1) On IG I follow an account called Mirth and Madness, which posts clips from Films of my Preferred Period. Thanks to this, earlier this month I was obsessed with “When You’ve Got a Little Springtime in Your Heart” from Evergreen of 1934. This British musical was the zenith of Jessie Matthews, of whom I had never heard; but what’s funny is that the clip Mirth and Madness posted was not this song.
1a) The lyrics go something like this:
“When yew’ve gaht a little springtime in yah haht
Yew can lahf at all the wintree winds that bleau.
Theau Decembah comes yah way, fah yew the buds will zing
And buttahflies come peep-ing threw the sneau!
Yew’ll be yahng, yew’ll be in lahve yah wheaul life threw,
Just as yahng and maw in lahve than at the staht.
End each heppy scene will be evahgreen as the sweetest mawning in June
When yew’ve gaht a little springtime in YAAAAAHHHHHHH haht!"
1b) You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, you’ll write a check. I wept with delight over this for at least a week.
1c) We’re going to need a lot more than a little springtime in our hearts to fight the rise of fascism, though.
2) May 14 remains special in my family. Sixty-nine years ago tonight, my parents were joined in marriage at First Methodist. Which means today is also my sister’s birthday. But remember dahlings, I came first, and if I’m 60, she’s ahem >60. I sent flowers, and we had a nice exchange via text this afternoon.
3) One of my online friends, who identifies as a “rusher” — someone who is not still, who “never slows down to reflect on what’s going on” — asked me what helps me in “seasons of depression.” The biggest change for me in the last couple years is actually acknowledging what’s happening, just saying to myself “All right, I’m depressed.” It’s not a cure, it doesn’t make it go away, but it puts me on an equal footing with it instead of beneath it.
3a) Life is good right now, for a few reasons. But it was good to be asked that while I’m feeling on top of things instead of in the midst of it.