Saturday 9

 

I'm Looking Over a Four-Leaf Clover

Welcome to Saturday: 9. What we've committed to our readers is that we will post 9 questions every Saturday. Sometimes the post will have a theme, and at other times the questions will be totally unrelated. Those weeks we do "random questions," so-to-speak. We encourage you to visit other participants posts and leave a comment. Because we don't have any rules, it is your choice. We hate rules. We love memes, however, and here is today's meme!

Saturday 9: I'm Looking Over a Four Leaf Clover (2001)

Selected in honor of St. Patrick's Day. Unfamiliar with this week's song? Hear it here.

1) This is one of the songs included in Willie Nelson's Rainbow Connectionalbum. He named it after his daughter Amy's favorite song when she was a little girl. She'd been asking him to record "The Rainbow Connection" for 20 years and finally, in 2001, he came through for her. Think of something you had to wait for. Was it worth the wait?

I waited until I was 30, and established in my career, before I became a mother.  And yes, it was most definitely worth it.

2) Willie can trace his family tree back to the Revolutionary War. Are you interested in genealogy?

Yes, I subscribe to Ancestry.com.  I’ve only been able to go back a few generations.  All four of my grandparents were born in Eastern Europe (my genetic test says I am 100% Ashkenazi Jewish).  There aren’t many records available from Europe, most of my information comes from American sources.

My paternal grandparents came from a village in what is now Belarus, which was part of Russia when they were there.  They both immigrated to the USA before World War I. They died in the 1950’s, before I was born, but my father and my aunts had stories …

My maternal grandmother was born in what is now Poland but was then part of Austria-Hungary.  She came here in the 1920’s. She died in 1996.  I knew all of her stories by heart,  hers was the voice I heard when I visited Ellis Island, 

The most interesting story is my maternal grandfather.  He died when my mother was 11 years old, so I didn’t know much about him until I started doing my research,  as it turns out, he was born in a city that is now part of Poland but was then part of Russia. He came here in the 1920’s.  But his immigration story is a bit different.  He didn’t sail from Europe to NYC like my other grandparents.  Instead, he went to Mexico.  He crossed a bridge over the Rio Grande and entered the USA in El Paso, Texas. 

3) Today Willie is legendary performer, but as a child, he was very uncomfortable in front of crowds. He recalled that during his school days, reciting in front of his class made him so uncomfortable he suffered nose bleeds. When did you most recently have a bloody nose?

I really don’t remember, it was a long time ago.

4) During the 1990s, Willie had problems with the IRS. His management team set up illegal tax shelters and he ended up owing millions in back taxes and penalties. This year's IRS filing deadline is Wednesday, April 15. Will you be early, on time, or will you need an extension?

My accountant filed my return last month.  I will be getting a refund this year.

5) In "I'm Looking Over a Four Leaf Clover," Willie sings about appreciating something he has previously overlooked. Is there anything positive in your life you feel you may take for granted? 

I try not to take anything for granted.  

6) Four leaf clovers and shamrocks are considered good luck. Do you have a lucky charm? 

No.

7) "The wearing o' the green" is one way to celebrate St. Patrick's Day. Will you wear something green in honor of the day?

I wore a green dress to our office St. Patrick’s Day lunch on Wednesday.  I may wear a green sweater on Tuesday.

8) According to Irish folklore, if you catch a leprechaun he must either give you his pot o' gold or grant you three wishes. Would you choose the gold or the wishes?

I’ll take the gold.  Leprechauns are tricky, you have to be careful what you wish for. 

    

9) Traditional Irish stew is made with mutton or lamb, though here in the US beef is also very popular. What's your favorite soup/stew?

Would it surprise anyone if I said chicken soup with matzo balls?

Thanks so much for joining us again at Saturday: 9. As always, feel free to come back, see who has participated and comment on their posts. In fact sometimes, if you want to read & comment on everyone's responses, you might want to check back again tomorrow. But it is not a rule. We haven’t any rules here. Join us on next Saturday for another version of Saturday: 9, "Just A Silly Meme on a Saturday!" Enjoy your weekend!