Once upon a time (okay, it was just a little over a month ago), the lovely Lynette nominated me for the “Random Acts of Kindness Award”. (Now, now. Don’t flee in terror thinking this is another one of “those” things. Stay with me.) The basic concept of the award is that someone nominates you with a lovely tribute, you respond in kind with a tribute to them, and then you spin the wheel and nominate someone else. There are a few other rules as well, but since this is Bonnywood, I’m only going to pay attention to the regulations that appeal to me. (Sound familiar?)
Here we go.
Lynnette’s thoughts on yours truly can be found on her blog post here. (She really gets me, with the third sentence being overly-generous but spot on. And no, I didn’t pay her to say those words although, in hindsight, perhaps I should have.)
Why do I think that Lynette is supercalifragilisticexpialidocious?
Well, as a writer, I love it when I stumble across someone who is there to truly support fellow writers. She’s the real deal, in that she laughs when you hope she would laugh, gets all mushy at the tender parts, and she zings in on the most obscure Bonnywood trivia with admirable precision. We share a similar past in that we both suffered at the hands of folks who tried to make us feel unworthy, but we picked ourselves up and came out the other end of our tribulations with some degree of grace.
Most importantly, Lynette doesn’t hesitate to get real with solid advice. (“Honey, you need to get over that mess right now, and here’s how you do it.”) She’s a good soul with wisdom to share, and I happily lap it up. Please take a second to click on her link and see what she’s been up to lately.
Now, here’s the part where I’m supposed to nominate someone else as well as the part where I toss protocol aside. As many of you know, I’m not a fan of “awards”, for many reasons, the main one being that I don’t relish inadvertently leaving someone out that should be nominated. That being the case, I’ve decided to share the lyrics to Don McLean’s “American Pie”. While doing so, I’m going to insert random links (see what I did there?) to pages of random fellow bloggers who have also bestowed me with acts of kindness during my years here at Bonnywood.
(Which means, dear readers, that some of you will not see a personal link even though you justly deserve one. It does not mean that I love you any less. It just means that it’s getting late and I could only do so many links. Mea culpa.)
Note to those who have been “nominated” in this subversive manner: Please don’t get too invested in the particular lyrical word that I use for your link. Most of it is random, but there are a few of you who will know very well why I chose that specific word.
Note to those who are wondering “but how will I know where I’m going when I click on a link?”: Just do it. I’m a firm believer that erratic and unplanned link-clicking can lead to very satisfying digital relationships. After all, most of you are here because you took a chance one day, and that’s the beauty of it all.
Enjoy.
American Pie
A long long time ago
I can still remember how
That music used to make me smile
And I knew if I had my chance
That I could make those people dance
And maybe they’d be happy for a while
But February made me shiver
With every paper I’d deliver
Bad news on the doorstep
I couldn’t take one more step
I can’t remember if I cried
When I read about his widowed bride
Something touched me deep inside
The day the music died
So
Bye, bye Miss American Pie
Drove my Chevy to the levee but the levee was dry
And them good ole boys were drinking whiskey and rye
Singin’ this’ll be the day that I die
This’ll be the day that I die
Did you write the book of love
And do you have faith in God above
If the Bible tells you so?
Do you believe in rock and roll?
Can music save your mortal soul?
And can you teach me how to dance real slow?
Well, I know that you’re in love with him
‘Cause I saw you dancin’ in the gym
You both kicked off your shoes
Man, I dig those rhythm and blues
I was a lonely teenage broncin’ buck
With a pink carnation and a pickup truck
But I knew I was out of luck
The day the music died
I started singin’
Bye, bye Miss American Pie
Drove my Chevy to the levee but the levee was dry
And them good ole boys were drinking whiskey and rye
Singin’ this’ll be the day that I die
This’ll be the day that I die
Now, for ten years we’ve been on our own
And moss grows fat on a rolling stone
But, that’s not how it used to be
When the jester sang for the king and queen
In a coat he borrowed from James Dean
And a voice that came from you and me
Oh and while the king was looking down
The jester stole his thorny crown
The courtroom was adjourned
No verdict was returned
And while Lennon read a book on Marx
The quartet practiced in the park
And we sang dirges in the dark
The day the music died
We were singin’
Bye, bye Miss American Pie
Drove my Chevy to the levee but the levee was dry
Them good ole boys were drinking whiskey and rye
And singin’ this’ll be the day that I die
This’ll be the day that I die
Helter skelter in a summer swelter
The birds flew off with a fallout shelter
Eight miles high and falling fast
It landed foul on the grass
The players tried for a forward pass
With the jester on the sidelines in a cast
Now the half-time air was sweet perfume
While sergeants played a marching tune
We all got up to dance
Oh, but we never got the chance
‘Cause the players tried to take the field
The marching band refused to yield
Do you recall what was revealed
The day the music died?
