With a Little Help from an Old Lady

Last night, the two teenagers and I were indulging in our only reality show - "American Idol". We tend towards either detective shows, horror or history, but we do like to watch this one reality show (with apologies to fans of other reality shows - they just don't appeal to us). Both boys are band students, and big fans of music. Years ago we ditched the DVD player in the car in favor of music. We even have a system worked out. Slots 1, 3, and 5 in the car's CD player are for their music choices while hubby and I get slots 2, 4, and 6. It works well this way - we alternate selections so neither the old nor the young get exhausted by the choice of the other group (at least as long as I don't have Pink or Adele - neither seem to appeal to my sons). Along the way we discover music we can all agree with. I'm a fan of Linkin Park, and Radiohead now, while they enjoy the Beatles, Pink Floyd, the Rolling Stones - all the classics. 

So you can imagine the shared horror and shock when one of the American Idol contestants admitted that he had NEVER heard "Let It Be" by the Beatles!!! How is that even possible in someone with a gift for music? Then another contestant comes along and isn't sure she's ever heard my favorite Beatles song, "She's Leaving Home". Wow - I knew the state of education in American was in crisis, but I had no idea it was THIS BAD!

So with apologies to Mary - who is the true musician, and an incredible musical talent - I have to list a few albums from my youth that I just think are a must listen. Please add to the list - I need to make sure I'm adequately educating my teenagers!

1 - Beatles - "White Album"

2 - Beatles - "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band"

3 - Beatles - "Rubber Soul"

4 - Carole King - "Tapestry"

5 - Michael Jackson - "Thriller"

6 - Rolling Stones - "Rewind (1971-1984)" 

7 - The Who - "Quadrophenia"

8 - Pink Floyd - "The Dark Side of The Moon"

Yeah - The Beatles get three slots and the Rolling Stones get a greatest hits compilation. What can I say - we had good music - really good music.

 

And That's the Way of Life

Some days you wake up and you just know what you want to write about. And some days you wake up with TOO many ideas swirling around your head almost like the leaves. Do I write about the obnoxious landscaper next door who has decided that the leaves in that yard are labeled as mine and as such deserve to come back home? Maybe I should write about the funny "American Idol" comment made by my younger teen while watching it. Or I can write about the incredible improvement at assignment completion we've seen from the older son since the famous 'no Xbox for you' incident of 2011. Then there is my trip last weekend to the parents and the bittersweetness of it all or watching our older son walk into his school wearing his junior ROTC uniform and the wonder of how he got that old. I know I could get empathy for the fact that hubby is taking a vacation day today, and bless his heart, he really believes that my days are so open ended that I can accompany him anywhere to do anything his heart desires with no impact on my schedule...


The idea of writing today is sorta the way life is...there's the good, the bad, and the ugly all mixed in with the huh, the why's, the why not's. So maybe I'll just expand on a couple of things:


American Idol - it's our one and only reality show. The teens are musically inclined (they've been in band since 5th grade and there's no end in sight). My home state of North Carolina continues to do me proud. There've been several contestants, and even winners (Scotty, Fantasia, Clay Aiken, Chris Daughtry are a few), and the other night three more moved through. Prompting the following comment from the 13 year old, "So are you the ONLY North Carolinian who can't sing?" For the record, my Momma can't sing either so I am in FINE company. So there. Oh, and I totally recognize that while he did NOT get his ability to sing on key and play an instrument from me, that snarky, sarcastic sense of humor...oh, I KNOW where THAT came from.


The Xbox incident, well, I wrote about that in "Possum Momma Lives". And it worked. The child brought home straight A's (which was NOT the point, but he won't understand that until probably his 40's), and he is doing a MUCH better job with keeping straight his requirements. All it takes is the ability to unplug and to tune out the whining...incredible parenting skills which are totally underrated.


I'll touch on my parents and the ROTC uniform when I feel ready for a cry. Because that's how life is - you touch on what you're ready for, and you work your way through the other...while accompanying hubby to Best Buy and sneaking glances at your own to-do list.

Monday, Monday, Monday...

My cake...21 years ago...

Yes, I am fully cognizant (thank God) of the fact that I am posting a blog titled, "Monday, Monday, Monday..." on a Friday. But Monday is my birthday and it’s funny how your focus heads straight to a birthday no matter what your age. When we're young we're so excited for the day - another year older, more possibilities, more responsibility, more permission, presents and my personal favorite always - cake. As we get older we realize that less responsibility would be nice, I don't really need your permission, less presents would mean fewer bills, and I find myself searching for a low carb birthday cake that tastes good (good luck with that).

Hubby is a bit of a party pooper when it comes to birthdays (ours, not the kids), something he will readily admit. He just doesn't see the need for a celebration. I, however, have often pointed out to him that I would prefer to party like its 1999, which coincidentally coincides with my having a good figure, and no gray hair. So thank goodness, Mary is coming to celebrate my birthday a couple of days early. There's something to be said for someone in your life that you can hear the opening chord of a song and start laughing together (I should really tell y'all the story of "American Pie" by Don McLean some time). We will kick back tonight the way you do with people that you are completely comfortable with – and that you will never haggle over an inheritance with. We will laugh until tears roll down our faces, talk until we drive hubby back to his man cave, and completely, completely be Mary and Evelyn, not wife, Momma, chauffeur… and it will be glorious!

A very wise woman once said that if you have just a few true friends in your life, then you are blessed. I am blessed that her daughter is one of my true friends. I had another kick me in the gut day this week sorta like what I referenced in my essay, “Miss NonCongeniality”. But I got through it… with a little help from my friends. As we get older those kick me in the gut days can happen pretty fast and furious, but the kick back days, they really, really help. So if you’re around tonight and you wanna see some serious kick back going on, stop in. My house will be the one with the music blaring and the raucous laughter by two women who do NOT look our age, and we dang sure won’t be acting it…tonight. 

And the Beat Goes On by Mary Alford-Carman

So my thirteen-year-old daughter and I were tripping the light fantastic down the highway, and she had been given control of the music for the drive. Can you say time for an awkward moment? A new song comes on, you can’t read the display, the beat is great, and then the lyrics come slamming in at full speed before you can think to act. Let’s just say that while the language was not explicit, the innuendo wasn’t lacking, so much so that you might as well have stuck our faces into a preview of “Girls Gone Wild.” I wish I could remember the lyrics, but the gist was that a party was going on in the nether regions and company was wanted. The situation was in sync with my music review “Invisible Words” in February’s issue of 4gaby.com.

My daughter looked over and just changed the station. “Well, that was random,” was all she said as she looked over grinning at me. We talked about the song for a moment or two and I felt good that she really didn’t care about it but was comfortable talking with me about the song. I couldn’t help but remember lowering the volume on my stereo at home when I was sixteen and my parents where close by because the lyrics were less than stellar. The beat goes on, the cycle continues, but at least my daughter talks to me about the music she likes and dislikes…for now.