Book Fair in Review

I clocked 8 volunteer hours leading up to this year's annual library book sale. I built boxes for the book sorters to sort into – I am an artist with a tape gun – and then I packed up two boxes of children's books for sale up on the third floor. 

 

Thinking of those labors makes me smile because I actually got into an argument over A Separate Peace. Someone had slipped it in with the children's books. Obviously I thought this was a mistake and asked everyone – the room of volunteers, no one in particular – where it belonged. One of the sorters who took her sorting very seriously insisted that since it was a Young Adult book, it was in the right place. I couldn't help it, putting this tale of disability, war and death in the same box as as Horrible Harry and The Green Slime and Llama Llama Loves to Read just struck me as funny. So now I've not only questioned her, I have laughed. It was a little tense. (I still think it's funny.) 

My efforts earned me the right to peruse the books that were left after the sale and just take whatever I want. I took two books for my aunt and two for Little Violet. I'm especially excited for Cinco Monitos Leen en la Cama (5 Little Monkeys Read in Bed). Her biological grandfather is Mexican born and likes spending time with her. I hope they'll enjoy sharing this book. I also grabbed a humorous retrospective on Beatlemania for my oldest friend. She's putting effort into our relationship and I want to respond in kind.

 

And now for my annual observation.  Every year there's a book donated in bigger numbers than any other; a book many of my neighbors bought and then decided not to keep. I suspect it's a tome chosen by local book clubs. This year's "winner" seems remarkably random, as it was originally published back in 2003, but I found multiple copies not only on the Humor table but also in Politics and Current Affairs. Its primacy cannot be denied.

2026: Lies and the Lying Liars Who Tell Them by Al Franken 

2025: Living History by Hillary Clinton 

2024: Water for Elephants

2023: My Life by Bill Clinton

2022, 2019, 2018 and 2017: The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

2016: The Help

2015: The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet’s Nest

2014: The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

2013: The DaVinci Code

2012: Sixkill (a Spenser Mystery)

2011: The Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood

2010: Scarlett, the Sequel to Margaret Mitchell’s Gone with the Wind

2009: My Life by Bill Clinton

2008: The DaVinci Code

2007: The Nanny Diaries

2006: The Corrections

 

It's getting deep

I pay little attention to Zohran Mamdani. The nice thing about being this old is that I know that, no matter what, the Mayor of New York will not have a major impact on my life here in Chicago. When I was a little girl, John Lindsay was all the rage. Batman even featured a character based on him. Remember when Bloomberg and Giuliani were going to be President? It was all much ado about nothing.

No mayor of any major city has ever become President. In fact, no mayor has been President since Coolidge, and he held higher office before ascending to the Presidency. Not that Mamdani could be President anyway. I know my Constitution.

So why is my aunt obsessed with Mamdani? She lives in a small town outside of Tampa, for fuck's sake. He has no power over her. Yet she follows his public statements so she can share her outrage.

It's because he's Muslim. "Can you believe that New York City elected a Muslim?" She posted those very words, with pictures of the World Trade Center. How ridiculous is that? Mamdani was 10 years old in 2001. By the way, Muhammad Ali was a Muslim. Was he involved in 9/11, too?

Now her Facebook feed is abuzz because Mamdani had the temerity to ask New Yorkers to use power wisely.

  

Notice that was a request. It's not like masked agents would be knocking on doors demanding to see your thermostat. (As opposed to the ICE agents who ... don't get me started. You have no idea how ugly, dispiriting and scary it was here.)

And it sounds like commonsense to me. Preserves the grid, makes sure we all have comfort during a heatwave. Here in Chicago, ComEd pays us to do that. During peak times, if we reduce our consumption we get a break on our bills. (I saved $3.00 last week.)

But according to my aunt, Mamdani is Communist who is placing an unreasonable burden on his citizens. "This is how it starts," she says. Her friends agree. Creeping Socialism in on the way! (Wait, weren't we talking about Communism? Oh, never mind.)

My aunt is grateful that she lives in The Land of the Free – Florida! Where Ron Desantis is governor!  She seems blissfully unaware that just weeks before, the Florida Public Service Commission — chosen by and answering to Gov. DeSantis — issued the very same suggestion that residents to set their AC units to 78º degrees in the summer.

