On a Much Lighter Note..Mama Kat’s First Slow Dance With a Boy

Thank Goodness for Mama Kat and her Thursday blog challenge. This week’s prompts:

2.) Tell us about your song.
4.) Slow dancing with boys…talk about one of your first school dance experiences.

It’s a two for one kind of deal!

Once upon a time, long long ago, say around 1959, my public school, J. F. Carmichael held a dance every second Friday in the evening. It was called Club 87 as it was only open to these two grades. Our parents took turns chaperoning the event which from time to time could be embarrassing if they tried to actually dance because not one of us could imagine people that ancient actually dancing.

Not exactly how it was but...

Now the interesting thing about our age group is that many of the girls were taller than the boys who had not yet reached their growth spurt. If you ever saw the movie Grease (and I hope all have) there is a dance scene in the gym where the girls line up on one side and the boys on the other each group getting support from their peers, girls tapping their feet and boys shuffling theirs and doing their best to appear manly in dress slacks and ties. All being very shy and all shucks about it.

I don’t even remember his name but he was dashing in his slicked dark slicked back hair. As we danced in proper form he drew me closer and his head was at the level of my mouth. Turning his head I got a mouthful of Brylcreem as I was about to speak. Brlycreem..a little dab’l do ya…so the advert went but in his desire for the ultimate cool he had used way more than that little dab.

A small matter because the song they were playing was Paul Anka‘s ‘Put Your Head on My Shoulder‘. Well at least he could put his head on mine.  And it was perfect.

It doesn’t matter where I am, if I hear that song I am immediately transported back to that gym and my first slow dance with Mr. Brylcreem…..sigh.  It was wonderful.

hmmm I was taller he was shorter

PAUL ANKA
“Put Your Head On My Shoulder”

 

Put your head on my shoulder
Hold me in your arms, baby
Squeeze me oh so tight
Show me that you love me too

Put your lips next to mine, dear
Won’t you kiss me once, baby
Just a kiss goodnight, maybe
You and I will fall in love
(You and I will fall in love)

People say that love’s a game
A game you just can’t win
If there’s a way
I’ll find it someday
And then this fool with rush in

Put your head on my shoulder
Whisper in my ear, baby
Words I want to hear
Tell me, tell me that you love me too
(Tell me that you love me too)

Put your head on my shoulder
Whisper in my ear, baby
Words I want to hear, baby
Put your head on my shoulder

 

Thank you Photobucket.

My Very Personal Night with Bill Culp, Bruce Tournay and Marie Bottrell

Yup, last night we, I, rocked Seaforth Ontario.
My friends and I have been dedicated followers (groupies even!) of The Memphis Cats for a few years now and we follow any show that Bill Culp puts together and plays in.
 
Bill plays upright bass and guitar and Bruce on piano and they both sing stirring that primal beast to action that results in dance floor quaking and romance making good old rockabilly music.
 

Bill Culp

The band members take my group’s or groupies adorations to heart and love us as much as we love them (in the most platonic way of course).
 
Last night my friend Linda threw herself a retirement party and many months ago asked Bill if he would grace our little celebration with his presence. Well he came through and then some. Not only did he come, but he brought Bruce Tournay and Marie Bottrell, all award winners. In 2010 Marie was inducted into the Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame..who no unlike Shania did not take a tumble.
Marie specializes in Patsy Cline but rocks any song she sings as she did last night with Snowbird.
 

Marie Bottrell

Now I almost hate to start describing Bruce Tournay as it will give away more about me than I usually care to share but….the man is hot!! He could just stand there, just stand not even move and libidos are rising. He sang and played non-stop and one of the best was Billy Joel‘s Piano Man. And that is all I will say on that! Whew!

Bruce Tournay

 
Bill’s multi talents seem endless and whether it is a nice little ditty or a deep throaty sensuous serving of rock the man knows how to sing and engage the public. My sister who never dances and says she cannot dance and won’t dance, so don’t ask her, got up and strutted her stuff in wild abandon!
 
They play around the world; they play across the continent and last night these saints of savory songs played for us. And it was…..

My Son My Speech

I am trying so hard not to share every little thing about our own personal Royal Wedding, but here is just one more. I must admit to more sentiment than humor in this one but hope you will give it a look because it is just a tiny look at one man’s life. This is my speech at the Wedding.

My Son
Before R was born we dallied with a number of names looking for just the right moniker. His dad called from the ER one evening to say a little boy had been brought in with red hair and blue eyes and his name was R. Just that easily our baby ..if a boy..had a name.

From birth he brought lightness, joy and an amazing skill with people. Naturally, balanced with that, came stubbornness and tenacity.

R marched to a different drummer with his first steps and to this day he often seems genuinely surprised that the universe actually may have it’s own drummer .

WE, all of us here, have a drummer of some sort to keep our rhythm of life.
R is one of those rare souls that has a whole marching band.

This is the stuff the shakers and the makers of the world are made of. This is the stuff of an incredible man, my son.

So my son, This is you

2 years old….
R don’t run with a stick in your mouth
R don’t run with That stick in your mouth
R get in the car we are going to emerge

3 years old.
Ryan go play Mommy’s doing laundry
“Drink Mommy”
Ryan that is bleach!!
Hello…poison control…this Mrs B
R get in the car we are going to emerge

R it’s okay if you do not eat dinner but you get nothing more til breakfast
“Drink mommy”
Hello poison control..this is Mrs. B. R drank my Lemon Up hair conditioner
R get in the car we are going to emerge

Hello poison control?
Hello Mrs. B what did R take this time.?

His Generous Nature

R was in hospital for a couple of days. Breakfast came the next morning. The little girl in the crib next to him did not get breakfast. R crawled out of crib, into hers and gave her an orange.
A sign of his generosity.
Nurse…”Chris, R gave the little girl next to him an orange..we had to cancel her surgery.”

