Friday, December 11, 2020

Saturday 9

 
Saturday 9: Santa Baby (1987)

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

1) In this song, Madonna refers to Santa as "baby," "honey" and "cutie." What's the most recent endearment someone called you? My oldest friend begins and ends every call by calling me "dear."

2) At the top of her list are a fur coat, a new convertible and a yacht. If you could receive any of those luxury items, which would you choose? The convertible, because I think it would be the easiest to sell.

3) She would like to decorate her tree with ornaments from Tiffany's. Do you have a favorite holiday ornament or decoration? This is my teeny-tiny nativity. I kept it on the hotel nightstand every year when I visited Key West for Christmas. It always reminds me of the true meaning of the day.

 


4) "Santa Baby" was written in 1953, before electronic payments. While her wish list includes blank checks, a 2017 survey revealed that 51% of consumers felt check writing was "a pain." Who received the last check your wrote? Who most recently gave you a check? Wrote: Commonwealth Edison for my electric bill. Received: I can't recall.

5) Madonna has been a successful singer for decades, and 1985's "Into the Groove" is her top-seller. What's your favorite Madonna song? I'm not really a fan, but I have good memories attached to "Into the Groove."

6) Madonna was born in Bay City, MI, and traveled to New York City to find fame and fortune. When she first arrived, she supported herself by working at Dunkin' Donuts. What's your standard DD order? I don't drink coffee, but I do enjoy their chocolate frosted long john.

7) The only Christmas card Sam has received so far this year is from her dentist. Have you received many cards this year? Six

8) Will you wrap many presents? Or do you prefer to use gift bags? Mostly paper. Only one gift bag. (It was a baseball cap for my friend Kathleen. Caps are not easy to wrap.)

9) Madonna recorded "Santa Baby" to benefit The Special Olympics. Here's your chance to plug a cause or organization that's near and dear to you. Chicago's Night Ministry, dedicated to providing health care and shelter to those who need it most now. Whenever I hear someone bitch and moan about how they've had to "suffer" through this pandemic because of the mask mandate or they can't eat pizza indoors, I think of the homeless. The forgotten. It breaks my heart to consider what life is like for those who live on the street and depend on the generosity of office workers who are no longer going to the office, who depended on the restrooms in the Starbucks that is no longer open. They're struggling and they're scared. If you would like to help the homeless in your part of the country, here's a valuable link.


 

Happier today

My oldest friend and I had a lovely conversation today. It's her birthday and even though she's sick, she was in very good spirits. I have not laughed this much in a very long time.

For her birthday I gave her a trio of facemasks. (I know, it was funnier before we both got sick.) One says "Merry Treksmas," because she loves Star Trek. The second is decorated with icons from the John Wick movies (which I know nothing about but she loves those, too). The third features the Beatles from the cover of the HELP! CD because, like all right-thinking people everywhere, we are Beatle fans. She referred to them as her "wardrobe" and is glad to have masks that reflect her many moods.

It was good to hear her laugh because it means her lungs are good. Like me, her corona virus seems to have settled in her gut. Her doctor is most worried about her fever and prescribed extra strength Tylenol. She still hasn't had the nasal swab, but I suppose it doesn't really matter. Her doctor believes she has it, is aware of all her symptoms, and is treating her accordingly. She's isolated herself. Her daughter is coming up to wave through the window and leave a birthday present on the stoop.

Today was the first day that the IL Department of Health didn't check on me. Five straight days with no fever and no new symptoms means I'm officially on the mend. I appreciate their vote of confidence. I am feeling better, but I am soooooo tired. And I miss food emotionally. I've been dreaming of beef! It used to be Mark Harmon, you know. Now it's a cheeseburger with condiments, a corndog, a slice of meat loaf ...