes out of Ireland, and to this day the Irish report there are no snakes on their land. Ophiophobia is the fear of snakes. Do you suffer from ophiophobia? Nope.

5) Irish Americans held the first St. Patrick's Day parade on our shores in New York City in 1766. Does your town host a St. Patrick's Day parade? Chicago has two freaking awesome St. Patrick's Day parades. (The south side throws their own.) But alas, not this year. With the coronavirus outbreak, they have both been cancelled.

6) Leprechauns are a symbol of St. Patrick's Day. These small Irish fairies are said to live in the forest, guarding their gold. Do you more often wear silver or gold? Silver. I worry about what all that Purell will do to my ring!

7) The signature color of St. Patrick's Day is green. Will you wear green next Tuesday? Probably. I may not have to go to work on Tuesday. (Coronavirus. Or layoff?)

 
8) This week's featured artist, Elvis, was the idol of millions. But not the Songfellows. In the early 1950s, a young Elvis auditioned for this gospel group and they refused him. Just as well, as the King of Rock 'n Roll did rather well for himself as a solo. Like Elvis, did you ever interview for a job that you didn't get? Oh, good goobies, yes! This one still bugs me: An executive secretary from a small but reputable agency out in the suburbs called me. 

She called me. Remember that.

She said her boss really wanted me to come in. This agency was known for its digital work, and at that time I had no web experience. I mentioned that to her.

"He really wants to meet you," she insisted.

I told her I was quite busy with my current job and now wasn't a good time.

"He really wants to meet you," she insisted again.

Naturally, I was flattered. I took a vacation day, got all dressed up, took a train and a bus, all in 80º+ heat and humidity, for this interview. He casually flipped through my portfolio and said, blandly, "You don't have any digital here."

I refrained from clawing his face.

I did, however, ask why he wanted to meet me. Seems an old boss of mine had recently become his next door neighbor and gave him my name. Literally, over the hedge. 

He was so remote and bored that it was clear he felt I was wasting his time. Never mind that he had wasted mine. I wanted to yell, "Don't be such a cheap bastard! Hire a recruiter or an HR rep who knows how to screen people properly!" But it can be a small world so I didn't. I did, however, make him find me a Coke before I headed to the bus ... and the train ... in 80º+ heat and humidity.

The upshot was, he sent me a rejection letter. As though that was necessary. The last line was, "We reserve the right to call you in the future."

And I reserve the right to not pick up!


9) Random question: Do you believe women are more emotional than men? No. I think women are freer to express those emotions.