Saturday 9: Tammy (1957)

Saturday 9: Tammy (1957)
In celebration of Debbie Reynolds

Unfamiliar with this week’s song? Hear it here.

1. In this song,Tammy sings of being able to hear “the breeze from the bayou.” What sounds can you hear as you answer these questions?

Nothing so poetic. Mumblings from my brother’s tv upstairs. The hum of my white noise machine. 

2. This week’s song was the theme of a popular movie about a girl who grew up on a houseboat in Mississippi. Looking back on 2016, did you spend much time on or around water?

I spent zero time around water in 2016, which is highly unusual for me. Normally, I find a lake or river somewhere to spend some quiet time in the Spring and Summer. Maybe this is why 2016 seemed like such a disconnected year for me.

3. In addition to being an Oscar-nominated actress, this week’s artist, Debbie Reynolds, was a big movie fan. She amassed an amazing cache of movie memorabilia. Do you collect anything?

DVDs of my favorite movies and shows, normally due to the actors in them. I have all of Richard Gere, Tom Cruise, Matt Damon, Brad Pitt, Julia Roberts, Sandra Bullock, and Angelina Jolie’s movies. I also have all of the Babylon 5 shows and movies. All of the Star Trek shows and movies. All of the Marvel movies, and all of the Batman movies. I have the Lord of the Rings and the Hobbit trilogies. The Matrix trilogy. And all of the Harry Potter movies. I have limited space, so I have to choose my DVD collection wisely and only get those that I feel are most important to me. I also collect Stephen King, Orson Scott Card and Kim Stanley Robinson books. As well as books of poetry by my favorite poets. And the only other things I collect are crystals and stones. I used to collect tons of other things – swans, ravens and witches figurines; 60s & 70s Gothic novels, and tarot decks. I had to leave all of those behind in Oklahoma when I moved back to Virginia because I knew I wouldn’t have the space for them.

4. Though she never won a competitive Oscar for acting, Debbie Reynolds was awarded the Academy’s Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award earlier this year for 60 years of charity work. While she supported many causes throughout her life, one she was closest to was The Girl Scouts. She was not only a Scout herself, she was a leader when daughter Carrie was young and a fundraiser throughout her life. Were you ever in Boy or Girl Scouts?

No. The closest I came to anything like that was the 4-H Club for a year when I was a kid.

6. The New Year’s Eve fireworks celebrations in both Disney World in Florida and Sydney, Australia coordinate pyrotechnics and music. Are you expecting either fireworks or live music on your New Year’s Eve celebration?

Definitely not. I don’t do loud noises well. It will be a quiet evening here at home, doing some writing and drinking some spiked eggnog.

7. According to the National Insurance Bureau, more cars are stolen on New Year’s Eve than any other single day. Are you confident your vehicle(s) will be  safe and sound this Saturday night?

*laughs* I don’t own a car, but my dad has an old pick-up. I doubt seriously anyone would want that. Besides, we live in a small town with hardly any crimes (except drug-related, sadly that is everywhere).

8. Do you have any New Year’s Resolutions for 2017?

I don’t do resolutions. Instead, I choose a word a year to concentrate on. My word this year is ENGAGE.

9. Looking back on 2016, what surprised you?

That Donald Trump won the Presidency. Seriously, I am beyond disbelief. And that Prince, David Bowie, George Michaels, Carrie Fisher and Debbie Reynolds died. I am still heart-broken.