If I were to ask her, I'm sure that she'd say "Ron" (whom she adores) is civic minded. He's looking out for the people who elected him.

Don't you agree we're about hip deep in bullshit and hypocrisy?

She's my aunt. She's one of two people left on the planet who held me as a baby. She's my last direct tie to the grandparents I adored. I respect and treasure that connection, so I bite my tongue and keep the lines of communication open.

But here's the most disturbing part. She's my godmother. When I was downstairs in Sunday School in the church basement, learning about Jesus and His love, she was upstairs in a pew. Same building. Same Jesus. When I was a little girl, I remember she had a framed photo of JFK in her bedroom. But now she seems to get satisfaction not from brotherhood but from knee-jerk negativity about Muslims, gays, blacks, and immigrants. 

While my aunt's rants gets lots of "thumbs up" from her Tampa buds on Facebook, she no longer hears from one of her sons and two of her grandchildren. She has a great grandchild she has never held. If it wasn't for me, she'd never have seen a photo of my niece's daughter, Violet.

I hope living in a Fox News bubble and spouting the glories of living in "The Land of the Free – Florida" is worth what it's cost her.

 

 

Saturday 9

 
Saturday 9: Cadillac Ranch (1981)

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

1) In this song, Bruce Springsteen sings about taking his father and his aunt to see The Cadillac Ranch. Have you recently taken a road trip? If yes, where did you go? Golly, it's been years since a friend and I hit the road by car. I've flown to Grand Rapids and Los Angeles in the past six months, but I don't think I've traveled any real distance by car since my friend Elaine and I drove down to New Salem in 2023.

2) The Cadillac Ranch is real. It's an outdoor art installation in Amarillo, TX. Tell us about a statue, mural, or other piece of outdoor art in your community. We have so much here to choose from! The Picasso at Daley Plaza, the Chagall Mosaic, Cloudgate (aka The Bean) in Millennium Park ... But those are all well known. This is smaller, more intimate. It's the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fountain on the Chicago River Walk. Tucked away at the end of the bars and restaurants, it gives us a quiet moment to reflect on those who sacrificed for us.

3) Not only is Bruce singing about a real place, he mentions three real people. The first is "James Dean in his Mercury 49." That refers to the 1949 Mercury driven by James Dean in his first starring role, Rebel Without a Cause. Though he remains a legendary star, Dean made only three movies before his death at age 24. Have you seen any of his films? I've seen two of the three. I know this is an unpopular opinion in some quarters, but I think he's staggeringly overrated.

4) The second is "Junior Johnson runnin' through the woods of Caroline." Junior Johnson was a folk hero, famous as a NASCAR driver and notorious for running moonshine through North Carolina. He was the inspiration for "Midnite Moon," an animated old Ford in the 2017 Disney movie Cars 3. What Disney movie did you enjoy when you were growing up?

5) The third man Bruce sings about is "Burt Reynolds and his black Trans Am." This is a reference to Burt's biggest hit, 1977's Smokey and the Bandit. Burt also had success as a restaurateur. He co-owned Burt and Jack's, a popular steakhouse at Port Everglades, right on the water. Tell us about a restaurant that offered both good food and a memorable view. I had a great lunch in Washington, DC at the KC Cafe. It's the cafeteria at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. I had soup and sandwich, my favorite on a rainy day and it hit the spot. But oh! The views of the Potomac! I wasn't expecting to have such a lovely time on such a gray day.

6) For decades, Cadillac was the gold standard of luxury. For example, an eatery referred to as "the Cadillac of restaurants" would be best or most prestigious. Think about your neighborhood. Tell us about a restaurant, hotel or business that is "the Cadillac" of your community. There's an old-school steakhouse not far away called The Golden Steer. It's wood paneled and cramped and noisy. But the prime rib and onion soup are to die for!

7) Since he's been singing about America and cars for decades, it should come as no surprise that Bruce Springsteen has a collection of classic American cars. For the cover of his autobiography he chose a photo of himself leaning on his favorite, a 1960 Corvette convertible. Think about your favorite photo of yourself. What are you doing? It was last Christmas. I am holding my little great niece, Violet.

