Wednesday, February 3, 2010

MOODY BLUES

Mary O, "Some poems are... like a letter written to a friend." Hickman, "So in the healing from the wounds of grief, a generous amount of silence will help us rest in the depths of our own soul, and find peace." M Sarton, "I feel bereft now that the muse has withdrawn and no poem comes to interrupt my hours at my desk."
From my journal 3-28-05, "Look for me where the stars go down! Find me in the high clouds. In one moment I'm on a journey that takes me near and brings me far." July 12, 2007, "Brandon has taken the sunshine."
I looked for Patrick DesJarliat on the Internet today. He is the Red Lake Ojibwe who created the Hamm's beer bear. That bear is still for sale! I was surprised to learn that during WWII he entered government service and taught an art workshop at a Japanese Relocation Camp. Their plight reminded him of what had happened to the indigenous peoples of America. He joined the Navy and returned home after the war. In the 1950s he created the Hamm's bear and the Land O' Lakes butter maiden. I found his son Robert on Facebook and left a comment.
I recently purchased "Elvis: Moody Blues". It was the last album released during his lifetime. Friends say the last song he ever sang was "Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain", Aug. 16, 1977. He accompanied himself on the piano. Four days before his death "Way Down" hit #1. "Unchained Melody" was a live recording. The Righteous Brothers may have a better recording but what a challenge. Elvis did it live and in 3 octaves. No one would say this is his best album but it reached #3 on Billboard and sales exceeded 2 million and it went double-platinum. I used to cry whenever he sang "Danny Boy"... but I don't do that anymore.
I played a few rounds of "13" solitaire in honor of the lonely king. In fact, I played until I won with short breaks to dance and also to visit the exercise room on the fifth floor.

1 comment:

  1. Let me know if DesJarlait gets back to you. I'm bummed I can't find the image I saw at the American Art Museum in St. Paul.

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