Sing It To September #MusicMovesMe

It's Monday, it's Labor Day in the United States, and it's time for the Music Moves Me bloggers (like me) to assemble.

The Music Moves Me bloggers blog about music each Sunday or Monday and if you have music to share with us, you are most welcome to join! (Music Posts Only-meaning at least one music video, please!)   Our head host is Xmas Dolly, and our co-hosts are Cathy from Curious as a Cathy, joined by the knowledgeable Stacy of Stacy Uncorked and yours truly.

You are welcome to join our Monday music group.  It's so easy. All you have to do is join the linky above with a music post that contains at least one music video.  No music video? Your post may be removed, or may be labeled *NO MUSIC*.We alternate theme weeks and no theme weeks.

Before we get going, I need to share some bad news with you.  Our co-host Cathy from Curious as a Cathy reported the sad news that her father passed away a couple of days ago.  We will keep Cathy and her family in our thoughts and prayers these coming next few weeks. (Please note, this post was written before I received the news from Cathy.)

And now, to happier things.

For the month of September, our guest host is Sandee from Comedy Plus.  For today, she asks us to feature songs with September in the title. 

It's interesting that a lot of songs mentioning September are about aging, or loss.  Maybe no one likes the thought of descending into winter.  But September can also signify new beginnings.

This theme cries out for classics.

The late Tony Bennett and 1962's Maybe September.

September Song, here sung by Nat King Cole, was actually written in 1938 by Kurt Weill (lyrics by Maxwell Anderson) for a Broadway play.  It's been covered by various artists.  The song has changed over the years, as explained in the notes of the person who posted the song.

When I was a little older, I loved a 1964 song by Chad and Jeremy called A September Song.

See You in September was originally recorded by The Tempos in 1959.  I knew it from the Happenings cover in 1966 but decided on the original.

Let's move into the 1980's with The Bangles and September Gurls. 

One more, a song from Earth Wind and Fire, because I wanted to end this post on an upbeat note.

And that's a wrap!

Join me again next week for another episode of Music Moves Me.

A Post Labor Day Rant

No flowers today.  Instead, it's time for a rant.  I backed off from it but got encouragement from some of my regular readers (thank you!).

So, if you don't want to read it, here's a picture for you (impatiens in morning light). Then feel free to skip onto something else.  But if you are staying with me, thank you.

Friday, in front of the hospital where my son was born, a local station gave live coverage, on the 5pm news, of health workers demonstrating for their right not to take the vaccine.  It was the last straw.

Yes, you have the right not to take the vaccine. Yes, you have the right not to wear a mask.  What you don't have is the right to make someone else sick because you don't want to be responsible.  What you don't have is the right to fill up hospitals so that others without COVID can't get care.  I don't want to hear about the falsehoods circulating about what these vaccines do to you.  I won't even repeat them here.

Today, I think of someone I know through blogging, who has a family member who may have a cancerous tumor.  She worries that her hospitals, almost to full capacity with COVID patients,  may not be able to treat her family member.

I don't understand how selfish a country we have become, with our personal rights trampling all over the rights of our neighbors, our friends, and even our families. 

One of my cousins continues to work retail (and is still doing so in 2021) in an essential retail setting.  Last year, a customer spit on him.  Why, he doesn't even know.   Another one of my cousins is a teacher in New York City.  One of my husband's cousins is a teacher in Florida. A third cousin moved recently from Massachusetts to New York City.  She's in education, too.  Just imagine what they have gone through and are still going through this new school year.  It's not over yet.  Maybe it could have been, in a more perfect world.

Another one of my cousins is an emergency room in a Midwest hospital. What has he experienced? He has a father in his 90's.  Does he want to get sick?   His niece is in her second year of nursing school.

For me, and many of my readers, this has become personal.

Just imagine what the parent of every school aged child in this country is going through, for this matter.

And, the children.  Let's not forget them.  Just in my county, the statistics are concerning. They can't be vaccinated even where their parents want them to be.  You want to see their smiling faces.  G-d forbid they get this illness, they won't be smiling.

Now, too many families have gone through the experience of having sick members, maybe sick enough to require hospitalization.

When my autistic brother in law contracted COVID-19 in April 2020, our family entered a world where our only contact with him was through his health care workers.  He was hospitalized for three weeks and was in a skilled nursing facility set up by the agency that provides his housing and services for another two weeks. 