8) In 1981, when Bruce released this recording, Dolly Parton had a hit with "9 to 5." What's your favorite Dolly Parton song? I get a kick out of this one. "Better keep your hands off my potential new boyfriend."

 

9) Random question: When did you last DIY and fix something around your home or yard? I was tempted to call Comcast/Xfinity for a service call, but no, I set up my new TV all by myself! (Bows deeply.) I love my voice remote and all the cable channels and streaming services, but I do kinda miss the olden days where all you had to do with a new tv was turn it on.

Saturday 9

Saturday 9: For You (1963)

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

1) In this song, Rick Nelson tells us he'd give his girl the stars from sky or a string of pearls. Have you more recently given or received a gift? What was it? June 3 was the first birthday of my great niece, Violet. I sent her a package of gifts and got a pair of adorable photos in return. Violet didn't care much about the clothes, but she liked the board book and was so cute as she shared it with the family cat. It made her happy that her feline buddy likes to lie on it. (If you have a cat, you can imagine this scenario.)

2) By the time this record was released, Rick was already a show business veteran. He had been a regular on his family's sitcom, The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet, since it began airing on radio when he was just 8. Most of us weren't child performers but many of us had chores around the house. When you were young, did your parents give you an allowance? Yes, but I remember little about money in those days. It just wasn't a serious concern for me. Now when my allowance stopped and I had to get by on my babysitting money, THAT I remember!

3) The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet moved to TV, where fans saw Rick grow into a teen who drove a 1932 Roadster. The car really belonged to Tony La Masa, who collected classic cars and rented them out to TV and movie producers. Have you ever earned or raised money with your hobby? No.

4) Paul McCartney has called Rick Nelson an "underrated singer who could really carry a song" and said Rick was one of his influences. Who do you believe you have influenced, professionally or personally? My twenty-something nephew. It's no accident that he's a progressive Democrat, a major Chicago Cub fan, and his favorite song is "Rosalita" by Bruce Springsteen. It quite humbling that he has paid so much attention to me. I consider myself fortunate that he still enjoys spending time with me.

 

5)  This week's song was already an oldie by the time Rick performed it. "For You" was recorded the first time by Casa Loma Orchestra in 1933. In those days, most records were 78 rpm discs, thick and usually only able to hold 3 to 5 minutes of sound per side. Most record companies stopped producing them in the 1950s. Have you ever seen a "78?" I'm not sure. I do remember that my early record players allowed me to play discs at three speeds: 33-45-78. It was fun to play records at 78 and hear everyone sound like Alvin and The Chipmunks.

 

 

6) The lyrics to "For You" were written by Al Dubin. After Al left college he supported himself as a singing waiter. That's really two jobs in one. Which would you do better at: singer or server? If those are my only two choices, I'm afraid I'll starve.

 

7) The music was written by Joe Burke, whose last hit song was "Rambling Rose," recorded in 1948 by Perry Como. Have you ever heard of Perry Como? Yes. He seemed quite irrelevant to me when I was a kid, but when my baby sister (born in 1966) was a toddler she saw him on commercials for his holiday special, and then on the show itself, and loved him so much she named her plush mouse Como. This cracked me up. As a pre-schooler, I believe she was Perry Como's youngest fan.


8) In 1963, when Ricky's recording was on the charts, the Zip Code was introduced. How many different Zips have you lived in? Four.

 
9) Random question: When you were in high school, were you taller or shorter than your classmates? Or were you the average height? I've always been one of the shortest. I was a shade under 5'2 when I reached my full height. I believe I'm barely over 5' now.

 

 

 

 

Walking and talking

My niece sent me the most enchanting video! It was a two-fer: 

1) This was the first time I saw Violet walking. She pulled herself up to standing and then stumbled, gracelessly but purposefully, from the sofa to the chair where her mother was sitting and taping her.

2) Violet is also definitely talking. She said "hi" to the camera! My niece reports that her other word is "baby," spoken when she sees a picture of a baby or when she just feels like saying it.

And to think I was worried! She was so tiny, such a preemie, that I was concerned she'd never catch up. But here she is, weeks before her first birthday, and walking and talking a little ahead of schedule. 

