saturday 9: A Little in Love

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1) Do you believe you can be a little in love? Or is romance an all-or-nothing proposition for you?

I think you can definitely be a little in love. I think it probably happens more often than people may recognized.

2) Cliff Richard sings that he knows it’s been a long time since you had fun. Is that true? When have you recently had a really good time? What were you doing?

Full joy? Probably a while. My head space just isn’t really in a fun place these days. But I had a good time with the family a couple weekends ago when we had a family game afternoon. And I have fun gaming on the weekends with my husband and youngest kid.

3) Cliff was born in India when it was still part of the UK. When he was 8, his family relocated to Tilbury, an English port town. Have you ever lived near the sea?

Currently. I live a few miles farther than I did, but still within 15 minutes or so.

4) In 1958, Cliff became a star in England. He was so influential that young John Lennon said he dreamed someday the Beatles would be as big as Cliff Richard. Yet for some reason, he was never as popular here in the US. Before today, had you ever heard of Cliff Richard?

I have, primarily because of this song and the one in the next question, from the movie Xanadu.

5) 1980 was Cliff’s most successful year stateside. Both “A Little in Love” and his duet with Olivia Newton-John, “Suddenly,” made the Top 10. Do you have a favorite Olivia Newton-John song?

Maybe “I Honestly Love You,” although I’d put up the entire Grease and Xanadu soundtracks, too.

6) Cliff was once “a little in love” himself. He had a high-profile romance with British pro tennis player Sue Barker. They contemplated marriage, but in his memoir Cliff admitted he wasn’t ready to commit the rest of his life to her. Cliff never married but Sue went on to wed landscape gardener Lance Tankard. Have you ever employed a gardener? Or do you handle all the yard work yourself?

No and no. I live in retiree housing on post. We take care of our backyard, but the post landscapers do the rest.

7) In 1980, when we were enjoying “A Little in Love” on the radio, Macaulay Culkin was born. He became famous for the Home Alone franchise. Have you seen any Home Alone movies?

The first one, definitely. I think the second, too.

8) 1980 also gave us the Post-It Note. Today they are available in a variety of sizes and colors, but the original 4″x4″ canary yellow Post-Its are still the best seller. Would we find Post-Its in your home or office right now?

Yup. In varying shades and designs.

9) Random question – You’re having a crummy day. Nothing is going right. You run into a casual friend in the grocery store aisle. As you chat, do you think your mood would be obvious? Or could you successfully put on a happy face?

I can mask with the best of them, if needed.