But that wasn't the end of his story.  It took him a while to regain full lung function.  I'm not sure what he went through was long COVID, but long COVID is real and it puts its sufferers through hell.  COVID isn't a head cold or a mild flu, folks, even if most people don't die from it.

The health care workers and support staff we spoke to during his hospitalization almost always were able to take the time to talk to us, provide updates, and reassurance, and just kept on keeping on.  They worked hard and yet they took the time to support US.  I will never forget that.

They are getting tired. No, I'm wrong.  They are past tired.  Past tired of treating people, many of whom chose not to get one of the three (in our country) available vaccines.    In the county I live in, some 90% of those hospitalized are not vaccinated.

They are past tired of being abused by the public and some their patients. COVID-19 isn't just a health epidemic in our country.  It is an epidemic of everything becoming politics, of misinformation coming from various sources, of fear, of distrust, of hating your neighbor because he or she votes for the "wrong" person.

And yet, there are health workers who won't take the vaccine, even while treating a population where many of their COVID patients haven't taken the vaccine. They are walking off the job.  Same with those working in nursing homes.  Everywhere our facilities (here in our part of New York State) are shortstaffed and the latest tsunami here isn't at Texas/Florida/Missouri/Louisiana levels yet.

Has everyone forgotten our developmentally disabled population, some who can't advocate for themselves?  Our immunocompromised?  Cancer patients? Those unfortunate enough to have heart attacks where the hospitals are full of those who have exercised their personal freedom?  We all pay that price for some personal freedoms.

It would be a wonderful thing if everyone in our country could show respect for each other by our actions.  Respect those who put their lives on the line for our health, for our food, for our transportation, for our packages in the mail, for the education of our children, each and every day.  Respect the elderly, those with health issues?

I asked this in 2020.  I'm asking you to do it again, except this year that respect includes vaccination.  Wear a mask. (No one will see your smiling face if an oxygen mask covers it.)  Educate yourself with facts, not rumors read online.  Practice consideration  Get the jab if you are medically able. 

And, if you leave a comment on this post, please be respectful.  Any comments not meeting this criteria will be immediately composted.

If we all don't clean up our act as American citizens, what kind of society will we have when this is no longer a pandemic?

Labor Day Shoutout

Tomorrow, in the United States, is Labor Day, a holiday supposed to honor those in the United States who labor.

In the year of COVID-19, of course, this has taken on new meaning.

Back in March and April, when a number of states (including my New York State) had to shut down, those classed as essential workers had to stay on the job.  I was fortunate - I am classed as an essential worker, but was able to telecommute. My son, on the other hand, had to continue to work at his workplace.  My spouse, now retired, would have been an essential worker in constant contact with the public if he was still working.  My spouse and I, both senior citizens, would have had to make the choice of continuing to work or not.

At least spouse and I had a choice.

Another of my cousins continued to work retail (and is still doing so) in an essential retail setting.  Another one of my cousins is a teacher in New York City.  I've been told by her mother, who also worked for the New York City schools but is now retired, that many teachers are taking early retirement.  They literally fear for their lives. 

Another one of my cousins is an emergency room in a Midwest hospital and his niece entered nursing school this past August.

For me, and many of my readers, this has become personal.

When my autistic brother in law contacted COVID-19 in April, my family entered a world where our only contact with him was through his health care workers.  He was hospitalized for three weeks and was in a skilled nursing facility set up by the agency that provides his housing and services for another two weeks.  One of their workers took him to the ER and stayed with him until the hospital made her go home.

Thankfully, she did not get COVID-19.  She's leaving her position later this month and our family wishes her the best.  Other employees at similar agencies paid the ultimate price.

The health care workers and support staff we spoke to almost always were able to take the time to talk to us, provide updates, and reassurance, and just kept on keeping on.  They worked hard and yet they took the time to support US.  I will never forget that.

(I will say here that his need for hospitalization was so rapid after he started to show initial symptoms that it was past scary.  I don't have words for anyone who thinks this disease is "the flu" or, worse, a hoax, or even thinks about harassing health care workers.)

I would like to say one last thing.