Her first birthday is June 3, but unfortunately I can't make her party. Her grandparents – my niece's in-laws – were nice enough to include me. But my Connie Cat's veterinary adventures were just too expensive, and airfares are too high at the moment, for me to make the trip now. I have a little travel fund set aside for visiting Violet and it has $400 in it, which is just not enough, and until I pay down that Discover card bill, I have to stay put. Maybe the larder will be full enough in the fall.

By Tea Collection

But that doesn't mean I can't shop! I know she is going to the beach this summer, and now she'll dazzle in this little sunsuit. Because the shoulder straps are adjustable and the leg holes elastic, it should take her throughout the summer. I also found her a pair of yellow and pink barrettes to complete the ensemble (though to be honest, she doesn't really have enough hair to need them).

I picked up a souvenir when I was at the TCM Film Festival. It's a little black shirt with HOLLYWOOD in bright pink letters. Violet seems drawn to bold colors, so I think she'll like it.

Everybody reads to Violet, all the time, so I also got her a book. I chose this one because I like the message and because the cover illustration appears toward the end of the book. We know Violet is paying attention at story time because she gets excited when she sees the cover illustration inside on one of the pages.

Yes, you're right, she is brilliant. We are so lucky to have her in our lives.

 

Saturday 9

 Saturday 9: New Year's Day (2017)

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

 
1) In the lyrics, Taylor Swift promises she'll not only be there for the party, but for the clean up afterward. As we say move on from the holiday season, could your home benefit from a thorough cleaning? My home could always benefit from a thorough cleaning. I'm an awful housekeeper.

 

2) This song describes a party where guests took Polaroid pictures. Have you ever owned a Polaroid camera? Do you have one now? My dad had a couple when I was a little girl. I don't believe I've ever owned one. In fact, if it wasn't for Taylor and the Lego set we sold at the store, I would have assumed Polaroid cameras were extinct.

 

3) Taylor sings that we should "hold on to memories." What special memory from 2025 memory will you hang onto? Meeting my little great niece, Violet. She's such a welcome addition to the family and has brought us such joy.

 

4) Taylor Swift grew up on a Christmas tree farm in Pennsylvania. Have you taken your tree, or other holiday decorations, down yet? If you didn't decorate at all, let us know that, too. My Christmas cards are down. I still have to take down the wreath on the front door and put my Santa kitty floor mat away. I'll do it before Monday, honest I will.

5) Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce announced their engagement but no wedding date has been shared. Do you anticipate attending any weddings in 2026? Nope.

6) Travis' team, the Kansas City Chiefs, is currently 6-10. Not exactly the record their fans hoped for. According to a 2024 Pew research study, 53% of Americans said football is their favorite sport. Have you watched much football this season? I don't care about football. But the Chicago Bears are doing better than expected and I'm happy for their fans.

 

7) In 2017, when "New Year's Day" was released, Wonder Woman was a hit at the box office. While Wonder Woman's superhero abilities vary depending on which TV show, movie or comic book you refer to, some of her powers remain consistent: a) immense strength, b) superhuman speed, c) the ability to almost instantly recover/heal from injury. Which would you like to possess – a, b, or c? I find C intriguing.

8) Have you made any New Year's resolutions for 2026? I have to get rid of the stuff I'm drowning in! So I've promised myself I'll donate goods every month. We'll see how I do.

 
9) What was the first thing to make you laugh in 2026? I stopped by the card shop on New Year's Day and one of the girls made me laugh with her love for all the cute pink and red plushies being promoted for Valentine's Day.

 

    

Sunday Stealing

Stealing Some Fun

1. Describe your favorite cake. Right now, I'd like a piece of carrot cake. I think it's the cream cheese frosting.

2. Think of the best party you've ever attended. Were you a host or a guest? Well, I was both a host and a guest. When I was in high school, a girl in our crowd had a November 2 bday. It was my idea to throw her a surprise party by faking a Halloween party. I pitched in for the pizza and chips and soda, but it was held in the rec room of a girl who lived closer to the birthday girl. She was the only one in costume – she was a clown – and I have such fond memories of her laughing, in costume, surrounded by a pile of gifts. 