We started singin’
Bye, bye Miss American Pie
Drove my Chevy to the levee but the levee was dry
Them good ole boys were drinking whiskey and rye
And singin’ this’ll be the day that I die
This’ll be the day that I die
Oh, and there we were all in one place
A generation lost in space
With no time left to start again
So come on Jack be nimble, Jack be quick
Jack Flash sat on a candlestick
‘Cause fire is the devil’s only friend
Oh and as I watched him on the stage
My hands were clenched in fists of rage
No angel born in Hell
Could break that Satan’s spell
And as the flames climbed high into the night
To light the sacrificial rite
I saw Satan laughing with delight
The day the music died
He was singin’
Bye, bye Miss American Pie
Drove my Chevy to the levee but the levee was dry
Them good ole boys were drinking whiskey and rye
Singin’ this’ll be the day that I die
This’ll be the day that I die
I met a girl who sang the blues
And I asked her for some happy news
But she just smiled and turned away
I went down to the sacred store
Where I’d heard the music years before
But the man there said the music wouldn’t play
And in the streets the children screamed
The lovers cried, and the poets dreamed
But not a word was spoken
The church bells all were broken
And the three men I admire most
The Father, Son, and the Holy Ghost
They caught the last train for the coast
The day the music died
And they were singing
Bye, bye Miss American Pie
Drove my Chevy to the levee but the levee was dry
And them good ole boys were drinking whiskey and rye
Singin’ this’ll be the day that I die
This’ll be the day that I die
They were singing
Bye, bye Miss American Pie
Drove my Chevy to the levee but the levee was dry
Them good ole boys were drinking whiskey and rye
Singin’ this’ll be the day that I die
Story behind the photo: Another obscure photo I snapped at my friend Paula’s house this past weekend. Apparently, I spent a lot of time taking pictures and avoiding actual social interaction. This should not surprise anyone. (Introverts Unite!)
Categories: Raw Feed
Bonnywood Manor 
❤ I'm gratified to be included. I saw a host of folks I already follow tagged too, but one or two I'd never heard of as well. Two of those (so far) have been added to my watched blog list. You're a sweetie and wonderful blogger and I hope you know that. We love you!!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Aww. Let me pause and feel the wave of love. Okay, I’m glad you found a few new little treasures to explore. I really tried to vary up the options as much as possible, knowing that not all would care for everything but hoping that most would run across something that caught their fancy. (I was also worried that the amount of clicking would prove overwhelming, but we seem to have managed nicely. Yay!)
LikeLike
What an honor to be included! We must have some kind of psychic bond or something. I was working on something about “writers,” and what they write about and how they make us (or me) feel. You were the first one I wrote about. Now, I feel (once again) that I have somehow plagiarized your thoughts.
Remember…the 12 gifts of Christmas? LOLOL
Thanks, Brian. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
We DO seem to be on the same wavelength at times, despite the physical separation. Wait, thought sounds like we’ve had a past relationship. Say, maybe we have, perhaps in 16th century France? One never knows!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Possibly. My great grandfather was French Indian. My grandmother spoke fluent French but I never heard her say a word in the language. You know what they say about those Frenchmen. They’re rude if you don’t speak their language. 🙂
I imagine I was a French queen…one who didn’t get her head lopped off. LOLOL
LikeLiked by 1 person
Great concept, using the song. Thanks, I’m a’looking at a few that you mentioned. Strange to see a few familiar(is) faces/nom de plumes etc on my looking through..