Essential workers do not care if you support the Democratic or Republican candidate for any office.  They are there to serve you.   By serving you, they sometimes put their lives in danger.

In return, it would be a wonderful thing if everyone in our country could show respect for them in turn by their actions.  Many of these workers put their lives on the line for our health, for our food, for our transportation, for our packages in the mail, each and every day.

This year, honor them on Labor Day with your actions, today, tomorrow and every day.

If you have a story about essential workers (yourself or someone who has helped you), I'd love to know in the comments.  And, as always, I reserve the right to remove attempted posts that are disrespectful or inappropriate.

Thoughts on Aging and a Dump Cake

I guess it comes with age.

Either spouse or I have had three phone conversations in the past week with senior relatives or friends.  And everyone is struggling: struggling with health issues, or struggling with caregiving issues, or both.  One, in her 80's, recently was hospitalized with pneumonia.  Another has been trying to provide day care for grandchildren while trying to be a caregiver for someone who recently had to be put into a nursing home.  Another, a world traveler, can no longer travel due to her health issues.

These stories make me count my blessings, but it also wonders what my senior years will turn into.

At least yesterday, for Labor Day, I was able to spend some time with my son and one of his friends, someone I've known for years.  For dessert, I made a dump cake.

Dump cakes are well named - you take the ingredients, dump them (one by one) into a pan, add a liquid and bake.  So, I decided to make one, with Cheerwine (a nonalcoholic cherry soda beloved in parts of the Southern United States), blueberries we had picked during the picking season in August, and a new flavor of cake mix I had never seen before in the stores - strawberry.

There was a time when I would never have come within a mile of a cake mix. Only scratch for me, thank you. And I would have turned my nose up at the thought of RV camping.  Now, I use cake mixes 95% of the time, and I am seriously thinking of buying an RV.  Aging did that to me - it made me realize my limitations, made me treasure time that is left, and it also sharpened my sweet tooth (making weight loss a necessity).

So, the dump cake is a simple one, because I am on Weight Watchers and I have to remain at my goal weight (well, within a narrow range).  Cut up fruit is a great dessert but sometimes you just want more.

I dumped 2 1/2 cups blueberries into a 9 x 13 pan, dumped the cake mix ovre the blueberries and poured a can of diet Cheerwine over all, baked for about 50 min at 350 degrees, and served it to end our Labor Day cookout of hamburgers, a point free variation of cowboy caviar and an ear of corn.  My son and his friends both enjoyed it.  The strawberry cake mix was so delicious (and no, I am not receiving any compensation for this shoutout.)

Today I am back to work, looking forward to a interesting September.  Do I fear the future?  Perhaps a little, but I also want to enjoy life as long as I can.

Music for a Labor Day #MusicMovesMe

It's Monday and I welcome you to #MusicMovesMe.

Who are the #MusicMovesMe bloggers? Every other week we have a theme, and on alternate weeks, we can blog about any music we wish.  We are headed by our head Engineer XmasDolly, who is still recovering from surgery.  Her co-conductors are:  ♥Callie of JAmerican Spice♥, (who is also recovering from surgery) and ♥Stacy of Stacy Uncorked♥   Also, co-conducting  is  ♥Cathy from Curious as a Cathy♥ (currently filling in as the temporary head Engineer )   And, (last but not least), there's me.

If you do have music to share, you are welcome to link up with us. We'd love to hear from you!  

But, the times being what they are, I must also add a disclaimer: We really want to boogie with you, but we do work hard to bring you music - please keep in mind that this is a blog hop and open to music posts ONLY!

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 Today is Labor Day in the United States.  So I offer, today, a mixed assortment of music.

The Downeaster Alexa, one of my favorite Billy Joel songs, dates from 1989 and has the plight of the Long Island fisherman as its theme.  

Another Billy Joel song, from 1983, Allentown, sings about the plight of the American steelworker.  For this I chose a live version from his 2008 concert at Yankee Stadium, in my native Bronx.

One of the songs I heard at Binghamton, New York's Porchfest Sunday before last:  Kryptonite, by 3 Doors Down, covered by a local band.

And finally, Renee Fleming performing "Danny Boy" Saturday at Senator John McCain's funeral.  I think the most poignant part of this past week was McCain's 106 year old mother paying her respects before the casket was moved to Washington, DC as her son lay in state in Arizona.  

