Saturday 9

Saturday 9: Cupid (1961)
 
Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here.

 

1) In this song, Sam Cooke enlists the help of Cupid, the Roman god of love, to help him get a girl. In Greek mythology, the god of love and lust has a different name. Do you know what it is? Eros.

 

2) Sam Cooke was inducted as a charter member into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. The museum and hall are located in Cleveland, OH. Cleveland is proud of the six major museums featured on its website. When did you most recently visit a museum? Before Christmas, Elaine and I went to The Art Institute of Chicago to see a special exhibit: The Great Wave. We also checked out The Thorne Miniature Rooms, and they really bowled me over. And, maybe this is just a corny Chicago thing, but I got to pose in front of the Art Institute Lions, all duded up for Christmas.

 

3) Sam went to Wendall Phillips Academy, the same Chicago high school Nat King Cole attended. Can your high school claim any noteworthy alums? Just me.

4) "Cupid" was released in 1961. One of the major news stories of that year was the death of Ernest Hemingway. Have you read any of his works? Yes. I love the spare and clean prose. I'm not always fond of what he says, but I'm crazy about how he says it.

  
Since February 14 was Valentine's Day...

 
5) Sweethearts, those small heart-shaped candies printed with messages like "Be Mine" and "Kiss Me," are top sellers this time of year. Did you enjoy them as a child? Do you enjoy them now? Didn't like 'em then, don't like 'em now.

 

6) While Valentine's Day is popular in Mexico, it's celebrated a bit differently than it is here. For our neighbors to the south, it's a day for love and friendship, with no distinction between romantic, familial or platonic love. Do you tell your friends you love them? Or do you reserve "I love you" for your partner and family? I tend to find myself saying, "Love you, too." I wish initiating it came easier to me. I think we all need more love these days.

7) In Poland, Valentine's Day, or Walentynki, is often celebrated with a gift of "tea and sweets" -- a tin of black tea paired with candy. Do you more often drink tea or coffee? Tea. I hate coffee. No, really. I hate coffee.

 

8) One of London's top accounting firms did a study and reports that in England, Valentine's Day is a 52%/48% affair. 52% of the participants planned on buying at least one card or gift, while 48% did not expect to spend anything on Valentine's Day. This year, were you one of the 52% or the 48%? I was one of the 48%. But I worked at the card shop yesterday (see post below), so I assisted the 52%.

9) A similar study in Rome showed that today's young lovers would prefer to share a romantic experience on Valentine's Day – a stroll through the gardens of Villa Borghese was a popular choice – than exchange gifts. Would you rather do something memorable for Valentine's Day or receive something you can retain as a keepsake? I'd rather have a keepsake. Which is why, I suppose, my condo is overstuffed and overflowing with stuff.