LikeLiked by 1 person
It is a bit surreal, with the familiar faces, the same as clicking “like” on a post and then realizing that you know half the other people who clicked “like”. I suppose, in a way, we’re all part of one big, mildly-incestuous family… 😉
LikeLike
That pink gleam coming from the north is my glow of happiness. Thank you very much for your wonderfully complimentary words, Brian. You have made my day, week and month. ❤
I love the way you imbedded the links to other blogs in American Pie. It is a pie – a yummy blog pie with sweet and savoury and why-don’t-you-try-me-you-might-like-me flavours. 🙂
LikeLiked by 2 people
Whew! I was a bit worried that my little tribute didn’t quite hit the mark. (I originally had a longer intro, but then I thought “you know, this love-fest is getting a little too intense and co-dependent, so let’s back off a smidge”. 😉
I’m glad you liked the “imbedded song” concept. I wanted to spice things up a bit from the traditional “list of links” methodology…
LikeLiked by 1 person
I worry about hitting the mark too, especially as I can be rather sharp and can overdo it.
I thought your tribute was wonderful – still glowing. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
You are so delightfully weird; when I have more time, I am going to try to click on every link you so skillfully embedded! 😊🌈
LikeLiked by 2 people
I absolutely relish being considered “delightfully weird”. Thank you for that… 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
I clicked on every link – and now may hand is about to fall off 🙂 That was indeed a labour of love for you to put toghether. Fond a few interesting blogs too, so thanks Mr B.
Oh, and thanks for including me, you know I think you’rr the B’s knees (well, I suppose you do have knees, so they would be the B’s knees, wouldn’t they?).
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh, bravo for clicking on every link, seriously. There are 50 of the dang things, and I really didn’t expect folks to be that thorough. And of course I had to include you. I love your blog, and we’ve been pals for somewhere around five years now. It was a no-brainer… 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m all for no-brainers, it’s so ME 🤣🤣🤣
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh what a neat idea! Besides using the lyrics to a favorite song, you’ve highlighted some wonderful bloggers! Thanks so much for including me in your list.
I did see quite a few I already follow, but will check out more, as they all sound so interesting. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I thought you might enjoy my using this song. And I was happy to include your blog. I always know that I’m going to find something interesting there… 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you very much! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you very much for including me here! (And yes, I clicked on every link.) What a delightfully clever and fun post. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you! I’m hoping that this will help some folks find your blog, as it’s definitely a valuable discovery…
LikeLiked by 1 person
That’s very kind…as is yours. 🙂 Thank you!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Well, that’s my blog reading sorted for tomorrow’s day off 😉 I believe I’ve clicked on them all. Many of these I either follow or are familiar by name and are very fine selections indeed. One of them led me to you! Some are new to me, so looking forward to rummaging through those. This is a really cool idea. You must’ve had a lot of fun picking the words out for each person. Thankyou so much for including me here, very happy with my chosen word 🙂 Cracking song choice too. I have some fond memories attached to it, so gonna pay YouTube a visit now.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I did have fun picking out just the right word, although I must admit that toward the end of my list I did have to wing it a bit, as most of the good words were already taken. I’m glad you like the song, as it’s one of my favorites, and I’m already contemplating what song I’ll use for the NEXT post like this… 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
This is brilliant, and I wish I’d thought of it. Such a great variety of new-to-me blogs, and I’ve bookmarked this page so I can come back and re-visit them.
Also: Thank you for the mention. That was very lovely of you.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh, please feel free to use the idea if you wish, or something like it. Just a thought: Perhaps you could do movie quotes and link some of the critical words? And I was very happy to mention your site, as I really enjoy what you do…
LikeLiked by 1 person
Well, of course I clicked every link because it practically took me every link before I found MY link, and isn’t that what this whole exercise is about, finding MY link?
Sorry, um… did I say that out loud? *shuffles papers* You know, this wasn’t the comment I meant to leave here. This was meant for another blog. What I meant to say was: Oh golly gee, Brian, what a sweetie you are! Aren’t you the clever boy?! 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
So many ways I could go with my response, but I’ll avoid the potential landmines and take this angle: You look very pretty today. Is that a new blouse?
LikeLiked by 1 person
How did I not even know this?! I’m so flattered, especially since I’m “flames”; what an ingenious and lovely way to support your peers:-) Thank you so much for everything you do for the writing community!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Well, we’re all very busy, so it’s very easy for us to miss things here and there. But your kind words are one of the reasons why I gently tucked you into the lyrics… 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
Lovely tribute from Lynette Brian. I have visited her blog and will further explore, looks good 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Margaret! Lynette really is a peach, so the tribute was a delight to do…
LikeLiked by 1 person