Tuesday, October 19, 2010

My Favorite Things by Jaclyn DiBona

[Picture of Mona and Jaclyn as they met for the first time in August 2010 in Massachussetts]

This month has been tough.

Fretting and fuming to get my book published, along comes mother nature,
to show me whose boss,
Between eye doctors, and new glasses,
New hearing aids, at the tune of $3, 300.

Finding out I have spinal stenosis was bad enough,
Having to get shots in the spine didn’t sit well with me at all.

When my young doctor asked me if it was painful to move,
I was happy to see him gape in awe as he shook his head,
when I bent over and touched my toes.

Gleeful, I was on a roll, bending backwards, and forward, and threw in
a couple of twists for good measure to answer his question.

He frowned in disbelief, rechecked the ex-rays , and shook his head,
Much to my dismay, I still got the 3 shots in the spine.

I complained to my girlfriend that I was too young to have all these problems.
She gave me no sympathy, and told me that it was nothing at all,
and she sang to me this song.

Maalox and nose drops and needles for knitting,
Walkers and handrails and new dental fittings,
Bundles of magazines tied up in string,
These are a few of my favorite things..

Cadillacs and cataracts and hearing aids and glasses,
Polident and Fixodent and false teeth in glasses,
Pacemakers, golf carts and porches with swings,
These are a few of my favorite things.

When the pipes leak,
When the bones creak,
When the knees go bad
I simply remember my favorite things,
And then I don't feel so bad.

Hot tea and crumpets, and corn pads for bunions,
No spicy hot food or food cooked with onions,
Bathrobes and heat pads and hot meals they bring,
These are a few of my favorite things.

Back pains, confused brains, and no fear of sinnin',
Thin bones and fractures and hair that is thinnin',
And we won't mention our short shrunken frames,
When we remember our favorite things.

When the joints ache,
when the hips break,
When the eyes grow dim,
Then I remember the great life I've had,
And then I don't feel so bad.

'My Favorite Things' about Aging By Julie Andrews

To commemorate her 69th birthday on October 1, actress/vocalist Julie Andrews made a special appearance at Manhattan's Radio City Music Hall for the benefit of the AARP. One of the musical numbers she performed was "My Favorite Things" from the legendary movie "Sound Of Music." However, the lyrics of the song were deliberately changed for the entertainment of her "blue hair" audience.

I may not be 69, but I still laugh whenever I hear the melody to this song. While visiting my cousins in the Vosges in France, I looked out my bedroom window, seeing the mountains I’d swear I heard Julie Andrews singing this song.


POSTED BY: Jaclyn Di Bona

16 comments:

Unknown said...

Great post, Jaclyn. I'm sorry for your health issues, and I hope it's only a matter of time before your back on the road to health.

I love the picture of you and Mona. Thanks for sharing.

JACLYN DI BONA said...

Hi Carolyn,

Thanks for the good thoughts.

Mona and I met when she came up from Florida visiting her inlaws. We met at their lovely home.
Mona is a beautiful, peppy and gracious person and takes after her mother.

Jaclyn

Deborrah-Debsy-Devorah said...

I finally figured out how to leave a comment, LOL. I love your post, Jaclyn. It made me chuckle. At the same time I was sorry to hear about your health woes. Take good care.
Deborrah Girard (Gauthier)

Lee Lopez said...

There are days when I can't bend at all, but I have to say I love my age. I love leaving behind all the stuff that come with youth...Older and wiser...

Terry Spear said...

Jaclyn, I loved the song by Julie Andrews! That's why I love to write about vampires and werewolves who have longer lives who heal much more quickly. *sigh*

Hope you are feeling better soon!

Terry Spear said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Mona Risk said...

What a great post Jaclyn. I laughed while reading the song and started singing. How true. Hope you feel better soon.

Paisley Kirkpatrick said...

I love the new words to the song, Jaclyn. Isn't it nice that someone has such a clever imagination.

Nice photo of you and Mona. Two classy ladies for sure. Feel better soon.

JACLYN DI BONA said...

