The record player was very well used this week. I decided to start off the week with something that started on this side of the Atlantic, moved across to the other side, and was met with moans and groans, but which received probably more accolades than we care to admit. What was this amazing thing. Why, The Muppet Show, of course! Memories came flooding back, but not due to the aforementioned. Inside the sleeve of the cardboard cover was yet another record. It was my very own, and very old, nursery rhymes 'long player'. The week was about to get as long as the record!
Glorious as Monday was, it was the first day of autumn. However, as I saw recently, "This is not valid in Texas"! Temperatures rose as did the humidity, and swimming was somewhat of a chore. The promised rain did not appear, and whilst the flooding was still receding in the east of the state, we were as dry as a bone! "We can expect a cold front during the first week of October", said the weatherman. We doubted his word!The annual 'slow down' was not apparent Monday, although Tuesday saw a slight respite. The Muppets were having a well earned rest, and the nursery rhyme singer took centre stage. Strangely enough, I had not noticed the pitch at which the lady sang the ballads. I think it would be called a 'mezzo-soprano'. "Little Bo Peep", came through the speakers, in such a way that Grant looked across the room in sheer terror. Rather than a soothing, melodic tone, he found it to be, dare I say, traumatic. "You listened to this?" he said, with fear written all over his face. It had never occurred to me before that if you did not know the language, it may have sounded like a tragic opera! "Yes, and look at me", I responded. "I am very well rounded". Again, the synonym was lost in translation! "I am well adjusted?" I tried. This was understood. However, the next nursery rhyme was 'Oranges and Lemons'. I sang in the mezzo-soprano voice, badly, and then came to the last two lines. "Here comes a candle to light you to bed". The smile came across Grant's face. "And here comes ta chopper to chop off your head!". Fear once again enveloped the eyes, and the mouth dropped open so far, his chin was heading for his knees. "This is actually a nursery rhyme?" he gasped. I explained how we used to 'play' to this song, making arches, with a pair skipping through the line and making another arch, and the pair who had formed the first arch then came through to form the last, etc, etc, and how when the final verse was said, you caught the last pair in the chop, and they were 'out'. I got on my soapbox at this time. As children we saw no problem with this game, as it was a game. Even when it was explained how bad something like this could be, we had to be impressed upon to see the wickedness. I am not sure of the origin of the rhyme, but perhaps it was to do with debts and consequences of non-payment. After all it does start off, "I owe you five farthings". Rather than inbreeding violence, it was inciting morals. Never a borrower nor a lender be! Perhaps I got a little over zealous, but as I said, I was on my soapbox.
I swam my way through lunchtime, and once again pondered my surroundings. I had come a long way from 'Oranges and Lemons', from the centre of London to the depths of Texas. To think that 'The Muppets' was as near to America as I could be when they first appeared on our screens in the mid 70's. To think that they were rejected by the 'homeland' television companies, but picked up by a Brit and filmed in Elstree studios, which is a short walk from where my sister now lives! Common ground? However, I digress!
Back in Texas, things were heating up, and I do not mean because of the connotations regarding the chopping of heads! It was Wednesday, and the temperatures were rising to three digits. Samantha had asked Dana if she could leave early as her father and his partner were arriving around 'tea time', and they were not hiring a car. I went off to Joe, and parked my still reasonably gleaming car far away from the roastery, as the thought of coffee chaff sticking to the shiny surface was as gruesome as the thought of the demise of those poor sheep Bo Peep had lost. Let's just say, (despite the difference in gravity, as no doubt someone has another opinion to mine,) to me the sight would be upsetting! Joe showed me pictures of his trip to Peru, and the difference in culture, once again, was diverse. Apparently, he had been there on their 'Independence Day', and there was great jubilation as they celebrated their break from Spain, back in 1821. "Something to celebrate", I said, tongue in cheek. "I am of Spanish origin (albeit my family left Spain a few centuries before Peru's Independence) I can make a comment, can I not?" I asked Joe. He found it all very amusing, and agreed that my background had not stopped me from being 'well adjusted', despite the nursery rhymes to which I had been subjected.