3. When you choose a greeting card, do you pay more attention to the words or the pictures? I can't separate the two.

4. What's your favorite holiday? I'm looking forward to Christmas this year. I've struggled this time of year because for decades, I spent the holidays with my friend Henry in Key West (his birthday was 12/22) and he has passed away. But this year I have my niece's baby to fuss over. It will be Violet's first Christmas and I feel honored to be included.

5. Who is your favorite character on your favorite TV show? I've recently discovered Modern Family (2009-2020). My favorite character is Phil Dunphy. He is very positive, kind of clueless, and all heart. He's always sharing advice, like: Marry someone who looks sexy while disappointed.

 

 

Saturday 9

SATURDAY 9: HAPPY HOLIDAYS

 From the archives

1. If you could ask Santa for anything at all, right now, what would it be? Shoes that don't pinch. On Black Friday I ordered a pair of shoes. I was told they wear well once you break them in. I've been breaking them in – so now I'd feel guilty returning them – but they aren't wearing well. If for some reason Santa doesn't come through, I will be at the shoe store in search of comfort.

2. Are you currently on the Naughty or Nice list? How did you get there? I'd put me on the Nice List. I try to be kind.

3. Are you traveling this Christmas? If so, are you going by car, plane or train? I'm flying to Grand Rapids to spend Christmas with my niece, her husband and Baby Violet. (It's Violet's first Christmas!)

4. Did you ship any gifts to friends and family this year? If yes, which one traveled the farthest? My cousin Rose is getting a Funko Pop Yoda for her Star Wars collection. (Chicago to Tampa: 1,145 miles.) My oldest friend is getting a gift card for pizza. She's spending the holidays with her daughter and I hope she uses it to spring for dinner one evening between Christmas and New Year's. (Chicago to Los Angeles: 2,030 miles.)

5. Did you buy yourself a gift this year? I just ordered myself a shirt from gift shop at The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. I visited that memorial twice and loved it dearly. I want a souvenir with the logo on it before it's defiled.

6. Which do you prefer: candy canes or gingerbread? Gingerbread.

7. Can you see any holiday decorations from where you're sitting now? There are 16 Christmas cards on my door. They make me happy.

8. What's your favorite winter beverage? I'd like some Bailey's Irish Creme. I'm a grown up, and so I shall have some.

9. Share a memory from last Christmas. It was 12 months ago that my niece and her hubs told us they were ready to adopt. Both the state agency and their lawyer said it could take "up to 3 years." Just six months later, in June, Violet joined our family! Talk about your Christmas miracles.

 

 

Paul Got Back

Sir Paul came to Chicago for my birthday. It was a magic night and I'm so glad it happened, and that it happened at the United Center. Known as The House that Michael Built, the United Center replaced The Chicago Stadium back in the mid-1990s, when the Bulls were repeating and three-peating and MJ consistently proved that he was the best there ever was and the best there ever will be. 

The Chicago Stadium once stood right across the street from where The United Center is now, and it's where I first saw Paul McCartney and Wings during 1976's Wings Across America tour. That old barn is gone now, demolished. But Paul and I are still here.

Almost 50 years ago, I was a still in my teens, living in my parents' house. I was a secretary for Sears, Roebuck and Co. in Sears Tower.  My parents are gone. Sears – where I made the quantum leap from clerical/time-card employee to copywriter – is gone. The Sears Tower is now known as The Willis Tower. But Paul and I are still here.

Here's the SunTimes review

Of course, Paul and I go ever further back than the bicentennial summer. February 1964, I fell in love with him as he sang "All My Loving" on The Ed Sullivan Show. My mother recalled me saying, "He's so pretty it hurts." Those eyes, that voice! He was this six-year-old girl's perfect image of a romantic troubadour. He remains that today.

Paul played to 23,500 people, and I bet just about every one of us felt an emotional connection to him. I was sitting next to a woman of my age who brought her 80-something mother to the concert because the older woman was "giving up." Mom was moving less, going out less. The daughter (a mere 65!) hoped that seeing 83-year-old Paul perform for three hours without a break would inspire her mother to become more active and engage more with the world. In turn, she oohed and aahed over a photo of my darling little grandniece Violet wearing her Yellow Submarine bib. I was sitting in front of two twenty-something girls (sisters, perhaps?) dancing around in crop tops that revealed impossibly toned tummies. I thought, "I had a tummy like that once as I danced to these very songs."

