I'm driving back home from town, after my bi-monthly grocery-shopping trip.
Cat litter, clearance lunch meat (relax, it's still edible,) a $1.00 "Happy Holidays" tin sign, dog biscuits, a pound of American cheese slices.
So anyways, I need noise when I drive.
Depending upon the mood, it's either news radio or music.
This day, it was music.
Specifically, Don't Let the Sun Go Down On Me.
Oh brother. Bro. Bra.
Takes me back. To my 14th year. Corn detasseling for Pioneer.
Such a tough year. But I finished the season. And I was proud. And I repeated the same gig the next year. Because the money was good.
It set the stage for future challenges.
I mean, if I could detassel corn in 90 degree heat for 8 hours a day, for a month...
the rest of my working career would be a piece of cake.
That proved to be true.
Nothing has measured up to those two summers.
Every time I hear that song...
: : :
I published this in error -- so it will likely cost me about $10 in data usage.
Dammit.
Oh well, enjoy.
: : :
I published this in error -- so it will likely cost me about $10 in data usage.
Dammit.
Oh well, enjoy.
: : :
If this is your first time visiting A Rural Journal, I'd like to invite you to subscribe via email for the latest updates. You can also connect with me on Facebook, Pinterest and Flickr.
Your error in publishing made for some fun reading ;)
ReplyDeleteI am very sad to hear you are stopping the rural thursday. I so enjoyed it this past year. Thanks for being a great hostess every week.
ReplyDeleteLaurie @ Pride in Photos
Great song! Sorry to hear a rural journal is ending...
ReplyDeleteOh Nancy I remember that song it is one of my favourites also. I cannot even remember when I listened to that song I must be getting old.
ReplyDelete$10 that sucks but I was $100 over on my internet stick once, no grocery shopping that month:)
This post was worth the money. Thank you for sharing. You make me laugh.
I do not believe there is any challenge you cannot conquer. Hugs B
I am LOL . . . I detasseled corn in Iowa with my dad, ten acres, to earn money for my first year college tuition . . . back in 1957. Summers after I worked in Northrup King test plots . . . all about CORN for four summers! And I remember vividly all about heat, humidity, corn boars, hard work and not looking pretty . . .
ReplyDeleteLoved this Nancy . . . sorry your ten dollars went for my enjoyment!
Lovely post sorry about ten dollar cost though. Love that tune goes straight to the heart.
ReplyDeleteSorry to hear about Thursday and Sunday coming to end end, just found to.
Sheila
x
Ouch on the price tag on the post, but it certainly was excellent reading. I can picture how hot it must've been on those days!
ReplyDeleteSome songs simply bring us back to the past.
ReplyDeleteThey are no more noises.
They are time tracks.
Noise while driving? I have the perfect job for you.. School bus driver. Funny how songs transport us back like that...
ReplyDeleteI did detassling in Iowa probably around that same age. HARD WORK, early mornings, bugs, scratches.... dirt. mud. But that's how I paid for my very first camera, a Kodak S-10. Loved that little film camera. :)
ReplyDelete
ReplyDeleteYou're gonna laugh, or maybe scowl?... but.. is detasseling the same as corn SHUCKING? I actually don't know..lol.. now I have to google.
I sure hope you'll continue a Rural Journal. I understand how the specific weekly entries can be time consuming and data consuming!
love that song...ooops.....
ReplyDeletei know you are going through an interesting time. whatever it maybe .... but it sure provided me with a great laugh today. i love that song. awesome tunes! ( :
ReplyDeleteI've been reading several blogs of late where charges suddenly appear. I'm puzzled by this suddenly coming out of nowhere especially eblog photo saving thing on something called Piccaso. HuH? Now I can't figure out how to deleate pictures when I try delete old posts. I do like to blog but otherwise prefer the 20th century...:(
ReplyDeleteso many of my memories are connected to music!!
ReplyDeletei also remember the song that was playing on the radio the first time i got grounded!!
So sorry about changes to your blog and will miss Rural Thursday! It's a tough time for many, and things don't promise to get easier soon. May the Lord bless you with encouragement.
ReplyDeleteAnd thank you for the time you have taken every week to host Rural Thursday!
ReplyDeleteWow - corn detasseling for 8 hours a day - and I thought I had a crummy summer job! Thanks for hosting Rural Thursday, I'll miss it!
