Musical Memories - Nights at Benny's

My theme is Musical Memories:  The Memories that music brings rushing back.

Benny is Pete's brother.  And for 35 years, Benny's has been the place to party in Caneyhead.  Most anyone who lives up this way will tell you that.  Now, the musical background to Benny's parties varies from old rock, swamp, classic country and occasionally some new stuff thrown in by some youngins.

But more times than I can count, the background at Benny's has been CCR.  That's Credence Clearwater Revival.  And while they play, the washers clank on the boards, the voices shout "We skunked you!"  "Next!"

  

Other times the pool table was the place of action.  "Eight ball in the side pocket."  "Next!"

People driving up or folks calling it a night and leaving from dark thirty till 1, 2 or even later in the morning.  Singles, couples.  Families and children.  Everyone waiting for the ribs and chicken on the stump to come off the grill.  Or for the last of the fish to be fried.  Or for a fresh batch of crawfish to be poured into the cooler.  Benny could have made a fortune cooking for a living, but has always worked as a carpenter instead.

Other times, dominoes were the center point of the evening. Rousing games of forty-two or moon.  Sometimes with bets, sometimes just for fun.  

Children running and playing in the moonlight.  Bodies gathered around the fire ring, warming and toasting.  Sharing stories and swapping tales.  Family.  Lots and lots of family. Always the center point.  Maybe, always the point of it all. More than the party.

Everyone was always welcome.  Just don't start no trouble. Trouble was never appreciated nor abided by. Pack up, get out and head on down the road if that was your agenda.

Now days, not as many come.  And that is well and good.  As everyone has slowed down a little.  Now there's more of just family.  Connecting, re-connecting, visiting.  Getting back to what it was about all along. 

Have you ever played Louisiana style washers?
What's your favorite CCR song?
How does your family unwind and reconnect?

Musical Memories - Mama Ruth and Merle Haggard

My theme is Musical Memories:  The Memories that music brings rushing back.

Mama Ruth was Mother's mother.  She was around fairly often through my childhood, yet I have so few real memories of who she was. After all, I was a child.  And most of the time when she was around when I was young she was busy in the kitchen or visiting my mother and her sisters. Then she was older and sick and frail.  And took turns for a time staying at first one daughters and then another's house. 

So, I seldom had real conversations with her.  Never really got to know her.  But one day.  One day, when she was taking a turn staying with us, she and I were alone in the living room.  I put on a Merle Haggard album and the song "I Take a Lot of Pride in What I Am" came on.
  

Above all, I remember her foot that was crossed over one leg starting to swing in time with the music.  I remember her remarking how much she enjoyed the song.  It resonated within her.  Not necessarily having much or being famous in the world's view, but still living one's life with pride and purpose.  We conversed some that day.  But in all honesty, I don't remember any of what was said.  

What I remember is her reaction to this song.  And in that moment I knew how she treasured and prided herself in her simple life and in being certain of who and what she was.  It's a one moment revelation that still resides within me and helps to define who I am today.

Did you get to have a grandparent with you beyond your teen years?

What was the most pivotal moment you ever had with a grandparent?

What values of theirs still resonate within you today?

Musical Memories - Lobo

My theme is Musical Memories:  The Memories that music brings rushing back.

Lobo had several songs in the seventies that I enjoyed.  But "Me and You and a Dog Named Boo" is the one that dredges up a very specific and precious memory for me. 

My sister, Sarah, had taken me to the Burger Barn. Just the two of us.  A very unique event.  I suppose she had left Holly and Clay with Mama playing Wahoo. We placed our order and then she went to the jukebox and fed it a few quarters.  This song is one of several she played that day.  It and "Big, Blue Diamonds" are the ones I remember.  

We are there enjoying our meal together, talking like two adults, though I believe I was just a young teen. 

I remember her warmth and her laugh and her smile. Remember her curls and one foot always tucked under her wherever she sat.  My precious sweet Sissy.  Taken from me and the world way too soon. 

Do you have a stand out moment with an older sibling?
Do you remember the song?
What was the best greasy old school burger joint you ever ate at?

Musical Memories - Kim, Andy

My theme is Musical Memories:  The Memories that music brings rushing back.

There is not a shadow of a doubt, that out of my collection of over 300 singles, the most played and most danced to song is (and will always be) Rock Me Gently by Andy Kim. Though no other song he recorded has this success, it is interesting to note that he did pen one of my other favs and the prompt of another Musical Memory, "Sugar,Sugar". All in all it is the kind of feel good music I turn to when I want to enjoy myself and celebrate just being. 

The second most played single I own is Brandy by Looking Glass.  Not as good to dance to, but I have always loved everything about the song.  The sing-a-long-ability of it.  The uptempo of the chorus. And the haunting theme of the lyrics.

Do you have any go to songs to lift your spirits or dance to?

How many 45's were in your record collection?

Do you dance at home by yourself?

