Monday, October 17, 2022

Behind the Music - Summer, the First Time

 The title kind of says it all. But let me back up...

Bobby Goldsboro was a popular pop and country singer/songwriter in the 60s and 70s. He was best known for wholesome songs like "Watching Scotty Grow", "Little Things", "Honey" (the biggest hit of his career) and "Little Green Apples".

Then once the 70s hit, Mr. Goldsboro went left in 1973. He wrote a controversial song entitled, "Summer (The First Time), which reached the Top 25. As a young girl barely out of toddler hood 😄 this song was absolutely scandalous. Let's look at the lyrics. As always, I own no rights to this song and make no profit from it:

'It was a hot afternoon, the last day of June, and the sun was a demon. The clouds were afraid, 110 in the shade, and the pavement was steaming.' So far, so good: it's a hot day and he really drove home this point and set the stage.

Then we get to 'I told Billy Ray, in his red Chevrolet, I needed time for some thinking. I was just walking by, when I looked in her eye, and I swore it was winking.' Yep: now we're starting to get an inkling...

'She was 31 and I was 17-' Hold the phone Mrs. Robinson: what nefarious thoughts were budding in your head about this innocent boy? 'I knew nothing 'bout love, she knew everything, but I sat down beside her on a front porch swing, and wondered what the coming night would bring?" I bet you did little boy! Even though you shouldn't have been wondering anything where this woman was concerned, except how many other teen boys had sat on that porch with her! Let's continue:

'The sun closed her eyes, as it climbed in the skies, and it started to swelter. The sweat trickled down, the front of her gown, and I thought it would melt her.' Now see if it was me, I wouldn't have been sitting outside sweating. But apparently she wanted him to watch the sweat dripping off of her. Yuck.

'She threw back her hair, like I wasn't there, and she sipped on a julep. Her shoulders were bare, and I tried not to stare, when I looked at her two lips.' Um...are you sure it was her two lips you were trying not to stare at? 'And when she looked at me I heard her softly say, "I know you're young, you don't know what to do or say, but stay with me until the sun has gone away, and I will chase the boy in you away."' Say what Mrs. Robinson??? Was 17 the age of consent in your state in 1973?

'And then she smiled, then we talked for a while, then we walked for a mile to the sea. We sat on the sand and a boy took her hand, but I saw the sun rise as a man.' 😲

At this part of the song you hear the crescendo of violins and hear waves in the background...you get the idea. Just in case you didn't realize they had sex. I'm sorry: she had sex. He "made love". And I guess his parents didn't realize he wasn't home at lights out. Or maybe they thought he was spending the night at Billy Ray's. Seriously.

The last part of the song: 'Ten years have gone by since I looked in her eye, but the memory lingers. I go back in my mind, to the very first time, and feel the touch of her fingers.' I have absolutely no doubt that he remembers that time: probably every single day. And I'm sure if he was with anyone else after that (no guarantees!) he compared them all to Mrs. Robinson. But I bet her next deflowering was with Billy Ray! Where's that song???



Monday, October 10, 2022

Thank You, Merci, Gracias!!

 As of today, October 10, 2022, my little blog has 30,004 reads! Whoo hoo!! Of course, it is thanks to all of you that are faithful readers. I am truly humbled at your loyalty; and appreciate those of you who share my blog with the people you know 💛 

I would like to share some numbers with you; as it appears that not only is the blog being read in the U.S.: but also overseas! I always say I have no idea how they found it, but I'm glad they did. I know that Google + (rest in peace) had a lot to do with it, so I am thankful for the time that platform was alive and well. Regardless, over the lifetime of the blog, here is a synopsis of where it has been read:

19,600 U.S, 1,330 France, 1,140 Russia, 661 Canada, 644 Unknown Region (the International Space Station???), 615 United Arab Emirates, 598 Germany, 466 Poland, 336 Portugal, 203 Spain, 134 Ukraine, 126 India, 121 Belgium, 113 Mauritius, 109 Netherlands, 103 Argentina, 95 Japan, 86 Switzerland, 63 United Kingdom and 3,420 Other (where / who are these people?).

I wish I knew who some of the people are in the foreign countries, but it's all good. I am thankful for their readership!

I appreciate each and every one of you. Thank you so much for your loyalty. Hopefully I can keep you entertained, or thoughtful, or emotional for the next 30,000! And always feel free to leave me a comment or just reach out in general. Much love! 💛💓

Yes it's a real cake, and yes it was delicious! I will miss Gamble's Bakery when they close at the end of the month. May the memories live on forever 😎, but hopefully not the pounds!






Wednesday, October 5, 2022

A Little Knowledge...

 …can be a horrible, tragic thing.

Very recently, I was given some information that devastated me. It was something that had been briefly broached to me before, but then was brushed aside as it was unsubstantiated.

Unfortunately, I cannot go into detail about all that I now know is truth, as I wish to protect some parties involved. But I have discovered, once again, that just because a package is pretty on the outside, doesn't mean that what's inside isn't dark, disturbing and disgusting.

Since learning of this tangled situation, I haven't been able to get it out of my mind. Normally, I would give it to God and move forward. But this time I seem to be stuck in a time loop of terrible thoughts with my mind seemingly unable to process that what I now know is real. I know God has this. But if you know me at all, you know I'm a fixer. However, I can't fix this. I am certainly available to the innocent people involved, but there's only so much I can do in this situation without throat-punching the evil bastard responsible. And even if I did that: it doesn't erase what already happened. So Jesus, please take the wheel on this one; and let there be healing to repair all of the damage that has been done.

Amen.