A to Z Theme 2016

For my 2016 A to Z theme I used a meme that I ran across on the blog of Bridget Straub who first saw it on the blog of Paula Acton. This meme is a natural for me to use on my memoir blog. It's an A to Z concept and it's about me. No research and nothing complicated. I'm given twenty six questions or topics to discuss that are about me.

In April I kept my posts short and uncomplicated. In the midst of it all you might learn a few things about me that you didn't previously know.

Saturday, March 5, 2016

I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry (Soundtrack of my Life)



        If life were a theatrical film, there would likely be a soundtrack with meaningful songs played during key scenes.   Do certain songs evoke special moments or eras in your past? This is what I've been doing with my "Soundtrack of My Life" series of posts: Looking back and putting my life to music.
         
       Robin has been doing the Soundtrack of my Life posts on her blog Your Daily Dose. I had done a few of my own "life soundtracks" on my Tossing It Out blog as well as the song series (starting at this post) I did for my 2014 Blogging from A to Z April Challenge on Wrote By Rote. Be sure to visit and follow Your Daily Dose for more Life Soundtrack info. 


Here's the song to accompany this post:


       
       One of the biggest summers of music for me was 1966.  My family was staying in Maryville, Tennessee while my father was working at a new project location for the industrial contracting company he'd been working at for a number of years.  It seemed like a vacation for me and my brothers and sisters since we were staying in our 17 foot travel trailer at a mobile home park that had a number of spaces set aside for vacationers to the Great Smokey Mountains.

         While my father worked during the day, my mother took us kids on a number of sightseeing excursions throughout the area.  As one of the primary vacationing spots in the United States, there was plenty to see around the area where we were staying.  There was always plenty to do away from that trailer park, but I also found plenty to do on those lazy summer days when we just stayed "home" which is how I thought of that trailer since we were living there for a couple months.

        Having just finished middle school in Northern Indiana where we had been living, I was interested in many of the same things that others my age enjoyed--one of the main things being the pop music scene.  For the previous three years I had developed a keen interest in the chart hit artists such as The Beatles, The Beach Boys, Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass, and so many others.  Music had become a primary focus for me.  Soon after arriving at that Tennessee trailer park I discovered the local top forty station WNOX.  That radio station became the soundtrack for my summer of 1966.

          There are so many hits that stand out for me from that magical summer.  With the radio playing almost continually throughout the day, those songs became cemented in my mind.  My little transistor radio--the first I'd ever owned--became like an attachment implanted as a part of me.   Daily the radio was always playing those hits that were cycled throughout the day in regular rotation.

           One of the stand out songs that I remember hearing was B.J. Thomas's version of the great Hank Williams classic "I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry".  Thomas was new to the top forty scene and this song was his first big hit nationally.  Judging by the frequency I heard the song on the Knoxville station I'd call it a monster hit in East Tennessee.   To me the song was a new one.  If I'd ever heard the original prior to hearing the Thomas cover, it didn't resonate with me.  I was no fan of country music at the time--or at least I didn't think I was even though I had bought or enjoyed records by artists like Johnny Cash, the Statler Brothers, Buck Owens, and others.   Country was something I ridiculed unless a song of that genre happened to cross over onto the top forty charts and in those cases I figured the songs weren't country.

          The mournful sound of B.J. Thomas singing "I'm So Lonesome..." perked my ears whenever it came on the radio.  The words could actually be easily understood unlike some of the songs that were played.  They were lovely poetic words that tapped into a melancholy place within me.  It would be a down time of contemplation for a few minutes sandwiched between the more frantic hits of the daily playlist.

          With seven of us crammed into the small space of a travel trailer there wasn't much of a chance of being alone--at least not for long.  Neither was I lonely during that summer.  Not only did I have my family, I made some good friends who became an integral part of my years to come.   In fact as I reflect over my life I cannot recall feeling lonesome for any extended period of time.  Though I might have had periods when I felt somewhat alienated, aloof, or in a situation where being with others wasn't easy for me at some particular moment, deep rooted loneliness has been something I haven't felt too strongly in all of my years.

         Loss has haunted me on occasion, such as the periods when my marriages fell apart and I felt the pain of longing for a relationship that previously filled my life.   Sometimes desire might have filled me with a sense of desperation of wanting another person to share my life with, but that was a feeling that mostly impacted me in the years prior to my first marriage.  They were the times when doubts about my life and the insecurities of not being in a relationship filled me with some sense of emotional fear.  But I didn't have a problem about being alone.

