Saturday 9

Saturday 9: Poor Little Fool (1958)

1) Ricky Nelson sings of a girl with "carefree devil eyes." Are your eyes your best feature? If not, what is? My complexion. In my teens I hated having oily skin. But now that I'm a senior I'm grateful. I'm a little jowly in my old age, but I'm quite unlined.

2) "Poor Little Fool" literally arrived at Ricky's doorstep. A pretty girl knocked on his front door, and played and sang her original composition for him. Who has most recently knocked on your front door (or rung the bell)? My neighbor from the end of the hall. He brought me a package that had been delivered. My neighbors are nice that way.

3) That girl was Sharon Sheeley. A teen model in Los Angeles during the 1950s, she met many of the early rock stars at promotional events. Elvis encouraged her to follow her heart and start writing songs, so she did. Who have you advised recently? Did they take your advice? I have been trying to help my friend Elaine as she introduces a new cat into her household. She's not listening to me one whit. Oh well, maybe I'm full of shit.



4) With the success of "Poor Little Fool," Sharon gave up modeling and concentrated on music. Her songs were recorded by singers such as Richie Valens, Glen Campbell and Johnny Rivers. How many different occupations have you tried? Which was your favorite? I've been an administrative office worker, a writer and now a sales girl. I'm enjoying my job at the card shop more than I thought I would. I was a writer for 40+ years and got great satisfaction from it. I really did not enjoy secretarial work. I was OK at it, but I was bored and I really didn't like my bosses very much.

5) Ricky Nelson was the son of Ozzie and Harriet and brother of David Nelson. They began performing together as a family with their radio program The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet. They took the show to television in 1952, where they were referred to as "The Most Famous Family in America." What TV family would you like to hang around with? I'd like to be the oldest Geller daughter (Friends). I wonder if Dad would give me a cool nickname, like how he calls Monica his "Harmonica." Plus I'd have Rachel* and Chandler as my in-laws.

6) While Ricky eventually became the audience favorite, he wasn't initially a likely candidate for stardom. A producer described him as "an odd little kid," shy and small for his age. In those early days, big brother David was more outgoing and considered a natural actor. Thinking back to your preteen years, were you more like David or Rick? I was more like David. I can be introverted but I've never been shy and making friends has always come easily to me.

 7) Ricky never got over his shyness. He often closed his eyes as he sang on camera or before an audience because it helped him battle his nerves and concentrate on the music. Fan magazine oohed and aahed over his beautiful long lashes and young girls fantasized about Ricky closing his eyes before leaning in for a kiss. Who was your big pre-teen crush? Sir Paul McCartney.

8) In 1958, when "Poor Little Fool" was #1, American women were shopping for Italian-inspired footwear. Heels were lower, and the leather was textured and less shiny that the popular patent leather of years gone by. If you were to go shoe shopping today, what would you be looking for? Can I shop for socks instead? They are footwear, after all. I really need to organize and replenish my sock drawer.

9) Random question -- Which of these parties sounds like the most fun: a) one you host yourself; b) one at a friend's home; c) a surprise party in your honor? B! Definitely b. All the fun and none of the work.

 

*Yes, I believe Ross and Rachel eventually married.

3:25, 5:07, 5:46 and 7:38

Those are the times I received "thank you" emails from my friend Kathy. Each time she acknowledges the birthday gift I sent her. It appears that she doesn't recall sending the previous emails, which is disturbing. She is addled. Does she have Alzheimer's? Dementia? I don't know because she refuses to see a doctor. But something is wrong within that head of hers.

But I'm glad I sent her the gift, nonetheless. I scrolled through her Facebook feed -- she is on Facebook all the time -- and downloaded photos from 2023 that featured her with her family. Then I sent the pictures to Snapfish, where they were made into magnets with captions (Mother's Day 2023, 4th of July 2023, etc.). That way she can look at her refrigerator and remember her daughter and grandchildren.

Back in December I restricted her access to my Facebook page. I kinda had to. So much of what she posted was silly, ill-advised or argumentative and it caused me stress. But I can deal with repetitive emails. Email is a more private venue and I can just ignore them. After all, she doesn't remember sending them.

I must remember her world is getting smaller and she's frightened. I also have to remind myself that none of her problems are my responsibility. I can help her in the ways that feel comfortable for me but I'm not obligated to take on more than I can handle.

Yes, every word of the above paragraph parrots what I've been discussing with my shrink. Fake it till you make it and all that. But I do see the wisdom in it and it's becoming more natural.