Saturday 9

 Saturday 9: The Promise of a New Day (1991)

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

 

 

Welcome to the first Saturday 9 of 2022.

1) In this song, Paula Abdul celebrates the promise of a new day. Here at Saturday 9, we're celebrating the promise of a new year. What do you hope 2022 will bring? For the world I hope everyone takes steps to save their own lives and the lives of their neighbors by getting vaccinated/boosted against covid. For myself, I hope for greater peace of mind.

 

2) She sings that we should see the wisdom from mistakes of the past. What wisdom did you gain in 2021? I don't know if this is wisdom, exactly, but I have become more sensitive. More compassionate. There's an old country song based on a Bible verse: "Walk a Mile in My Shoes." The lyrics say, "Before you abuse, criticize and accuse, walk a mile in my shoes." I've heard this sentiment my whole life, yet for some reason in 2021 it finally resonated. I think it's a combination of battling covid myself at the end of 2020, and an exercise initiated by my congregation. I hope to carry this with me for the rest of my life.

 

3) What is something you'd like to spend more time doing in 2022? Drinking water. Does that sound dumb? I find I no longer like the taste of my good old Lake Michigan tap water. (Another after effect of covid?) Unless I consciously think about it, I reach for hot tea, milk or (worst of all) Coke instead of water. I think I may be dehydrated, which exacerbates my creaky joints. So I'm going into 2022 with a drawer of bottled water in my refrigerator.

 
4) Paula Abdul was once a "Laker Girl" and performed at L.A. Laker games. Do you have a favorite NBA team? Nope. I'm always thinking about baseball and don't have room in my heart for any other sport. (Just exchanged texts with my newly-minted sportswriter nephew about the MLB lockout. No end in sight. Sigh ...)

 

5) In 2009, she hosted RAH!, an elite cheer leading competition.  Do you remember any cheers from your school years? We used to do this one as our team was preparing for a free throw. It could be why we seldom won: "15 rahs for the Bulldog Team: Hey rah, rah, rah-rah-rah! Hey rah, rah, rah-rah-rah! Hey rah, rah, rah-rah-rah!"

6) While famous for performing, Paula has arguably been more successful for her work behind the scenes, winning an Emmy for her choreography. Are you comfortable being the center of attention? Or would you rather work behind the scenes? I've become more of a performer in the later years of my career. Part of it is that I've built a relationship with client, and I know they want to like my work which makes me eager to share it with them. Part of it that I know my creative partner doesn't want to present.

 

7) She taught actor Val Kilmer how to dance for his role as Jim Morrison in the biopic The Doors. What talent, knowledge or advice have you recently shared? Actually I'm trying not to share advice anymore! In the past year I've become very discouraged by my friend Henry and a former coworker, Warren. Both men seem so unhappy with their lives right now, lonely with too much time on their hands. I've recommended to both of them that they volunteer in their neighborhoods. I find helping others to be so satisfying and I tried to share that. I even researched charities for both of them. They both just give me excuses. Now that I've tried, I have to give up. As my friend Patrick tells me, quoting Al-Anon, I must "detach with love" and let them learn from their mistakes. (I am not good at this. Not at all. But I see the wisdom, even as I struggle with it emotionally.)

8) Paula was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis in 2005 and uses a prescription biologic every day to help her cope with pain in her toes. On your last trip to the drug store, did you pick up a prescription, or something else? Bottled water (see #3) and a can of Spaghetti-ohs for the food pantry. (Kids love Spaghetti-ohs.)

9) Random question: You have been house-hunting for months. You finally find your dream home and are just about to say "yes" when you spot a mouse scurrying across the floor. Would you take the house anyway? Probably. But I would mention it before the final home inspection. I'd want to know how Mickey is getting in and how much it will cost to fix the problem so I can adjust the price.

 
 

My New Year's Eve Date

Ben Mankiewicz is the prime-time host on TCM. A group of us classic movie nerds (including Will from my movie group) watched him introduce the first of six Thin Man films and then we live-tweeted. Before the movie started, I treated myself to a steak, mashed potatoes, and bread pudding. I was going to have a drink at midnight, but didn't get around to it. As I compose this post, I'm in clean pajamas and fresh sheets, because that's how I want to wake up on New Year's Day.

Last year I didn't do anything for New Year's Eve because I was emerging from covid. I realized that I'm fine doing nothing on New Year's. In 2020, missing my birthday broke my heart; no Thanksgiving was a definite bummer; the curtailed Christmas left me a little melancholy. But doing nothing on New Year's? It didn't bother me. This year it felt prudent and safe.

I think I have stumbled upon a new tradition.

By the way, Ben Mankiewicz has better hair than any New Year's date I ever had in my long, real life.