saturday 9

 

Annie's Song

1) 50 years ago this month, we were all listening to John Denver rhapsodize about nature. He singles out walking in the rain as a particularly lovely experience. Do you enjoy walking in the rain? if I am not wearing glasses I enjoy being in the rain--but I hate when my glasses get wet

2) Denver wrote this song on a ski lift in Aspen. He clearly relished the ride, but ski lifts are problematic for those who suffer from acrophobia, or a fear of heights. Acrophobia plagues approximately 5% of Americans. Are you one of them? my fear of heights was cured after climbing up the narrow staircase to the top of Blarney Castle in Ireland and kissing the Blarney Stone.  When my friends and I reached the top, I declared that I did not go all that way to not kiss the stone. Hanging upside down and looking at the gorgeous castle grounds cured me.  

3) John Denver recalled that this song just came to him as he looked down on the beauty of nature. Can you recall a time when something you saw in nature touched your heart? watching a glorious sunrise while driving to work touches my heart and reminds me why I am blessed to live here at the end of the earth.

4) Wildly successful here in The States, John Denver's popularity didn't extend to the United Kingdom. In fact, "Annie's Song" was his only major hit. But it was a big one. Denver's version reached #1 in 1974 and then in 1978 James Galway hit #1 on the UK charts with an instrumental version. Do you have a favorite instrumental recording? my favorite instrumental recording is George Winston's December album.  I've been known to listen to it year-round.

5) John Denver's first-ever guitar, a gift from his grandmother, was displayed at the Musical Instrument Museum in Phoenix. Have you visited a museum yet this summer? If not, do you have plans to? no plans for a museum visit, however, I have been to three art galleries

6) In addition to the guitar, Denver also played the violin (or "the fiddle," as he called it). If a genie appeared to magically enable you to play the instrument of your choice, which would you choose? guitar--acoustic, classical

Let's look at the summer of 1974.

7) Elizabeth Berkeley was born. She's best known as Jesse on the Saturday morning teen sitcom, Saved by the Bell. What Saturday morning TV shows do you remember fondly? the Saturday morning cartoon lineup!  I don't remember what order but it was always Bugs Bunny, The Jetsons, Josie and the Pussycats, Fat Albert, the Flintstones,  Almighty Isis, Shazam, and the Monkees

8) Hall of Fame pitcher and Cardinal great Dizzy Dean died. How is your baseball team doing this summer? no clue, I do not really follow baseball although I pay more attention to it because of The Gal

9) The biggest summer movie was The Longest Yard starring Burt Reynolds. What's your favorite Burt Reynolds movie? the first thing that popped into my mind is The Best Little Whorehouse In Texas