Nostalgia
First Lady of My Heart
One of the densest fogs that we ever saw clogged the harbor. Nothing was visible except the faintest glimmer of light from Liberty’s torch. We were not the only travelers to be crestfallen. As I opened the door to go in from the cold, foggy morning, there before me stood former First Lady Barbara Bush and her bodyguard.
Chevy Days
I started up the car and backed it carefully out of the driveway. It was the first time I had ever driven the car and, damn, it felt good!
Silver Screen, Golden Years
Movie Stars on Radio
Filling in for each other at the last minute was common in radio. Barbara Stanwyck famously jumped in for Jack’s radio girlfriend (and real-life wife) Mary Livingstone on “The Jack Benny Show.” All one needed was a script in hand, a good voice, and steady nerves.
First Job Lessons
It worked. After an initial quizzical stare, few cared that their football-shaped pizzas were hanging over the edge of the pan or had to be crammed into a takeout box. And if they did ask, Orv would give them a fist pump and shout, “Go Oilers!”
Laverne's View
Too Smart Too Late
“You are a woman,” he said, “and women are supposed to
enjoy taking care of their families and their home.” I apologized
for not fitting into his belief that all women came from the same
cookie cutter.
Neil Sedaka – Hall of Fame Songwriter
Sedaka not only made a successful singing and songwriting career for himself, he also penned hit songs for many other singers over the years. There was “Stupid Cupid” and “Where the Boys Are” for Connie Francis; Gene Pitney’s hit, “It Hurts to Be in Love;” Captain and Tennille’s “Love Will Keep Us Together” and many more, including songs for ABBA, Jimmy Clanton, the Monkees, The Fifth Dimension, Dinah Washington and Frankie Valli.
Silver Screen, Golden Years
The Bargain of the Century
ZaSu, whose on-the-surface expressions of worry, befuddlement, and wonder, as well as the warble in her voice and her repetitious “oh, dear!” will probably instantly remind you of Olive Oyl. There’s a reason for that. Mae Questel, the originator of Olive Oyl’s distinctive voice, was imitating ZaSu Pitts.
Big Day in a Small Part of Texas
Suddenly, a customer pouring herself some coffee shouted, “You built this town? I hate Merkel! It’s given me nothing but misery! I keep leaving and it keeps hauling me back!” Then she scowled and advanced toward me brandishing a cup of steaming coffee.
‘Load Management.’ The NBA Term For Rest
In the real world, where I grew up, people worked for a living, and they worked hard. My dad may have taken a sick day from his job at Burlington Mills, but I don’t remember one. And I know he never took a day off for Load Management.
Senior Moments
Dad, July 4th, and Bucket Baseball
Because of his experiences with the carnival and the Great Depression, he had a gift for creating low-cost entertainment for family gatherings, and because of his participation in World War II, he had a great love for his country and went all out to honor it on its birthday.