I was standing behind her in line at the movie theater waiting to buy two tickets. After purchasing our tickets it was a few minutes before the movie was to begin and both she and I were standing in the lobby waiting.
I thought, do I or don’t I? Oh well; she was standing just a few feet away along with a young boy that I learned was one of her grandchildren. “Ms. Lee I just wanted to tell you how much I have enjoyed your music and talent over the years.” Immediately she smiled, stuck out her hand and said a very strong, “Why thank you.” I named a few songs and a few of the lyrics to some of her songs and she smiled even more. We talked briefly; she could not have been any nicer or receptive to me.
As I stood in the lobby awaiting the arrival of my wife (we came from different directions) I thought about my encounter with Brenda Lee. Isn’t it funny how songs stay with you even many years later. I can remember, it was 1960-61 my freshman year in college, how one particular song of hers stayed with me. My college days were not that meaningful in many ways; and especially that freshman year was not an enjoyable year for me. I can remember walking into the college grill and so many times hearing this one song of hers playing on the jukebox. As I stood in the lobby on this afternoon so many years later I can still recall the lyrics to that so often played song and the emotions that I often felt at that time.
Am I fool number one or am I fool number two
How many others have been fooled by you
I suppose that the number is far from being small
And I’ll bet that I’m the biggest fool of all
If I had the chance I guess I’d do it all gain
I’d go down that same old road even knowing at the end
You’ll leave me when your heart hears a new love call
So I’ll guess that I’m the biggest fool of all
(Kathryn Fulton)
Interesting what we tend to forget and also what we never forget.
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January 12, 2009
Keep on,
Larry Adamson