Debbie said...
I finally figured out how to leave a comment, LOL. I love your post, Jaclyn. It made me chuckle. At the same time I was sorry to hear about your health woes. Take good care.
Deborrah Girard (Gauthier)

Thanks for your thoughts. It took me a while before I get it down pat. Goodle kept telling me I didn't exists. I still can figure how to enter an article. Had to have Mona do it for me.

Jaclyn

JACLYN DI BONA said...

Lee Lopez said...
There are days when I can't bend at all, but I have to say I love my age. I love leaving behind all the stuff that come with youth...Older and wiser...

Hi Lee,

I wasn't crazy over my teenage years. But, if I could live my life over, I'd like to start in my early thirties. Life then was a bed of roses.... I had two beautiful children, owned my home, did volunteer work for the school and traveled all over with my husband.

Had a marveloud mother that was always ready to babysit. Said I belong with my husband. Hmmm, I wonder if she really trusted Lou on his own..LOL

Her favorite words were, laugh and the world laughs with you, cry and you cry alone.

Jaclyn

JACLYN DI BONA said...

Terry Spear/Terry Lee Wilde said: Jaclyn, I loved the song by Julie Andrews! That's why I love to write about vampires and werewolves who have longer lives who heal much more quickly. *sigh*

Hope you are feeling better soon!

Hi, Terry,

Thanks, I'm feeling better. Can't make a liar out of my father, when he said, "My daughter was born on the 3rd of July. She came with a bang and has been popping off ever since."

Love your werewolfs stories. Love their longer lives and how they heal much quicker than humans.

B&N is hold your latest for me. Have to run over and get. When I do, I'll let you know and you can send me the autograph slip to past in it. It'll join your other 4.
HEART OF THE WOLF
DESTINY OF THE WOLF
TO TEMPT A WOLF
LEGEND OF THE WHITE WOLF.

JACLYN

JACLYN DI BONA said...

Mona Risk said...
What a great post Jaclyn. I laughed while reading the song and started singing. How true. Hope you feel better soon.

Hi Mona,

Thanks and I'm feeling better. Loved the song.

Again, Sorry about your mother, whom you loved very much.

In Friendship and caring at a time like this, friends want to share the sorrow that you feel and to let you know that caring is so very warm and real.
And so, whatever help and comfort friendship now can be, It's yours today and always, warmest thoughts and deepest synpathy.

Love,
Jaclyn

JACLYN DI BONA said...

Paisley Kirkpatrick said...
I love the new words to the song, Jaclyn. Isn't it nice that someone has such a clever imagination.

Nice photo of you and Mona. Two classy ladies for sure. Feel better soon.

Hi, Paisley,

I can remember when I first heard it, I laughed so hard, I nearly fell over. MY mother and father laughed and marveled that she hit so close to home.

Yes, I loved the photo of Mona and myself. She is a beautiful caring woman.

Jaclyn

Jill James said...

Jaclyn, I have days like that and I tell myself, "I'm too young for this." The idea of Julie Andrews with those lyrics reminds me of going to see Menopause: The Musical. I laughed so hard I almost died. Good thing this sold fans to the audience for the hot flashes.

JACLYN DI BONA said...

Jill James said...
Jaclyn, I have days like that and I tell myself, "I'm too young for this." The idea of Julie Andrews with those lyrics reminds me of going to see Menopause: The Musical. I laughed so hard I almost died. Good thing this sold fans to the audience for the hot flashes.

HI JILL,

DON'T LAUGH. WE'RE ALL GETTING THERE ONE TIME OR ANOTHER. I STARTED MENOPAUSES AROUND 42. I WAS THE CAPTAIN OF MY BOWLING LEAGUE. TOOK ALONG MY FAN AND USED IT....LOL THE GANG USED TO TEASE ME,FOR WHEN I FANNED, MY SAMSARA PERFUME FLOADED. EVERYON KNEW WHERE I WAS.....

JACLYN

Josie said...

Jaclyn,
What a lovely post. The lyrics are hilarious. And, the picture of you and Mona is fabulous. Thanks for sharing.