At the end of the concert, Paul and his bandmates came out waving four flags: The stars and stripes, the Union Jack, the Illinois state flag, and the Rainbow Pride flag. At a time when it's become suddenly and regrettably fashionable to advocate taking civil rights away from gay Americans, I appreciated Paul using his influence for good.

It must be wonderful to be Paul McCartney. To bring all that music, all those memories, all that iconography, all that love wherever you go. 

As long as he's willing to keep performing in Chicago, I'll be here. Enchanted. 

 

Saturday 9

Saturday 9: The Lady in Red (1986)

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

 

1) Is red a color you often wear? No. I was a redhead for decades and avoided reds and yellows. I am slowly allowing red and pink back into my closet. Yellow still leaves me looking a bit sickly.

 

2) In this song, Chris De Burgh is thrilled to be dancing with the woman he loves. Do you recall what was playing the last time you stepped onto the dance floor? The Beatles "Twist and Shout."

 

3) Chris says he wrote this song about the first time he saw his future wife, who wore a red dress when she came to see his band perform. Tell us about a memorable concert going experience. I'm making another concert memory on Monday when I see Paul McCartney! I just found out that my friend Mindy and her husband are going, too, and sitting in the same section as I am, just six rows behind me. The United Center seats 23,500 – what are the odds that Mindy would just happen to be sitting so close?

 

But to answer the question at hand: I've seen Sir Paul at Lollapalloza, Soldier Field, the late Chicago Stadium and Wrigley Field. All were outstanding, but my favorite would be have to be Wrigley. Not only is that ballpark one of baseball's great cathedrals and the home of my Chicago Cubs, Paul's timing was exquisite. I was in the midst of a cancer scare, awaiting major surgery so organs could be biopsied. I was terrified. At this moment, my knight arrived! It meant the world to me. PS Everything was benign, thank God.

 

From August 2011

4) Chris' father worked as a diplomat for the United Kingdom. Former US ambassador Robert D. Blackwill believes a diplomat should possess strong writing/speaking skills, meticulous attention to detail, historical knowledge, and stamina. Do you have any of those attributes? I write and speak well. Which is not to say I would make a good diplomat. I think I'd be terrible at it.

 

5) Chris' family owns Bargy Castle, a 15th century fortress in County Wexford, Ireland. Bargy Castle has been converted into a hotel. What's the last hotel you stayed in? The Holiday Inn near the Grand Rapids Airport. It was my second stay there and I can see it becoming something of a home-away-from for me as it is so convenient to my niece, her husband and their new baby. My niece has graciously invited to stay at their home but I'm comfortable at the Holiday Inn. She's a working mom with a new baby! She doesn't need to get her home ready for guests. I just want to sit, talk to her and her husband, and look at that adorable baby. I'm just as happy to sleep at the Holiday Inn.

 

6) Chris is a wine connoisseur who sold a collection of vintage reds for over $500,000. If you suddenly came into $500,000, what would you do with it? My fantasy would be to move into a small apartment on a short-term lease and then, while my condo is empty, renovate it. I need new floors and that's so hard to do when I'm living in here with all my furniture and other stuff. If there's money left over, I would pay down my mortgage. That would free up cash every month for me to do good.

 

7) In 1986, when this song was popular, singer/actress Lady Gaga was born in Manhattan. Have you been to New York City? Yes, but not for decades. I should go back. I found New York exhilerating.

 
8) Also in 1986, NHL Hall of Famer Jacques Plante died. Are you a hockey fan? I used to be, but not anymore. I appreciate baseball so much more.

 

9) Random question – You just slid behind the wheel and are about to embark on a long road trip. Which of these famous Williams would you choose as your navigator: Willie Nelson, Bill Murray, or William, Prince of Wales? First of all, I don't drive so I'd need my William to drive. I don't want Willie Nelson driving. He's 92 years old. I adore Bill Murray – he cracks me up and we're both Cub fans. But I'm afraid over a long trip I'd learn we aren't just naturally besties and that would make me sad. So I shall choose Prince William. I'd love to hear about his life and besides, he'd have a protection officer in the car behind us, so we wouldn't have to worry about getting lost or running out of gas.

