THOUGHTFUL THURSDAYS

Thoughtful Thursdays are designed to take us away to a more gentle, peaceful place in our minds and hearts.

To virtually fondle the muscles in the back of our tired neck ever so softly,

 and massage our aching feet with exquisite perfection .

I Wish I Knew

I wish I knew if my dog Fluffy will meet me in heaven when I arrive.

I wish I knew how to really overcome my shyness, and not just pretend.

I wish I knew how to survive in the wilderness.

I wish I knew the names of all different kinds of trees, birds, and flowers.

I wish I knew why some people don't like me from our first meeting.

I wish I knew how to play the piano.

I wish I knew how to fly an airplane.

I wish I knew how to comfort people at a funeral.

I wish I knew how to never say the wrong thing.

I wish I knew how to teach my granddaughters everything they need to know for a happy life.

I wish I knew how to keep Benji (our Yorkie) from barking at everyone that walks down the sidewalk.

I wish I knew how to use a sewing machine to hem my pants. (I have extra short legs)

I wish I knew the cure for my granddaughter Breanna, who has C.F.,  and her sister who suffers from autism.

I wish I knew how to love as unconditionally as my wife Donna.

I wish I knew how my friend Greg Batton has developed such a kind, loving heart that is beyond my understanding.

I wish I knew how my friend from Norway, Sara Marie , has developed such a sweet, beautiful, honest, gregarious personality that is so attractive to everyone.

I wish I knew if I'll ever be able to meet Sara-Marie, Cheryl M.,

Jay, Dan Tulloh, Yoz , Richie Havens, and Joni Mitchell. (That would be a dream come true)

I wish I knew how many minds and hearts I've reached with my songs, blog, and little jingles I've written for the radio.

I wish I knew if the Lord will answer every question I've ever wondered about when I meet him. I hope so, I'm so curious!

TRAVELIN' TUESDAYS

We had two of our precious granddaughters in the back seat of our car the other day, and everything was totally quiet for mile after mile.

How could that be? 

It be, because they had their electronic devices to pass the time.

Be it a Kindle, I Pod, I Pad, lap top, I phone, or a thousand other devices to dominate their little brains...road trips are way different than when I was a kid.

We used to actually look out the window and see scenery, cows, other cars, human beings...

The kids today never look up from their device in time to see ANYTHING!

Me...Look! A red tailed hawk!

Granddaughter...Uh, wuh, grampa? (With her head still looking down at the little screen)

Me..A big hawk! On top of that telephone pole!!

Granddaughter...(Finally looks up) Where grampa? I don't see anything.

Me... (Defeated) It's about a mile back now, honey.

Our road trips, over 50 years ago, were, umm...let me tell this another way:

ROAD TRIP FANTASY

Dad's 53 ford, seats are steamin',

August...St. Louis,

Road trip dreamin',

There's six of us, 

no air conditioning,

With windows down,

We start positioning,

Dad, of course,

Behind the wheel,

Me next to him,

I'm the smallest deal,

My 3 big sisters,

Fill the back seat,

The sweat is running,

Down their cheeks,

The wind blows in,

Like a furnace blast,

We're on the way,

Road trip at last!

100 miles ,

To Grampa's place,

Dad's cigarette ash,

Finds Dee-Dee's face,

The radio's playin',

Blue Suede Shoes,

We want a coke,

But dad will choose,

When or where,

Or IF we'll stop,

To get some gas,

And have a pop.

Missouri countyside,

Is sweet,

At grampa's place, 

We'll finally eat,

Two days of joy,

Then home we'll be,

Thanks to,

Our road trip fantasy.

BURMA SHAVE

♫♪MADNESS MUSIC MONDAYS♪♫♪

My featured song today is "The Sweet Hot Hoochiecoo" by Danny Maness.

Over the years there has been a significant amount of confusion over this song, and I'm here to make things worse.

First of all, there are many variations of the spelling of "hoochiecoo." 

Allow me to show you some examples:

Rock and Roll Hoochie Koo

Rock and Roll Hoo Chee Coo

Although they are singing "Honky Tonk Woman!"

Hoochy Coochy, another interesting spelling.

A bunch of dirty minded dudes have mistakenly thought that my song is about doin' the "nasty," but they are so far from the truth.

The "Sweet Hot Hoochiecoo" is a DANCE that has it's roots in the wildly popular "Hoochie Coochie" belly dance from days gone by.