          Lonesomeness as an ongoing state of mind has not especially been a concern of mine.  I've always enjoyed having time alone.  My pursuits such as stamp collecting, music, and reading are primarily activities that thrive best in solitude.  Even now, while I enjoy the company of my family and friends, I have to have times when I can be alone.

           I certainly get what Hank Williams was saying in his mournful song.  For a brief span of time I feel the pain and pathos expressed in the song while I'm listening to it.  Memories might linger for a little while in my mind as I fall into a reflective state of mind thinking about my life and my world.  Crying about being lonesome seems almost alien to me now.

         When have you felt so lonesome that you could cry?   Do you enjoy being alone?   Have you been in close situations when you had to spend a lot of time with other people?  





17 comments:

  1. Nice blog bit, LEE.
    But where's the official 'The Soundtrack Of My Life' image with the musical notes on the telephone wires? Uhhmmm...! I'm gonna tell Robin on you!

    Ha!

    Wow! This version of the song is about three-thousand times better than the Hank Williams original. I never did like that recording, primarily because of his high, nasally voice. (Bocephus beats his old man by "a Country mile" in my book!)

    I'm really a loner by nature, so I've always enjoyed being off by myself with my own thoughts. However, I'd always had family and friends to interact with also, so I'd never felt real loneliness in my life until...

    I moved to Reno.

    For the first few months everything was fine because I was busy looking for work and exploring all the new (to me) restaurants and bars.

    But by about Month 4, when I still didn't know anyone here, I began to feel true loneliness for the first time in my life. For the next 5 or so months I was lonely. Then I just somehow adapted to it and didn't feel it anymore.

    And right about that point I noticed that I had begun to make some friends. For instance, the day before yesterday I was alone having breakfast in a restaurant when 3 bartenders who'd gotten together for breakfast prior to having to attend a business meeting noticed me and they played a funny practical joke on me.

    I hadn't been in their bar for some months but told them I'd come in to visit the following night, which I did last night. It was neat seeing them again.

    And then today at 11:00 I'm meeting a co-worker for breakfast at a restaurant. He's the same guy who invited me to his house for Thanksgiving dinner in November.

    So, I don't feel lonely now at all. But I'm glad I experienced that for the months I did, as it gives me some new insight into how real loneliness feels so I can understand what some other people are dealing with daily.

    Nice post, Lee. I'll bet B.J. Thomas would wipe out Hank Williams, Sr. in a BOTB contest over this song.

    ~ D-FensDogG
    'Loyal American Underground'

    ReplyDelete
  2. STMcC, thanks for reminding me about the "logo". Actually I'm not sure that I'd ever used it on previous SOML posts.

    I would have probably shut down my attention if I were to have heard the Williams version back when I first heard the Thomas version. BJ made the song more pop than country and that was better for me then though I do enjoy country now--even the nasally stuff.

    Some of my times on my own apart from others have been outstanding in retrospect though at the time they didn't always seem so. I think there are always people looking for friends or company so they are there when you look hard enough and a lot of times you don't even have to look that hard. I've lived here in SoCal for nearly 25 years now (I've just amazed myself with that realization) and still don't have anyone I can call a truly close friend aside from my wife. There are a few folks that I might visit on occasion but it's not that drop-in-anytime friend sort of feeling like I used to have back in Tennessee.

    I really believe that getting older has a lot to do with getting closer to others. I don't want to inconvenience anyone else and I'm pretty content just being home by myself. Now and then if I want to talk I'll call a friend in Tennessee or elsewhere or one of my siblings and I can get the talking out of my system.

    Of course I've got a wife so that makes a big difference too compared to your situation. But in the day times when she's at work and I'm by myself it's not for me at all. I never feel all that alone and if I do I can just look out my back windows at all the traffic and the shopping center across the street and appreciate that I'm comfy inside my house.

    Glad you're finding some folks to hang out with some. If I were closer I'd drop by, but 500 miles is a major trip and not just an easy jaunt.

    I have a BOTB post in the hopper for this song, but I think they are versions you'd really hate. In fact I don't think I'd like them that much. You can use this BJ and Hank match-up if you like. Or maybe someday I might. I've got so many Battles lined up I don't know if I'll ever get to all of them.

    Lee

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ahhh, that's better. Everything goes better with logo.

      Yeah, Brother, that's a helluva long drive from L.A. to Reno. It's a really neat drive if one takes 395 North - I've made that drive more times than I can even remember. But it's really a 2-day drive unless you've got help or really wanna wipe yourself out.

      Someday maybe.

      Thanks for the offer but I definitely don't need to be borrowing BOTB songs. I'm in the same boat with you: I have more songs than I could ever use, and more quality potential match-ups continue to pop into my mind on a weekly basis.