 

 

 

Sunday Stealing

Monday Morning Meme

1. What was the last thing you laughed at? My niece's baby. Violet is not quite 5 months old. She sleeps very soundly but wakes up (snap!) instantly. She was asleep in her mother's arms when I arrived to meet her Saturday morning. Violet awoke on her own, caught sight of me sitting beside her and had this wide eyed look of, "What the fuck?" Her big brown eyes telegraphed her thoughts so clearly, she was like a cartoon character, and it made me laugh. She also literally rubbed her eyes when she got sleepy. Aside from the fact that she's cute, her face is animated and expressive. For someone who has no words, she makes herself understood quite clearly. I found her endlessly amusing.

2. Who among your friends/family "gets" your sense of humor? This is why I miss my friend John so much. He always got me. My oldest friend used to, but her cognitive/mental challenges get in the way. On the plus side, my nephew usually gets me.

3. What jewelry are you wearing at this moment? Little faux pearl studs.

4. If you could offer one bit of etiquette that everyone should follow while dining out, what would it be? Before you go to the restaurant, stop at the ATM so you can leave your tip in cash. If you put the tip on your credit card, your server likely won't see it until they receive their next paycheck. 

5. What's the first thing a guest would notice when they walked through your front door?

Saturday 9

Saturday 9: Do You Know the Way to San Jose (1968)

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

 

1) In this song, someone moves to Los Angeles looking for "fame and fortune" but ends up with a job "pumping gas." Today, the majority of service stations are self serve, so very few people pump gas for a living. Can you think of another job that used to be common but doesn't exist anymore? Elevator operator. Every time I see the movie The Apartment – and it's one of my favorites, so I've seen it a lot – I watch Miss Kubelik in her uniform and carnation, getting to know everyone who works in that massive office building and I think, "That looks neat."

 

2) The San Jose travel bureau advertises "300 days of sunshine" every year. How is the weather where you are today? Chilly and cloudy. But it should be. I'm so glad that awful unseasonal heat is behind us!

 

3) Lyricist Hal David became fond of San Jose when he was stationed there while in the Navy. Tell us about a place you visited that you have affection for. Hot Springs, AR. It's so green and being a flatlander from Chicago, I'm enchanted by the rolling hills and trail that leads up to the Hot Springs Mountain Tower. This is the Grand Promenade at the foot of the trail. I always had such good times on my solo spa trips to Hot Springs. 

 

  

4) Composer Burt Bacharach grew up and worked primarily in New York until his marriage to actress Angie Dickinson. She had to live in Los Angeles for her career, so he relocated and remained a Californian for the rest of his life. Where do you feel most at home? (It doesn't have to be a city. It could be your favorite chair.) Curled up with these two.

 

5) Dionne Warwick thinks this week's song is "dumb." She won her first Grammy for "Do You Know the Way to San Jose?" and, decades later, still sings it in concert, but she has not changed her opinion of the song. What is something everyone else seems to like but you just don't get? Football. 

 

6) Now in her 80s, with more than 60 years in show business, Dionne still enjoys performing. She told a reporter that she loves looking out into the audience and seeing an arm go around a shoulder, or a couple begin holding hands, when they hear her sing "their song." What song reminds you of a special romance? I was in love with the most conservative, straight-laced guy. It was a delight to see him go all parrot-head, complete with Hawaiian shirt and foam fin.

 

 

 

 

7) In 1968, when this song was popular, The Doris Day Show premiered. The show was, initially, a surprise to its star. Her manager/husband died suddenly without telling her he had committed her to a weekly sitcom. She was not pleased but honored the contract. Think of the last time you were surprised. Was it a happy or sad surprise? One of my coworkers surprised me by asking me how things were going for me at the store ... and she meant it. I felt very safe being frank with her. I was surprised and grateful for her sensitivity.

 
8) According to the Social Security Administration, the most popular baby names of 1968 were Lisa and Michael. Are there any Lisas or Michaels in your life? Yes, on both counts.

 

9) Random question: What are you looking forward to this week? This coming week I'm going to Michigan to meet our newest family member, Baby Violet!

