The Straw Hat Song - Saturday 9



The Straw Hat Song (1955)

Unfamiliar with this week's song. Hear it here.



1) In this song, Desi Arnaz encourages us to laugh and sing instead of concentrating on our troubles. Is this an approach to life you could adopt? Or are you a worrier? I find that I do worry about some things, but others I can just ignore and they don't seem to bother me at all. 

2) Because Desi's public persona was carefree, people are often surprised to learn his early life was hard. In 1933, his wealthy family was targeted by Cuban revolutionaries. Their home was destroyed and were forced to flee the country. In Miami, they lived in a warehouse and 16-year-old Desi helped support the family by cleaning cages for the man who sold canaries outside a drugstore. Think about your friends and acquaintances. Whose life story turned out to be very different than you originally thought? Probably mine changed the most. I had a child earlier than I ever planned and I married someone completely different than anyone expected. 

3) While still in his teens, Desi got his first job as an entertainer. As a boy in Cuba, he expected to be a lawyer, not a musician. He only began playing guitar because he noticed girls like musicians and he liked girls. Tell us about a hobby of yours, and what inspired you to pick it up.I love to horseback ride. I convinced my husband that we needed a horse although I had not ridden a lot, but I loved horses. Once he got me one, I was completely hooked. 

4) He discovered he was not only a talented musician but a natural leader. By the tender age of 19, he had organized The Desi Arnaz Orchestra and they were performing in Miami hotels. Have you ever been a boss? If so, did you enjoy it?Yes, I was a manager at Dollar General and I enjoyed it at times, but it was a lot of work and there were many days of complete misery.

5) When he was 23, he went to Hollywood to try his hand at movies and met a 28 year old actress named Lucille Ball. In Hollywood back in 1940, it was considered embarrassing for a woman to date a younger man. Their initial attraction was so powerful she quickly got over it. Do you think age matters when it comes to romance? I have always thought it did, but I am three years older than my husband and my daughter is with someone almost 10 years older than her and they are truly happy. 


6) Desi was the first person to call that famous redhead "Lucy." Throughout her entire life, friends, family and coworkers always referred to her as "Lucille," as she preferred. But Desi insisted on "Lucy." He said that name was his and his alone. Ironically it became the way the world referred to her. Do you have a pet name for anyone? I do for my children and my grand doll. 

7) Lucille and Desi named their son and daughter after themselves. Were you named after anyone?My mom and my great grandmother on my dads' side.  

8) Desi was the founding force behind Desilu. One of the first great production studios of the television age, Desilu grossed $15 million in 1957 (more than $135 million in today's dollars). He credited his success to his unconventional and creative approach to problems. Are you a good problem solver? It depends on what the problem is. 


9) Random question: Who annoys you more, a know-it-all or an ignoramus? Both- depending on the situation

Comments

  1. Thank you for visiting me, Carol! Yep! Forgiveness is the only way!

    I truly dislike no-it-alls! :)

    <3Rebecca

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you for your visit. I love the way blogs help us to connect with others.

      Delete
  2. Oh! I always wanted to ride more! I'm glad you got your horse.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Loved reading your answers! ME too "a know-it-all AND an ignoramus":) enjoy your weekend dear friend, HUGS!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Desi Arnaz had a remarkable life and was a wonderful talent. I loved all your answers!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you for stopping by. I believe he was just as talented as Lucille Ball only in a different way.

      Delete
  5. Thanks for stopping by my blog!

    This post struck a chord with me - I used to work around the corner from the house where Lucille Ball was born. My girlfriend's grandmother used to babysit her when she was a baby.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. OH that is amazing! I would love to have known her. Thanks for stopping by.

      Delete
  6. Great questions and so interesting about Desi. I knew some but not most of what you wrote.
    To answer the questions:
    1. I can be a worrier but it sure doesn't get me anywhere.
    A few friends had much harder lives than I realized and some were very serious and heartbreaking. That's where being kind comes in. Kindness can heal.
    3. I used to do crafts all the time, decoupage, crewel embroidrey, and now mostly photography. The digital age makes taking photos much more pleasant for me. I guess that blogging is a hobby too. I love the way it puts me in touch with people worldwide. Or yes, travel is wonderful too.
    4. I was a staff leader doing tradeshows and confrences and yes I loved it MOST of the time. Its the people that one has to work with that can put a monkey wrench in the thing. (:0)
    5. Age doesn't matter any longer...growing up women being older than the man was a big no-no. But times change..my older son married a lovely woman 2 years older than him...blissful for 26 years so far.
    6.Toots, Honey, my hubby used to call our 2 granddaughters...punkin head...don't know why but it was a term of endearment to them.
    7.Not named after anyone .
    8.I can be a problem solver but I would actually rather follow than lead.
    9.Both..I dislike Know-it-Alls with a passion and I certainly can do without an Ignoramus in my life.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Thanks for sharing your answers with me.

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Feel free to comment and I will gladly read all of your comments and do my best to respond.

Popular posts from this blog

Book Review - The Boxcar Children by Gertrude Chandler Warner

Book Review - The Sparkle Forest

Happy Homemaker Monday - Jan. 15,2024