“Stories you read when you’re the right age never quite leave you. You may forget who wrote them or what the story was called. Sometimes you’ll forget precisely what happened, but if a story touches you it will stay with you, haunting the places in your mind that you rarely ever visit.”
― Neil Gaiman
Not just the stories we read but all the stories we were exposed to when we were younger whether they were television, movie, comic books or I guess more and more often video games. We carry those memes inside of us. That can become pretty scary when you realize how much the media is controlled and how many people blindly use the television as an electronic baby sitter. But I digress which means it might be another blog topic somewhere down the line. I know it freaks me out when I discover I’ve been whistling the theme song to the Monkees or Scooby-Doo or Mr. Ed and then I realize I can remember every word despite the intervening 30-40 (sometimes very) odd years. I was lucky. My parents put up with and indulged my reading habits so I became exposed to anything and everything but mostly things that involved myths and legends from different countries, comics and other heroic legends and on television the ouvre of Sid and Marty Crofts (H R Puffnstuff, the Bugaloos, Lidsville, wow they had some serious psychedelics there) In a way so much of who I am now was generated by those stories. I’ve tried to expose my son to as wide a range of influences as possible with the result that even tho he is at the age of ultimate conformity, he still very singular and very individualistic.
What stories did you grow up with and how did it shape your life?
Blessings, G
8 thoughts on “Quote of the Day – August 13 2012 (2)”
I wasn’t a reader, G. I was dyslexic… I say ‘was’ because I’ve worked very hard to learn to read and write… When in my teens I read a number of Sci-fi (very, very slowly) however; to this day I find reading a little difficult; especially if I’m tired; it can really deplete me. I persist though; especially reading matter that I enjoy… such as your blog… haha…
What were the stories then, on tv or radio or movies that you remember? Any jingles that if you heard you would still sing to? Stories in school. Thank you as always for your wonderful comment 🙂
I am a bit of a freak when it comes to songs and jingles. I think (to make up for my lack with the written word) I could remember a song so very quickly. My parents were always amazed by this. I still today remember the songs played on the radio (mostly word for word) that I have heard throughout my life (only if I liked them though). I have definitely been influenced by any and all of them. Classical music such as Tchaikovsky’s Peter and the Wolf & Swan Lake were favourites as a youngster, as was The Hall of the Mountain King (Pier Gynt by Grieg). I was fortunate to have parents who enjoyed music, and had many records of all genres. I would walk around singing (still do) any tune that I enjoyed, and loved making up tunes as well. TV was a great influence. I can still recite the Superman prologue today! You know: Faster than a speeding bullet. More powerful than etc., etc. I remember conversations, etc., had when young. My memory is quite good (it’s had to be); although, I don’t bother remembering things (consciously remember) unless I believe it to be important.
I think the greatest influence of my life has been my own ability to ‘read’ people. I have relied on that more than any other influence. I don’t rely on the written word or what people say; I have confidence in my own innate understandings (always have). I guess you could say that the strongest influence in my life has been me….
This has been great G.; a little more conscious awareness of self is always good… Loved the understanding of your own connection with myths, legends, etc.; this is so evident in your writings….
Me as well with the jingles… Really, i’ll find myself singing theme songs from the 1960’s
“A horse is a horse of course of course but no one can talk to a horse of course unless of course the horse of course is the famous Mr. Ed…”
Hahaha… Yes, that’s me too….
There is a current jingle for Woolworths (one of our two main grocery outlets). It’s a wonderful tune from the 40’s. I love it… It goes…
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday, I love you.
January, February, March and into April same way too!
They leave out a lot of the song however; it’s a gorgeous song and is sure to become a favourite for many… Here’s a youtube link… Delete it if you wish… I won’t be offended…
Before I discovered alcohol reading was my escape. I read, and read, and read. When I was a kid I would spend hours shut up in my room reading. The Black Stallion Series was the first books that really touched my life and then it was on to all the wonderful books by James Herriot. By the time I was 15 I wanted to be a biologist, and then when I was 19 I wanted to be an ecologist. Well I found out that I really suck at math so I studied Philosophy/English in college. Well, I always knew I was going to be a professional musician, but I wanted to be a singing doctor. Now I’m just like every other musician, a singing philosopher with great English skills…LOL
Love the Avengers (and yes Steed and Peel of course) and the Prisoner “We want information” I didn’t get the Canadian so i missed out on Mr Dressup tho realize now how big it was…
I wasn’t a reader, G. I was dyslexic… I say ‘was’ because I’ve worked very hard to learn to read and write… When in my teens I read a number of Sci-fi (very, very slowly) however; to this day I find reading a little difficult; especially if I’m tired; it can really deplete me. I persist though; especially reading matter that I enjoy… such as your blog… haha…
What were the stories then, on tv or radio or movies that you remember? Any jingles that if you heard you would still sing to? Stories in school. Thank you as always for your wonderful comment 🙂
I am a bit of a freak when it comes to songs and jingles. I think (to make up for my lack with the written word) I could remember a song so very quickly. My parents were always amazed by this. I still today remember the songs played on the radio (mostly word for word) that I have heard throughout my life (only if I liked them though). I have definitely been influenced by any and all of them. Classical music such as Tchaikovsky’s Peter and the Wolf & Swan Lake were favourites as a youngster, as was The Hall of the Mountain King (Pier Gynt by Grieg). I was fortunate to have parents who enjoyed music, and had many records of all genres. I would walk around singing (still do) any tune that I enjoyed, and loved making up tunes as well. TV was a great influence. I can still recite the Superman prologue today! You know: Faster than a speeding bullet. More powerful than etc., etc. I remember conversations, etc., had when young. My memory is quite good (it’s had to be); although, I don’t bother remembering things (consciously remember) unless I believe it to be important.
I think the greatest influence of my life has been my own ability to ‘read’ people. I have relied on that more than any other influence. I don’t rely on the written word or what people say; I have confidence in my own innate understandings (always have). I guess you could say that the strongest influence in my life has been me….
This has been great G.; a little more conscious awareness of self is always good… Loved the understanding of your own connection with myths, legends, etc.; this is so evident in your writings….
Me as well with the jingles… Really, i’ll find myself singing theme songs from the 1960’s
“A horse is a horse of course of course but no one can talk to a horse of course unless of course the horse of course is the famous Mr. Ed…”
Hahaha… Yes, that’s me too….
There is a current jingle for Woolworths (one of our two main grocery outlets). It’s a wonderful tune from the 40’s. I love it… It goes…
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday, I love you.
January, February, March and into April same way too!
They leave out a lot of the song however; it’s a gorgeous song and is sure to become a favourite for many… Here’s a youtube link… Delete it if you wish… I won’t be offended…
Before I discovered alcohol reading was my escape. I read, and read, and read. When I was a kid I would spend hours shut up in my room reading. The Black Stallion Series was the first books that really touched my life and then it was on to all the wonderful books by James Herriot. By the time I was 15 I wanted to be a biologist, and then when I was 19 I wanted to be an ecologist. Well I found out that I really suck at math so I studied Philosophy/English in college. Well, I always knew I was going to be a professional musician, but I wanted to be a singing doctor. Now I’m just like every other musician, a singing philosopher with great English skills…LOL
Fantastic!!!!
Love the Avengers (and yes Steed and Peel of course) and the Prisoner “We want information” I didn’t get the Canadian so i missed out on Mr Dressup tho realize now how big it was…