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed this post, sorry about the overage charge though! Now I'm gonna have that song stuck in my head all day! LOL!!
ReplyDeleteThanks for all your hard work hosting Rural Thursday, it will be missed but I'm glad you are going to keep on blogging! :)
come on dec 4th! :)
ReplyDeleteI too am sorry that you are forced to stop your blog hops...I enjoyed them both, but understand the dilemma. Music does have a way of bringing back memories both good & not so good.
ReplyDeleteMusic is such a big part of memories and specific periods of time in our lives. Every now and then I'll hear a song that takes me back. My memories are so faded, I welcome anything that stirs one.
ReplyDeleteSorry you're having such issues with your data usage! That has to be frustrating. But I enjoyed the post :) Music really can take you back to a certain time and place in your life.
ReplyDeleteI have so enjoyed Your Sunday Best and Rural Thursday. I do hope you get to post more often then not!
ReplyDeleteOkay, okay - i see these "good-bye" messages . . . I admit, I'm not informed enough to know what's going on . . BUT, I see the mention of $10. - so, lots of us enjoy your blog . . . where's the paypal button so we can contribute? just askin'
ReplyDeletelove & love,
-g-
I too am sorry you are stopping the Rural Journal - I read it - didn't always leave a comment - but I learned a lot. sandie
ReplyDeleteI've got a song or two that take me back as well, just like some smells do....I hope all is well with you, and you've had a good day! Take care!
ReplyDeleteOh - was hoping you were back. Thinking of that job makes my skin itchy!
ReplyDeleteDamn Verizon.
ReplyDeleteI am so upset that youre stopping the link ups. Maybe I can start up something similar to keep it going...............
ReplyDeleteI love your blog as it is always fun to read. Have a Nice day Nancy :)
ReplyDeleteWhat a great song! I was way too short (and wimpy) to detassel, but I do remember the song! So sorry this is such an expensive post. Dang limits.
ReplyDeleteFantastic Nancy! Hang in there on the data and expense issues. I have blog issues myself right now as you know. Just keep sharing as you can. I love what you blog!
ReplyDeleteFun post and photo.
ReplyDeleteI clicked to listen to the song, and it's actually very nice.
ReplyDeleteGreat song by Elton John
I love how music transports us. I also got a chuckle out of Madge's proposal that if you want noise when driving - try school bus (eh, wrong noise Madge - good try, right!) lol!
ReplyDeleteThough I did not participate in either of the venues you have retired from The Rural Journal - I enjoyed visiting them. Bummers about the error in posting - damn fees!
2 years detasseling... that beats working in a laundry, doing other people's dirty clothes (underthings, ugh) as far as I'm concerned!
ReplyDeleteNot much corn grown here; I suppose it's because the growing season is too short?? I'm guessing about your job, but I'll Google it. Because I lived on a farm/ranch, I didn't get any pay for any of my jobs....I did pull rye in a wheat field one day--500 bunches. My farming and ranching experiences involved a lot of time on tractors and horses, and driving grain trucks. I'll miss both your memes, but I could see they had grown to a large size.
ReplyDeleteThe jobs we take at an early age (or refuse to do) sets the stage for our later life. JMHO
ReplyDeleteLovely memories, but alas, downloading much of anything costs too.
Don't sweat the small stuff...
Great song! I saw Mr. Elton in 1984 in Montreal. Best live show i've ever seen. I was a senior in college then. Yes. I know i just dated myself, but i'm fine with it. Wow. That must have been a hard job you did. You did it, and that's a big accomplishment. I've never worked like that in such heat. I've worked lots, of course, but i grew up in Maine, and we didn't have a farm...
ReplyDeleteI always need the noise...probably because I don't want to hear what I'm thinking. As far as retiring the 2 memes...you gotta do what you gotta do but I'm glad you'll still be 'here.' After all, I need my regular 'fix.' And that $10 thing stinks but this too shall pass. I recall (more than several times) being 'short' for the rent and there was a mad dash for the coin jar to save the day. Big hugs!
ReplyDeleteCouldn't help but notice those old clothes pins!
ReplyDeleteYour detasseling story reminded me of a job I had back in 1973 on a college break in the summer in the Valley. I was picking tobacco leaves off very high tobacco plants. It was one of the dirtiest jobs I ever had. At the end of the day my hands were orange from the leaf juice!!
So I did relate to your job in the heat of summer Nancy...hey it builds character!