One snowy Thanksgiving Day R came home for dinner. He was living in Simcoe and was glad for the left overs I sent with him. When I called the next day I asked if he enjoyed the food. He said, “Mom last night I looked outside and saw a homeless man in a doorway so I gave him sandwich and soup,and gave him my blanket. He was asleep so I covered him up put the food beside him.”

People Skills and instilling confidence..
Eunice…you know Chris. I was nervous about letting the boys go canoeing..but R reassured me that he is an expert canoeist.
Me ….Eunice..R has never been in a canoe before

Val…Chris. I don’t let Andrea go out in cars with kids but I always know she is safe with R driving
Me..Val, R does not have a drivers license

Sincerity
R has an amazing group of friends, a band of brothers of substance, talent and great humor. This is one of the rewards that life has brought this man of strong moral fiber.

And then a few years ago came a young woman who first said to me…R makes me laugh!
And over the years I have seen them laugh, work, and struggle and survive and grow.
Last night my son said to me, “Mom I’m sorry it has taken me so many years to marry but I had to wait until she was ready. And if I had to I would have waited forever”

Oh yeah and if I come across my other son’s speech from his wedding I will share it…cross dressing, pyromania all at the age of 2 and a loving heart!

Ten Fav Things For Mama Kat

The Wedding

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

My Current 10 Favs Include more than one person.

 

1) I love Kilts and Best Brothers – and yes the kilt was worn au naturel as demanded by tradition.

 

Groom Kilt Brother in Tux

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2) I love the women who make my sons happy!  Heidi who has been married to

 

Tom for 9 years and says she could not have had a more perfect husband, and

 

Mary Beth or MB who has just married my son in the Kilt.

 

 

3) I love that both men are good men, well regarded, who love laughter and

 

general silliness and are devoted to their wives.

 

 

4) I loved this wedding that was so laid back that when the minister asked what

 

symbols they brought to signify their love, the bride answered our rings..but

 

they are in the other room.  Yes everyone chuckled and waited while the maid

 

of honor set off to retrieve them.

 

 

5)  I love my exhusband who gave a wonderful speech about his son and even

 

the exe’s wife who to my knowledge had no disparaging remarks to make about

 

me…at least that I heard.

 

 

6) I love my son, the groom, Ryan, who believes in his roots and family and

 

who wore a kilt to honor my mothers family the Jenkins.

 

 

7)  I love my son Thomas for his devotion to his family, his crazy humor, and

 

his wild appreciation of life.

 

 

8)  I love MB’s family who have taken Ryan as one of their own.

 

 

9)  I love my sister Jane who provides more support than she can ever know.

 

And yes the bra..when she saw my perfect dress she said a strapless bra would

 

be perfect.  I do not have one I said.  Yes! you do she said as she whipped

 

her dress off and promptly gave me hers.  Right there.  Right then!

 

 

10)  I love my grandsons..Tom and Heidi’s sons who think I am the coolest

 

grandma in the world..because I tell them so

 

 

And really there has to be one more..sorry Mama Kat I know I am breaking the rules. 

 

11) I love every reader, every one of you who comments on my blog.  You are the best!

 

Mama

Great time at the WEDDING..and

And…

Will catch up on my daily posts…does 3 in one day count? As catch up? The wedding was great..and OMG have so much to tell you..not the least of which was how lovely the MOG – mother of the groom was..c’est moi!

The chef alone was out of this world..and will do a blog just on him with an interview of this incredible man..and it doesn’t hurt that he is totally hot. Okay getting a grip on myself here…What was the funniest thing..what was the best thing..were the kilts au natural…of course…what was the worst thing? What was it like staying in one of Toronto’s oldest hotels?

And what of the directors and producers present? Did I, in the throes of wine dance joie de vivre help or hinder?I cannot wait to find out…oh my….
Chris

I AM MOM! No really…I AM!

Those of you who know me well, know that I tend to look at things differently.  For me Mothers Day is not a celebration of me, but a chance to honor my children!  For without them, how could I possibly be such a super mommy?   While I do not usually publish family pics, today is special so let me introduce my crew.

My youngest Tom, with G1 and G2 Rowan (left) Caleb (right)

 

Tom posted this on facebook tonight:

I love you and thank you for all you have done.

The love of a mother is beyond compare
One who dearly loves and is always there
From scraped knees
                                                       To falls from trees
                                                       A mother cares for all
                                                       From “I told you so”
                                                        To “That’s a no-no! ”
                                                       A mother answers the call

Heidi (DL)with Rowan a great Mom!

                                        Mothers cook, mothers clean, some even work a job
                          Even with all their strength, a mother still knows how to sob
                                    Mothers should be honored for all they have done
Every day of the year, not just one
There is nothing better than a mother’s love
For her time on this earth   thank  God  above
A mother’s love endures forever
Its unbreakable bonds no on can sever
No matter how much I have grown
My mother’s love is always shown
She has become a mentor and a guide
Within her always I am able to confide
No better payment for her I can find
Then to love her with heart, and with mind
To the one who bore me; I share my emotion
To the one who raised me; Absolute devotion
To this woman I express my joy
You will always be my “mommy” and I your “baby boy”

“Glaedr the poet.”

 

And here below are Ryan and Mary Beth, my son and future DL (by this time next week!)

Ryan and my future DL (wedding is one week from now!)

 So I celebrate my offspring and their chosen partners who by the way may officially be daughters in law, but in this family they are daughters!

It also gives me the perfect chance to show who I blame for my quirkiness, my  wit, my insanity, my screwy humor, cause while they simply received the “crazy” gene, it is much more exacerbated in them, and it is very very very infectious!

See where the smile and silliness comes from?