 

 

August Happiness Challenge – Day 30

 

My 2025 Happiness Icon

Today's happiness: Leavin' on a jet plane. I just made my plane reservations for Grand Rapids. I'm going up to meet my great niece Violet in about a month. I am excited to see the little one in her own home, in her own room, and to see how my niece and her husband are navigating parenthood in everyday life – not during the hectic holidays. Also, when we finally meet she'll be about 4 months old and will have real personality by then. (True confession: I find newborns rather boring.)

 

It makes me happy to make a special fuss over my niece with this visit, instead of just piggybacking onto any upcoming trip she makes to her parents' home or including my first meeting with Violet with the Christmas holidays. I want her to know how important this milestone in her life is to me, and that I support her. 

 

Happy August Happiness Challenge!

 

Each day in August you are to post about something that makes *you* happy. Pretty simple. And, it doesn't even have to be every day if you don't want it to be. It's a great way to remind ourselves that there are positive things going on in our lives, our communities, and the world.

Photo by Ayşegül Baykal on Unsplash

 

Violet check in

My niece sent me a link to the results of the baby's first photo shoot and while I spent a ton of time staring at them in awe, they are not the shots that touched my heart. No, it was the casual pic of my niece holding her tiny (so tiny!) baby in her arms in the library parking lot that got to me. It was taken after they had just signed Violet up for her Summer Reading Challenge. The librarian recommends books appropriate to every age group and considering that Violet is a preemie –  her original due date hasn't even arrived yet – I find it extraordinary and wonderful that she's already been to her local public library! We can almost say she's been reading since before she was born.

Not Violet

She's wearing oversized sunglasses in the picture. They cover nearly her entire face, which is a good thing because people underestimate how hot the Midwestern sun can be and we're having a heatwave. My niece reports that the hospital warned against sunscreen for her – again, she is especially sensitive to not only to the environment but to the chemicals in even the mildest lotion. Also, she seldom opens her eyes yet. This is not unusual for a preterm baby.

My niece is positively glowing in that library parking lot picture. I am so happy for her, but also worried. The adoption is not yet finalized, so there's that. Now I'm worried about Violet's development. She is so small! Stay positive, Gal, stay positive.

 

She's home and she's safe!

Not Violet. From the Amazon page.

I Facetimed with my grandniece yesterday.  It was lovely to see her nestled in my niece's arms, wearing the hat I sent her. 

The little one, whom I will call Violet, had a dramatic entry. Her birth mother developed gestational diabetes and it was decided that for her safety, labor should be induced. 4 weeks early! After nearly 24 hours, Violet still wasn't ready to make an appearance, so a C-section was deemed necessary. The little one was only 4 lbs. 14 oz., so she was kept in the hospital for a few days. Born on Tuesday night, she didn't leave the hospital until Friday. She's furry, with a blanket of fine colorless hair on her back. It's not uncommon for premature babies to have lanugo (<<my new word!) and my niece says she'll be sorry when it falls away.

I was pretty stressed out last week. A friend from high school died. My oldest friend is recovering from a long hospital stay. My girl cat had nine teeth pulled. And first I was worried that the birth mother would change her mind about the adoption, then that she and the baby were in danger. So I was happy to distract myself by shopping for this swaddle sack.

My niece and my late mother were very close. When my niece got married in 2020, it was my mother's wedding dress that my niece tried to emulate, and she wore my mother's diamond pendant as her "something old." So I figured that if she missed my mom on her wedding day, she would be missing my mom now.

Whenever one of those World Wildlife Fund commercials came on, my mom would say wistfully that she worried there would be no elephants left on earth for her (as yet unborn) great grandchildren to see. After her death, I received my mother's mail and I saw the receipt from World Wildlife Fund. My mom was perpetually broke, but she managed to find room in her budget to send a check to WWF.  So to bring my mother into my niece's life as she brought her new baby home, I found a baby burrito printed with whimsical elephants. My niece loved it. Violet is still too small for the sack but the hat fits and it made my niece happy to slip it onto her head. It made me happy to deliver a little joy via Amazon.

Now that my Connie Cat is home, my oldest friend is home, and Violet is home, I can relax and breathe easier.