Saturday 9

 Saturday 9: My Girl (1965)

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

1) Temptations' lead singer David Ruffin sings that he has sunshine on a cloudy day. How does the sky look where you are today? Right now, the sky is very dark because it's nighttime. But Saturday it will be overcast. I prefer blue skies, but gray ones have their own beauty.

2) He maintains that even when it's cold outside, to him it feels like the month of May. What's your favorite month? I like November because of Thanksgiving and my birthday. I also like May because it's more dependably warmish and sunny.

3) In addition to their vocals, The Temptations were known for their stylish suits and choreography. Are you a better dancer or dresser? Dresser. And I'm not that great a dresser.

4) Today, nearly 60 years since it's release, "My Girl" is one of the most popular karaoke songs. Do you know the words? Yes.

5) The Temptations delighted Mets fans when they performed "My Girl" live at Citi Field during the playoffs last month. The World Series is now over and the 2024 season is on the books. How did your baseball team do? What insensitive monster asked this question? Oh yeah, it was me. I desperately wanted Anthony Rizzo to get a second ring and so that meant I was cheering for the Yankees. I'm heartsick for him. By the way, if you're curious why I'm so slavishly devoted to this man, read this post. He's done so much good for so many, and shows no sign of stopping.

PS If it hadn't been for Rizz, I wouldn't have cared who won the World Series. As a Cub fan, I find both fanbases obnoxious. First of all, Dodger fans: Pantone 294 was the color of Cubs jerseys when y'all were still in New York. Really, is there nothing that distinguishes your franchise or your soulless ballpark? Similarly, for Yankee fans: When you talk about "the pinstripes," you ignore that the Cubs have been wearing them since 1907. You know, a decade before Babe Ruth. Oh yeah, and for shit's sake, stop doing The Wave. One of the best things about baseball is the history and today's Yankee and Dodger fans are woefully, willfully ignorant.

PPS This is not the time to talk to me about baseball. I alternately cry and rant. Obviously right now I'm in rant mode. In a half hour, maybe I'll start thinking about Rizz playing through the ALCS and the World Series with two fractured fingers and I'll tear up. Healing is gonna take some time. (For both his fingers and my heart.)

6) "My Girl" was written by Ronald White and Smokey Robinson. Smokey grew up with Aretha Franklin, and he's said they played together in the sandbox. When you were little, which playground activity was your favorite: sandbox, jungle gym, swings or slide? The swings.

7) In 1965, when "My Girl" topped the charts, Winston Churchill died. One of his favorite sayings was, "I am always ready to learn but I do not always like to be taught." What's something you learned recently? How to reach my local and state legislators. I've got their emails loaded and ready to go. Post election, I want to make sure they support my vision for my community, my county and my state. So far, led by Governor Pritzker, they are. When they do good, I want to applaud. When they don't, I want an explanation. As a resident of a (Cubbie) blue state, the way to protect what I hold dear is to stay focused on the change I can effect. Right here.

8) British-born comedian Stan Laurel also died in 1965. He's been cited as an influence on Jerry Lewis, Dick Van Dyke and Matt LeBlanc. Without looking it up, do you know who Stan Laurel's famous partner was? Oliver Hardy. As in, "I'm sorry, Ollie."

9) Random question: Imagine we Sat 9-ers are taking you to a restaurant for your birthday. Do you find servers who sing "Happy Birthday" cute or annoying? Annoying, to both me and them. Have you ever been to a restaurant where the servers seemed happy to be doing this? BTW, I notice this practice seems to be dying away, and I don't lament it.

Grumpily yours,