Musical Memories: The Joker

My theme is Musical Memories:  The Memories that music brings rushing back.

One of the very strongest musical memories I have centers around the song, "The Joker" by the Steve Miller Band.

As soon as I hear the first few chords of the song, I can smell strong chlorine and hear the snap of a diving board and the click of pool balls on a table.  If you had the privilege of growing up in Silsbee in the 70's, you probably remember these things, too.

There was a pool on a hill at the North edge of town that the Nelson's ran.  Huge pool.  With a low dive and a high dive.  A kiddie slide in the shallow end and a big slide in the deep end.  There was a small wading pool before the big pool for toddlers.  And a covered pavilion with pool tables and foosball tables.  And a jukebox.  That jukebox is why this song brings back such vivid memories.  The boys that would hang out under the pavilion playing pool would play it over, and over.  

As an adolescent, the pool was a special place for birthday parties complete with cakes from Registers bakery.  The best bakery ever.  I don't even eat birthday cake anymore, because none of them taste like a Register cake.

As a teen, the pool became the place I lived at from 1-6 pm two or three days a week all summer long.  I always got a bag of sour cherry balls and a coke for a treat. We'd lay on the hard plastic 60's style lounges and sun bath with baby oil or pina coloda scented lotion.  We'd flirt and play chicken in the water in pairs. I loved to dive and go to the bottom of the pool and shoot up like a torpedo.  Every year the Nelson's would treat the graduating class to a pool party at night.

So, many, happy perfect memories there.  So sad our kids have nothing like it today.

What was your happiest hangout as a teen?
Are you a Steve Miller Band fan?
Do you adore swimming as much as I do?

Musical Memories: Intermediate School

My theme is Musical Memories:  The Memories that music brings rushing back.

Intermediate school at the old O'Neil campus holds a bucket full of musical memories.  This was 5th and 6th grade in a building I believe started it's life as the high school.  The wooden steps up to the second floor had depressions worn into them from the millions of feet that had passed over them.

There was Mrs. Bowie's music class. My first and only music class.  We sang "Tie Me Kangaroo Down, Sport" and "The Happy Wanderer".  We danced to "Ballin' the Jack".  I still remember how to do the dance.

At one point we put on a Christmas program.  (Yes, Christmas with Christ in it, as it should be.)  The group I was in sung "Bring a Torch, Jeanette Isabella"  We all had to have long white dresses with long sleeves.  Mother made mine, and she sewed beautiful tatting around the neck, waist and cuffs.

Another time, the school had a talent contest.  I remember the boys in our class sung "Tie a Yellow Ribbon 'Round the Old Oak Tree" by Tony Orlando and Dawn.  I think they wanted to do it mainly so they could say "damn" in the last verse.  A group of girls I was in, which included Sandra Hartley and Cheryl Self, among others, did a dance we choreographed ourselves to "Crocodile Rock" by Elton John. 

    I also, still remember this

 dance and have taught it to Hannah Bug.

That old music room was hot and sticky in the warm months with no air conditioning and in the winter months you either froze or burned up, depending on how close or far you were from the radiator.  Either way, it still holds a host of warm memories for me.  I still can sing most of the songs she taught us and it was there I first learned that I love to dance.

What musical memories do you have from school?
Did you ever perform in an auditorium?

Musical Memories: Humming Bird

My theme is Musical Memories:  The Memories that music brings rushing back.

"Humming Bird" is just one of the Seals & Crofts hits 

from the 70's.  Every time I hear any of their tunes, I am transported back to Dam B and Head Acres where I'd go camping most every weekend with my best friend and her brothers at her parent's camp.

We were teen girls and their camp was in the same alcove as three teen boys from our hometown.  Many nights down by the water, listening to tunes from a truck radio while we watched a fire burn. CB radios were the rage then and many times we'd be taking turns conversing with people from all over on the boys units.  Once or twice, they snuck us into the the local VFW hall for beer and dancing.

And then there were the local boys.  Joe & Mike. We met them in Sunday School class at a local Baptist church where Mrs. Seaman taught.  She sold fireworks down our way every season.  She was a hoot and truly loved young folks.  We cruised all over the dam with the boys.  And always, a Seals and Crofts 8-track cassette was the background for our adventures.

Lots of afternoons and evenings hanging out at the Sportsman Lodge, shooting pool or playing Foosball.  I remember one time a group of boys picked up the back end of Mary Lou's orange VW Bug so we couldn't leave!  Warm summer days shimmer in my mind. I can still smell the lake water.

There was times her dad took us out skiing and times he took us with him to run his very private and guarded catfish lines. He would often be sitting and visiting around a fire at their camp with a co-worker and friend of his.  Her mom would priss  around in her nonchalant way and make up awesome chocolate treats or roast pecans in the oven.

I miss those carefree days.  But above all, I miss the people who inhabited those days.  

What is your favorite Seals & Crofts tune?

Where was your favorite teenage water hangout?

Have you ever run trot lines?