My nails were painted a little later. I had taken some pictures of
Samantha called me from the airport. It appeared that her father's partner was called back and her bags were searched. She had refused to move out of the customs area as she was waiting for her man to come through, and of course, not having met Samantha before, did not want to exit the hall without him. Someone should have warned her that when they say move, you move! From their point of view, a person refusing to exit could be considered a threat. I understand. From her point of view, she was in a strange place, alone. I understand. See, I can see both sides! Well adjusted!
All was well that ends well, and they left the airport without another incident. Debra had bought me some chocolate and sweets, and was looking forward to getting together at sometime during their vacation. I was happy to do so.
My 'English' version of apple pie was a great success on Wednesday evening. Grant's mum, Cyndi, asked how I could make a traditional American dish, English. I told her, politely, that the Americans do not have the monopoly on the pie. The Romans were thought to have introduced the apple to England, and the Dutch, French and Belgians my have something to say when it comes down to the 'nitty gritty'. The Americans may have 'borrowed' it, added a few things to make it 'their own', but ultimately, it had been around for a lot longer than the United States! Thankfully, she laughed. I become quite religious about some things! Apple pie is one of those things. However, I digress. "How do you get the spice without adding spice?" asked Grant. I refuse to put cinnamon in my pie, using apples and brown sugar only inside the crust. The lack of 'extra's', bringing back the purity seemed to work! More does not necessarily mean better! Soapboxes everywhere! However, no oranges and lemons!Fall failed to show over the next couple of days, despite Central Texas patiently waiting. Swimming was a pleasure if only to cool off! Amazingly, two people came to the pool as I swam on Thursday, but it was hardly surprising that the heat was too much even for the locals.
Samantha left early on Thursday and Friday, at the suggestion of Dana, as he thought it would be nice for her to spend time time with her dad.
I happily listened to the records that Grant selected on Friday afternoon, and Dana and he discussed old television programmes that I knew not. I explained that as a child we had two full time channels, and one part time. However twenty four hour television was considered a myth. Children's programmes were educational and Saturday morning television was considered to be slightly provocative by some! It was as if our culture was as different as Oranges and Lemons!
Saturday morning was another lone outing, and I set off early. It was dry, but there were signs that rain had tickled the road surface slightly, leaving a couple of puddles in the crevices but nothing more. I walked around the Dollar Tree, and listened to the high pitched squeals of a small child. Accompanied by her mother, and three older (presumably) brothers, she picked items off the shelves and stacked them on the floor. When her brother told her to stop, and started to put them back where they belonged, she let our a deafening scream that was more blood curdling than that I could imagine would have been emitted by Bo Peep when she found the
'tails' hanging. Her mother walked past, and ignored the screams, and the plea from her (supposed) son to help with the child. When she ran to her mother, she screamed again. She screamed and screamed for the entire time I was in the store. I doubt she has ever heard of 'Oranges and Lemons', and yet I am considered the one who had the 'disturbed' childhood filled with terrible nursery rhymes! Cynical? You bet!
I was home by one, and went down to the pool, where I swam for a long time. Two sets of neighbours came down for a short period each. I reluctantly put down my book a little after five, and was amazed at how quickly the afternoon had gone. I was so engrossed in the novel that I did not notice the day go by. Edward came to pick up the dog, whom Dana had been watching, just after seven, and despite the forecast, there had been no rain.
Somewhere between going to bed and getting up, there had been a brief splattering of rain. The heat had not diminished but at least the plants had a brief relief. I managed to finish my book in the afternoon and watched as clouds started to fill the sky. If the storms did come in with a vengeance, perhaps I would possibly need a candle to light me to bed!
Muppets, Oranges and Lemons, Bo Peep, Uncle Tom Coblley and all will be martyred, by me, if ignored by the next generation. Of course, progress can bring forth a much better world, but sometimes I wonder how much is lost in the same name! However, in the short term, I think we all agree that fall will be most welcome when it comes. Will it be next week? That will be ....... another story!
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