1. I'm sure you've heard February 3rd, 1959, referred to as "The Day the Music Died." That was the date of a famous plane crash outside of Clear Lake, Iowa. The crash killed early rock'n'rollers Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and J. P. "The Big Bopper" Richardson, as well as the airplane's pilot, Roger Peterson. The phrase originated in the Don McLean song, "American Pie."
2. You're no doubt familiar with the expression "life in the fast lane," which comes from the 1976 song of the same name by the Eagles. I'm sure the expression is used by some people who have never heard the song.
3. I'm also assuming that you've occasionally heard something described with words similar to "this one goes up to eleven," usually meaning that it's over-the-top in some form or another. That term was first used in the following routine from the 1984 mockumentary film This Is Spinal Tap.
4. I am sometimes asked what, if any, goal or goals I have as a writer. Some writers would settle for having any or all of their work published. Well, I've already had some of my writings published.
Others would say that they want to be able to support themselves by their writing, and only their writing. I did that briefly for a few months, but I'm not ambitious enough to make that a long-term reality.
Some would say that they'd love to see at least one of their works adapted for television or motion pictures. So would I, but I'm not holding my breath.
But as for my own goal? I only hope that someday, I may write a phrase which will enter the English language as the three examples listed above have. Even if people don't know where they first read or heard my phrase. Even if they don't know that I'm actually the one who wrote it.
That, to me, is immortality. And it's the only form of immortality I have any desire for at all.
Thanks for your time.
4. I am sometimes asked what, if any, goal or goals I have as a writer. Some writers would settle for having any or all of their work published. Well, I've already had some of my writings published.
Others would say that they want to be able to support themselves by their writing, and only their writing. I did that briefly for a few months, but I'm not ambitious enough to make that a long-term reality.
Some would say that they'd love to see at least one of their works adapted for television or motion pictures. So would I, but I'm not holding my breath.
But as for my own goal? I only hope that someday, I may write a phrase which will enter the English language as the three examples listed above have. Even if people don't know where they first read or heard my phrase. Even if they don't know that I'm actually the one who wrote it.
That, to me, is immortality. And it's the only form of immortality I have any desire for at all.
Thanks for your time.
That is a fine and different hope indeed. I'm still holding out for the movie deal, but yeah, not holding my breath either. I hear the first two all the time, but rarely have heard the third said around here.
ReplyDeleteI used to tease my former comic writing partner about how he was always putting the cart before the horse. He'd be thinking of who should be able to license the toy rights to a character we'd created, or saying crazy sh... err, stuff like "If Spielberg wants to do a movie, we'll tell him to go to hell unless he agrees to..." and I used to say, "Skip, can we just finish the freakin' book first?"
DeleteI knew the American Pie quote but not the Eagles one. As for Spinal Tap - I could watch that film over and over again. It's as funny as the first time I watched it!
ReplyDeleteMy writing goal used to be getting something published. Since that happened (quite a few years ago) I'm just happy to still be writing.
Susan A Eames at
Travel, Fiction and Photos
I guess we Americans tend to think that everybody around the world is familiar with almost all aspects of our pop culture. Our movie stars, our TV shows, our music...
DeleteThat is a very fine goal. Hadn't heard the last phrase, thanks for the learning.
ReplyDeleteI've been rather introspective lately about my writing -- for instance, my lengthy "Comical Wednesday" series about the amateur comic book I wrote during the 1980s -- so I just felt like posting something brief along those lines in this post.
DeleteI watched a movie on TV once about Buddy Holly and that terrible plane crash that took some very talented artists. I thought I'd had read somewhere one of them had a premonition that there would be a crash. I don't recall all the details but, I did find that quite interesting.
ReplyDeleteI think that is an admirable goal and a a wonderful way to be remembered. Your own legacy throughout time.
I seldom hear the 3rd line.
I hope you are well Silver...
It seems we'll all be "immortal" due to anything written by us or about us on the internet. I'm not sure if that's a good thing or not.
DeleteI guess that is true Silver. We leave our imprints in the digital world. I guess there is always a trace of our journey left behind.
