Saturday 9: Got My Mind Set on You

Saturday 9: Got My Mind Set on You (1987)

Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here.
 
1) In this song, George Harrison tells us he's willing to devote his money, patience and time to his girlfriend. Of those three things, which can you most easily spare?

A. Time, I suppose.
 
2) This song had long been a favorite of George's. He first heard it in 1963 when visiting his sister in United States. He couldn't get the tune out of his mind and bought the record by James Ray. Do you have an earworm -- a song that, once you hear it, keeps repeating in your head?

A. (Don't Go Chasing) Waterfalls by TLC. For some reason, if I hear that song, I am days getting it out of my head. And now it's my head simply from writing the title. Sigh.
 
3) Months later, in February 1964, the Beatles made their first appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show. 73 million viewers saw them, and an astonishing 45.3% of the TV sets in America were tuned in to the show. In addition to the Beatles, Ed Sullivan used his show to introduce Elvis, The Rolling Stones and The Jackson 5. The Ed Sullivan Show ran for 23 years and reruns are now shown in syndication. Have you ever seen it?

A. I'm sure I saw it when I was a child, but I don't really remember it. I haven't seen the reruns.

4) While most of the best loved and most recognized Beatles songs were written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney, it was George who penned "Something." Frank Sinatra called that song "the greatest love song of the last 50 years." What's your favorite love song?

A. Longer, by Dan Fogelberg. My brother sang it at our wedding. (We'll be celebrating 40 years of marriage soon. Yikes!)

5) This praise represented a big change for Frank, who predicted in 1964 that the Beatles would be "of no lasting importance." Tell us about something you have changed your mind about.

A. When I was in school, I used to tell myself that I wasn't smarter than the other kids, that I made straight "As" because I worked harder or studied more, or whatever. I wanted everyone to be on a level playing field as far as intelligence, I guess. (This was a real problem especially in elementary school, where the teachers threw out my constant 100s so they could grade on a curve, which meant I ended up with papers that had grades of 110+ on them all the time. They'd use the second-highest grade after my 100 for the curve. I never understood - still don't - why I was the only one who could make 100 on a paper.) I did not want to believe that other people were that ignorant and incapable of learning. But I was wrong. People really are that ignorant and incapable of learning. And we're paying for it now.

6) Tom Petty, who went on to have more than 25 hits on the Billboard Hot 100, credits George Harrison as a major influence on his music. Tell us about someone who influenced your professional life.

A. In the mid-1980s, I took a noncredit class at Roanoke College. Monty Leitch was teaching it, and I loved her columns in The Roanoke Times. She taught me a lot and I was thrilled when she told me that I was the first person she'd ever met who wrote anywhere close to the way she did. I considered that the ultimate compliment because her writing was spritely and imaginative. Later, when we were chatting at a writer's conference, we realized that we were cousins. We shared a set of (3) great grandparents, so we were 4th cousins. Monty also helped me write a novel (which I have since thrown away, it was bad), and she was a constant presence in the background of my writing life even though I seldom saw her (she lived two counties away). We emailed infrequently but she was always happy to answer if I had questions or needed guidance. I expected her to still be around today, as she was only 13 years older than I. But in 2016, she was hit by a car as she was Christmas shopping, and she died from her injuries. I think of her often, and I still miss her.

7) In 1987, when George's recording of "I Got My Mind Set on You" was popular, a squirrel unexpectedly made headlines. The furry fellow closed down the Nasdaq Stock Exchange when he chewed through a phone line. Do you often see squirrels where you live?

A. We have squirrels all over the backyard. When we first built the house and moved in, they were constantly frying themselves on the electric pole transmission line, until we convinced the power company to put up a squirrel guard to keep them from blowing up the box.
 
8) Also in 1987, third generation race car driver Marco Andretti was born. Naturally the skills required by a race car driver are unique. For example, while we know he can control a car at upwards of 230 mph at Indy, we have no idea if Marco Andretti is good at parallel parking in front of the local post office. How about you? Do you struggle with parallel parking?

A. I am not a fan of parallel parking. I can do it, but I don't like to do it.

9) Random question: When you woke up this morning, were you ready to face the day? Or do you wish you could have rolled over and snoozed a little longer?

A. I get enough sleep, but I am not sure I'm ever ready to face another day.

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I encourage you to visit the posts of other participants in Saturday 9 and leave a comment. Because there are no rules, it is your choice. Saturday 9 players hate rules. We love memes, however.