      I'd actually like to be able to give away some A-list BOTB match-ups I have on my list, just because I'd like to see someone do 'em and I doubt I'll ever get to do them all myself.

      >>... I have a BOTB post in the hopper for this song, but I think they are versions you'd really hate. In fact I don't think I'd like them that much.

      Oh, gosh! Are you going to expand our musical horizons again? (It hasn't worked on me yet.)

      My personal BOTB philosophy is that I ONLY use songs that I myself like to some degree. I figure that if it's a recording that I find to be even semi-torturous or sub-par, chances are other voters will too, and I don't want anyone cringing when they visit my BOTB blog bits.

      But... everyone's free to do it their own way, of course.

      ~ D-FensDogG

      Delete
    2. POSTSCRIPT:
      Working right now on my Song Titles "Musical Challenge". Got all the songs selected and am putting together the blog bit. I expect to post it on Monday or Tuesday.

      ~ D-FensDogG

      Delete
    3. I'll be watching for it. Maybe you and I need to offer up some of our surplus battle matches to those who've stated they've been having problems coming up with new ones. I don't know why anyone would have a problem like this as there seems to be a vast supply of songs that have been covered.

      Lee

      Delete
  3. I felt so lonesome when I was new to Canada at 20 yrs and my young marriage was falling apart. I kept a journal, and then started art school where I met great friends. I divorced that guy a few years later. . .but my self esteem had been below ground level the whole time I was with him. Not healthy. I remember that song by BJ Thomas. I also remember James Taylor and Elton John just hitting the airwaves when I arrived in Vancouver. . .enjoyed this post, Lee.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. DG, I think we tend to be most prone to loneliness in our early adult years and our years of old age if we can no longer get around and don't get many visitors. A decent marriage goes a long ways in preventing loneliness, but still we need other people to talk to now and then.

      Lee

      Delete
  4. There's nothing worse than feeling completely alone while surrounded by people. Felt it most of my life and it really does suck. So it's good you've never had to feel that sort of deep down loneliness; I envy you!
    That said, I do have a handful of pursuits that are pretty much solo events: writing, reading, video games, drawing, listening to music. Maybe I should participate in more group activities, but they honestly tire me out mentally so I don't know.
    Anyway, sad but nice sounding song!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Madilyn, solitary pursuits are important for self expression and development. I think outside relationships are important, but they can be smothering and time consuming as well at times.

      Lee

      Delete
  5. I am an only child and I was raised in a fairly rural part of town so being alone is second nature, and in fact, I prefer it. I was more of an extrovert when I was younger but now I just want to be left alone. I need to recharge for days after interaction with a lot of people. We went to a new casino here in MA and the crowds, lights and noise pushed me into sensory overload.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. JoJo, "sensory overload" is something I do understand. It can be fun for a brief period, but getting back to the solitude and quiet can be absolute bliss.

      Lee

      Delete
  6. Thank goodness I've never had to stay with a large number of people for very long. But being without social contacts for a long time is exactly what gets me out of the house with my friends for coffee or lunch. We need a good balance, don't we?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Patricia, prior to getting married I often longed to be with friends, but less so now. Balance is important with a bit of both interaction and alone time.

      Lee

      Delete
  7. I definitely like the BJ Thomas version better! It was all too often way too quiet around our house. Thanks to your reminder of the Tijuana Brass I recalled listening to El Solo Toro over and over; daydreaming I was a famous Matadora whom people cheered for ;-)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Diedre, the Matadora dream sounds like a unique one. I wouldn't want to fight bulls for real, but I've fancied the idea on occasion.

      Lee

      Delete
  8. Nice cover by B.J. Thomas. Seven people crammed into a trailer! That must have been a bit challenging. Sounds like you had a great summer, though. ☺

    I'm never lonely and do enjoy being alone, but also like to spend time with friends. When you're an only child, you learn to enjoy your own company early in life.

    You're one of my favourite music bloggers, Lee and I nominated you for The Music and Words Award. There's no obligation to participate, but here's the link: Music and Words Award

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Debbie, some of those travel trailers are constructed to accommodate large families or numbers of people. It was really fairly comfortable and being summer we spent most of our time outside anyway and just stayed in the trailer to eat or sleep.

      As I mentioned on your site I'll be doing the Words & Music on my Tossing It Out blog tomorrow.

      Lee

      Delete

Tell your story. Express your thoughts. We want to hear from you. This blog no longer accepts comments from "Anonymous"--That guy is really starting to bug this blog. If you want to leave me a comment then please register if you aren't already--it's easy to do and I really want to hear from you.

Arlee Bird