To further set the stage for September, I found this discussion of why there seem to be so many songs about September interesting. 

Thank you for stopping by and listening to my mini-concert.  Next week, I'll be posting music for a theme "Songs about aging or being a grandparent" and we'll see what I can come up with.

Music Monday - Labor Day

Today is  Labor Day in the United States. 

It is a federal holiday, and has been since 1894.  Many of us have it off (ironically, few in the retail business, though).  The history has many violent components, but, in recent times it is more of a "last day of summer" holiday.

For many of us of a "certain age" living in the United States, Labor Day meant one thing - the Jerry Lewis Telethon.

Jerry Lewis is 90 now, and he is still working.

He has seven children and one of them is a musician who had several hit songs in the 1960's:  Gary Lewis.

Today, a short tribute to Gary Lewis and the Playboys (who played our area recently) in honor of his father, before I swing into songs of labor.

Everyone Loves a Clown (complete with a little girl).

This Diamond Ring was a hit song in 1965, and one of my favorite songs.

And, in honor of Labor Day, a couple of songs about labor.  There is a nice collection of classics here - so much could be written about the labor movement in the United States.  Here are three:

The late Paul Robeson, singing a song called "Joe Hill". No, it isn't about Stephen King's son but, rather, a Swedish-American labor activist who was put to death in 1915 for murders he may have been innocent of.  The story of those murders, and what happened to Joe Hill after he died, make a most fascinating story to read on Labor Day.

Sixteen Tons -  written by Merle Travis in 1946, here performed by Tennessee Ernie Ford.  This is a song about the life of a coal miner.  The story of its writing is also a fascinating one.  This was a song of my early childhood.

And, on a lighter note, 9 to 5 - Dolly Parton (how many people recognize the sound at the beginning few seconds of the song?)

In my part of upstate New York, we will have fireworks later tonight to celebrate this day devoted to labor.

Let's take a minute, this Labor Day, to honor all working people around the world.

The Jerry LewisTelethon

Today is Labor Day in the United States, a holiday that has been celebrated on the first Monday in September since the 1880's.

In my childhood, one of the traditions of Labor Day was something which no longer exists, thanks to the Internet and social media.

For many years, starting in my native New York City, comedian Jerry Lewis (now in his late 80's) used to host a Labor Day telethon. 

The Jerry Lewis MDA Labor Day telethon was part of my later childhood.  It started in New York City in 1966, and went nationwide soon after.  Jerry Lewis left in 2011, and the telethon, in a vastly shrunken form, survived until 2014.

But many baby boomers remember it.

The purpose of this telethon was to raise money for a charity that existed to fight a condition called muscular dystrophy.  Hour after hour Jerry would tell stories designed to make people feel sorry for the children with this condition (there are many, many adults, too, who somehow never got onto the show, and there is still no cure), which eventually were called "Jerry's Kids".  As the hours passed, Jerry got more tired, more cranky, and the stories more pathetic.

A toteboard, starting in 1976, totaled up the contributions, and there would be cutaways to local volunteers taking phone calls.

There was something about watching this hour after hour, and being able to tune in at any time, and there Jerry and friends still were.

Celebrities performed.

Drummer Buddy Rich and Jerry Lewis battle on the drums, followed by an incredible Buddy Rich drum solo.  The clip is about six minutes long but well worth it.

Here is the ex-Beatle John Lennon, in 1972.

Jerry would end the telethon by singing "You'll Never Walk Alone."

Eventually, disability activists started to call for the end of the show.

Times have changed - for the better, I feel, as the sister in law of a man who is developmentally disabled.  I don't think people with disabilities should be shown as objects of pity.  Nor should they be portrayed as "cripples".  They are people.  But, back then, attitudes were so different.  Sometimes, it is hard to explain to people who weren't alive in that era, and I am not here to defend that part of what Jerry Lewis did.  It was acceptable in the context of its time, but that time is no longer our time.


This show created many magic moments and performances.  Many people still miss it.

Now, with crowdfunding and viral events like the Ice Bucket Challenge, the national charity telethon is a thing of the past.  But in a way, I wish I could turn on my set...and, somehow, find Jerry there again.

This is a Monday post for Everyday Gyaan's #Septemberchallenge.