Silence is Golden.....

Rag Doll......

Rag Doll was written in 1964 by Bob Crewe and Bob Gaudio of the Four Seasons.  It was released on a 45 as "The A-Side", and on the B-side, "Silence Is Golden."  Silence is Golden speaks from the shoes of a jolted lover.

That, ain't what this is about (although many might play shrink and ask "Are you sure?")

I love the four lines of this song that are:

Silence is golden
But my eyes still see
Silence is golden, golden
But my eyes still see

I didn't do much digging, but, the Four Seasons version must notta gone anywhere.  Three years later, the British band The Tremeloes released it, and it went bonkers (good.), sold millions, voted one of the best songs of 1967 - they even recorded an Italian version.

Therein lies the (or maybe my) problem.  I don't know if there was much "Damnit, that ain't fair" or "How could they" from the Four Seasons, mighta been, ain't sure - this much i know, I woulda shown my ass (sorry) and blabbed those questions.

I recently read something that I labeled as really, really arrogant.  Victor (that's me) wanted to stick my damn head inside the computer screen and holler "you are WAY too fulla yourself!"  I didn't, but I sureashell felt it.

While I sure admit to speaking/typing/lashing out to what I deem 'ugly', this time I didn't - and it's all the 'fault' of so many I respect like crazy.  Those that NEVER show their ass, you NEVER see their names in conflict (especially when there ain't no need for conflict) and I truly admire that/them.  I wish I could name names - but that wouldn't be fair to them.

I'll name one name, and only because I don't know him.  As a HUGE University of Missouri fan, it kinda sorta burns my butt to say his name, because he's a former KU football coach.  That said, I really, really respect what this man said, thus, I hold him in high esteem. (This blog, potentially used as fodder for my friends that are KU fans, will self destruct in two minutes.)

Mark Mangino, the former KU football coach (highly successful), there was a really really cool article about him in the KC Star a few years back.  He was a very stern coach who got results. That same sternness in part probably led to him eventually resigning at KU.

I know I've used what he said before in a blog so apologies because of repetitiveness, still, the message (to me at least) is beautiful.  "Talk less, listen more."

Again, remember (KU fans) this blog will self destruct in two minutes after i post it - but, Mark's wife was diagnosed with breast cancer.  She (and his entire family, kids/grandkids) mean the world to him.  One day she had a chemo treatment and insisted she go alone.  It was tough for him, but he let her.  Later, she called in distress because clumps of her hair were falling out.  Pacing the floor, not knowing what to do, he grabbed a razor and shaved his own head in support of her for when she same home.  “I expected her to be crying and everything, and she said, ‘You look terrible,’” Mangino recalled, laughing. “‘Why’d you do that?’”

Mark worked on himself in several ways.  He's a very large man, he lost 100+ pounds (ahm, Victor, maybe make a note of that?)   Of course he did it for his own health, but mainly because he wants to see his grandkids grow up.

I've got a buddy that brags (is proud, that sounds better) of how many paperbacks he's read this year.  It ain't me babe.  Gimme the Sport's page, 2 eggs scrambled, sausage patties, breakfast potatoes (fried), wheat toast and I can read, read, read the Sport's page fo'ever.  Amazes me, how much one can learn from reading the Sport's page, my take anyways.

Mark went on to detail folks that made an impact in his life.  His HS football coach, an ole blood and guts type - "he taught me toughness". One his favorite sayings he remembers his coach telling he and the football team "If you're waiting for your ship to come in, forget it, you've got to swim out to it."

He was an assistant at a small college.  Before one particular game, he remembers going over his notes "If they do this, we'll do that.... but if they do this, what will i do?"  About that time he looked over at his head coach and he was in the corner praying.  He (Mark) was admittedly young and his reaction was "well that's kinda foolish, is that going to help us pickup the blitz?"

Bottomline, my deduction is, thanks Mark, there's hope then that I ain't too old to learn.  I will try to remember the kind of September, oops, no, that ain't it, try to remember all these lessons, but mainly, to LISTEN MORE, TALK LESS.

I am a horrible cook.  In life, and sometimes in the kitchen, I show my ass and try to fix everything.  I struggle remembering I can't. I struggle thinking "How can they think, act like that?"  Well, we talked kitchen/cooking, all of us have different likes.  Maybe what comes off as arrogance to me might be a sign of wonderful confidence to another. (I still get to hate oysters though.)

Silence is golden
But my eyes still see
Silence is golden, golden
But my eyes still see

Hat's off (to see Mark's head) and, to commend my friends who ya never see at the 'smoke tree'.  HUH?  Ya gotta be from Liberty, MO (and old school) to unnerstand that one.

I am human, imperfect, hear me ROAR.......... hopefully after I've listened awhile.

Peace out.......... Victurd