Stripping away the rose colored glasses of denial concerning my reality. Getting in touch with truth. Reaching out to others in empathy concerning their reality and their walk to truth.

Friday, June 21, 2013

making beds to lie in...

Life has a way of circling back memories we'd thought forgotten. So it was with me this past week as I made the bed in the smallest room of my home. It used to be my room. Long since painted a different shade of lavender, it still feels like my space! Perfect for viewing the sunset, I travel there so I can travel elsewhere... in my mind... remembering a certain thirteen year old doing the very same thing.
Of course there's a 'jambox' for listening to music. What sane teenage girl would be without her favorite tunes? Set to radio I flipped the switch and suddenly was transported to 1968. A song from the past filled the air; I had more memories than my heart could contain. The overflow spilled onto my cheeks. Okay now... it's okay now.
June - 1968 - Mom and I are making my bed in the small room. The gentle guitar moves, finger fretting, came over the air and we knew the song. "Ode to Billie Joe" and we knew the words, mostly. Mom got to the verse that says:
"There was a virus going 'round; Papa caught it and he died last spring." But then she made a goof and continued... "and now Papa doesn't seem to wanna do much of anything."
Pure hysterical laughter as we realized her mistake. I guess Papa wouldn't want to do much of anything.(smile)
June- 2013 - So there I was making that bed, thinking about all my troubles of late. Reached over and flipped the switch on that old 'jambox' and yep... got to the part of Mom's goof and hooted and hollered. I laughed until I cried but I was laughing.
Lots of speculation about that song. Bobbie Gentry, author and artist, moved on to study Philosophy in California. She once told the BBC, 1968, the song was a "study in unconscious cruelty," which I didn't understand until I saw the 1976 movie. So finding this video really is eye-opening because you see firsthand the "family table talk" and dancing around the "why".  A young man is dead because the times were as they were... being gay was "unpardonable" by people. Forty-five years have passed... are we there yet?


9 comments:

  1. I love the song but never understood the meaning behind it before!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Rather haunting to me, Fran. But I always remember my Mom's mistake... a good dose of comic relief!

    Take care; thanks for stopping by.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Loki, I so agree, and thanks for the compliment!

    I'm behind on your building posts; will visit soon.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Life certainly does circle back those memories. Loved that Ode to Billie Joe video.

    Andy Williams brought back memories for me. Seeing his television show, which was on UK TV, was the only way to see many of the US singing stars of the period. Some happy memories there.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Hello Mike. I loved Andy Williams and I remember seeing this show too. I find it interesting to discover which shows are shown in both countries.

    Thank you for the comment and the visit. :)

    ReplyDelete
  6. Hey Dixie,

    Oh my and how you were transported back in time with that memorable song by Bobbie Gentry. I remember it well and let's hope that after forty five years that....the times they are a changin'...

    Be well, Dixie.

    Gary :)

    ReplyDelete
  7. Hahaha, Gary. You always have a song. And lately, what a run on humour at your blog site!! How do you stay so upbeat??

    Thanks for visiting and leaving lil' ol' me a comment. :)

    ReplyDelete
  8. Hi Dixie,

    I try to live my life with a song in my heart and the beat goes on...

    Actually, I'm going through an extremely difficult time and I'm using my attempts at surreal humour as therapeutic distraction. My hope is that it may help others.

    Keep smiling, dear lady.

    Gary :)

    ReplyDelete
  9. Hello Gary,
    Consider me helped! Thanks for stopping back over and sharing the insight; hope things go well soon!!

    Smiles returned,
    Dixie

    ReplyDelete

Thank you for visiting me. Want to add your thoughts?