DeleteWho knows? Maybe, some day after I am long gone and the world is in chaos, someone will stumble across my signature motto ‘I choose the frequency of love’
I would hope ‘love’ would still be the hidden key. It’s seems so obvious yet, many are blind to the message.
What one saying would define you Silver Fox?
Speaking of legacy, I had a dream last night about Jim Morrison imagine that driving one of those old station wagons with the wood on the side. I wonder what year that might have been? In any case I wrote a piece with him. Ha.. now that was crazy.
DeleteNot sure what saying would define me, but I used to call "Behind Blue Eyes" by the Who my unofficial "theme song."
DeleteI was/am a big fan of Jim Morrison, but I almost had a t-shirt designed for myself saying "Jim Morrison Was Only ONE of THE DOORS."
Ever hear "Craigslist" by Weird Al Yankovic? Great pastiche of the Doors. He even got Ray Manzarek to play keyboards for an authentic sound! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y4sALru9IJk
I have never heard of that, but I will check out the link. It sounds quite interesting. Later, I am going to google today’s date and see what Jim might have been doing around Sept. 18th. It seems strange I would dream about him and some old station wagon. The whole dream was from some other place. The guess I opened a door somewhere in the universe.
DeleteIs that possible?
Sorry, I seem to rambling on about the wandering of my mind.
Thanks for listening.
Maybe he was in a station wagon when he saw all the dead Native Americans on the highway when he was a boy.
DeleteThanks for the link! I really enjoyed that one. Al captured the vibe of the times and having Ray on keyboards was an extra bonus.
ReplyDeletehmm - I couldn't find anything in regards to the car.
Sorry, I really need to proof read my comments. It's hard when I am multi-tasking at work. Don't go on a rant..okay..
From the internet: At the age of 4 or 5 Jim Morrison did witness an accident involving a truck full of people that collided with another vehicle while riding in a car with his parents and grandparents. His father, Admiral George Morrison, got out to see if he could help but people there said that help was already on the way. Morrison always recalled seeing a man crying by the side the highway, Dawn’s Highway.
DeleteYou can go to YouTube and search for a video called “Dawn’s Highway: FINAL”. The video is kind of long and boring but it turns out that the victims of that crash were of Hispanic descent not Native American and that there was one fatality not “bodies all over the highway” as Morrison always described it.
You can also search YouTube for “Jim Morrison Lost Interview Volume 1” where he gives the now-famous retelling of the story. If you listen to him, Morrison reveals his mental health issues, issues that seem to have started at a young age.
But, to answer your question, yes he saw a crash but, according to officials and Morrison’s late parents, the situation didn’t go down the way Jim Morrison described it.
"Even if people don't know where they first read or heard my phrase. Even if they don't know that I'm actually the one who wrote it."
ReplyDeleteVery humble and poetic. Achieving immortality of ones creation even if it means the creator itself may be forgotten. I would say that if one's art or creation becomes immortal than the creator will never be forgotten either
Being humble is only one of the many terrific qualities I possess. *ahem*
DeleteHmm I did see that article. I was searching for a connection with the station wagon. I did find a reference to The Doors appearance on the Ed Sullivan Show on Sept 17th. Strange..
ReplyDeleteThanks Silver!
I hope you find your legacy!
I was just speculating that the car that the Morrison family owned when Jim was a child could have been a station wagon. Who knows?
DeleteYou're not holding your breath?
ReplyDeleteGood, because we need you on this planet. It's as simple as that.
It's nice to feel needed.
DeleteI used to say "It's nice to be wanted. I'm wanted in seven states."
I LOVE This Is Spinal Tap. In fact, it's one of the most-quoted movies in my household. Thank you for posting one of my favorite scenes. We even bought our sons volume knobs for their guitars one year that went up to eleven. I will say, though, that I'm amazed at how many people will quote that line who have never seen the movie. I want to tell them they're not allowed to use the phrase unless they know where it came from and understand all that makes Nigel who he is.
ReplyDeleteAnd now I want to stop everything and watch the movie tonight.
"We even bought our sons volume knobs for their guitars one year that went up to eleven." So, somebody (obviously someone with a sense of humor) actually started making them? That's terrific!
ReplyDelete