HOOCHIE COOCHIE

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Hoochie Coochie was a sexually provocative belly dance that originated 

at the Philadelphia Centennial Exhibition in 1876. It became wildly popular during 

and after the Chicago World's Fair in 1893.

I'll provide the lyrics to my classic song,

and you can be the judge of whether it's sexually 

provocative or a simple dance song, okay? 

The Sweet Hot Hoochiecoo

by me.

Tom in Tennessee is bored,
Friday night fire up the Ford,
Grab Jolene head for the show,
Runs outta gas, he whispers low,
When there's nothin' to do,
Do the Sweet Hot Hoochiecoo.


You do the Sweet Hot Hoochiecoo,

You do the Sweet Hot Hoochiecoo,
Do the Sweet Hot Hoochiecoo,
Do the Sweet Hot Hoochiecoo,
When there's nothin' to do,

Do the Sweet Hot Hoochiecoo.

Kansas Prairie, Bill and Mary,

Got two kids named Jill and Larry,

Put them babies in their beds,

Now William smiles when Mary says,

When there's nothin' to do,

Do the Sweet Hot Hoochiecoo.

You do the Sweet Hot Hoochiecoo,

You do the Sweet Hot Hoochiecoo,
Do the Sweet Hot Hoochiecoo,
Do the Sweet Hot Hoochiecoo,
When there's nothin' to do,

Do the Sweet Hot Hoochiecoo.

Doin' it in Austin, over in St. Lou,

Even up in Boston, they do the Hoochiecoo,

All the way to Fargo, south to Tupelo,

Way down in Key Largo, everywhere you go,

When there's nothin' to do,

Do the Sweet Hot Hoochiecoo.

Sam and Sadie long retired,

Neath the blue skies of Fort Myers,

Sittin' 'round is not their way,

From time to time you'll hear 'em say,

When there's nothin' to do,

Do the Sweet Hot Hoochiecoo

You do the Sweet Hot Hoochiecoo,

You do the Sweet Hot Hoochiecoo,
Do the Sweet Hot Hoochiecoo,
Do the Sweet Hot Hoochiecoo,
When there's nothin' to do,

Do the Sweet Hot Hoochiecoo.

Now, if you find tom, watch the video below,

and see if you still have the same opinion.

(On the other hand, don't even worry about 

finding Tom, he's a bad dog)

ST. LOUIS SUNDAYS

CIRCA 1959

We lived on the flight path of the planes landing at St. Louis Lambert International Airport,  although I don't think it had such a long name back then. 

We just called it Lambert Field.

The jets coming in over our house were so cockadoodie loud that we had to stop our conversations in mid sentence and start up again after the plane went over! 

 For example: The Cardinals sure have a great..roooooAAAAAARRRRRRRR..baseball team this year. 

My dad would look up at the jets going over and yell, "Pull up you fool, you'll kill us all!!" 

As kids, we would love to walk over to the airport and watch the rich people getting on and off the jet liners.

That's when they rolled the steps up to the door of the plane, and folks had to walk a short distance across the landing field to the terminal.

We could walk all over the place...any where we wanted...no security, no scanners, no taking our shoes off for inspection, no cameras watching us, no nuttin' honey!!

They even had a platform area with telescopes, where we could put in a dime and watch the planes coming in from a distance...for about 10 seconds...then we had to put in another dime.

Here is yet another interesting piece of history I'll share with you.

The McDonnell Douglas Corporation was located right next to Lambert Airport http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/McDonnell_Douglas 

They built and TESTED military jets every day, and there were no laws against them breaking the sound barrier over our house at that time in history.

The first time it happened, we thought a semi-tractor trailer truck, loaded with bricks, had plowed into the side of our house!

The house shook, and the BOOM was deafening!! 

Between the "sonic booms" and the jets flying at tree top level over our house, it's a wonder I can even hear at 162 years of age! (Just seeing if you're payin' attention.)

 The first time I ever got to go to Lambert Field and fly on a plane was in 1969, when the Army, so graciously, paid all my expenses to Seattle, Washington for basic training at Ft. Lewis.

It was still really cool looking down and seeing all the shapes, patterns, squiggly lines, and crop circles on the ground.

I don't care to fly now.

Back then, everybody was treated like kings and queens, the stewardesses all looked like Miss America contestants, the meals were pretty good, you didn't have to pay extra for your luggage, or take off your shoes, or go through a life shortening scanner, or come to the airport 2 hours early...

Nowadays, I'd rather walk.