PORTER WAGONER

My dad loved Porter Wagoner, loved watching the Porter Wagoner Show Saturday afternoons.

I watched along, not so much for the music or comic interludes, but for time with my dad and the Duz soap commercials. Specially marked packages came with a free towel inside – almost as nice as the towels we’d ‘appropriate’ from Holiday Inn…

My dream: Dry ourselves in luxury!

He was also a big Hee-Haw fan, a comedy program running from ’69-’72 – cancelled by CBS as part of the ‘Rural Purge’, in the odd belief rural consumers couldn’t afford TV’s advertised items.

Early cancel culture? Yee Haw!

Hee-Haw featured Roy Clark and Buck Owens, accomplished country musicians, Grandpa Jones and Minnie Pearl among the comic ‘relief’.

He loved Marty Robbins, Merle and Johnny Cash – Sunday Mornin’ Comin’ Down the soundtrack to his remembrance video – and Kris Kristofferson, who wrote that song.

Though I don’t recall him listening to the Grand Ole Opry; I do have a friend whose family listened to it on their driveway because their radio wouldn’t receive it in the house.

Later learning what a cultural force it was…

I think he’d love hearing My Captor and I saw the Opry at the Ryman (aka Mother Church), with Porter Wagoner as the emcee. We went to see Elvis Costello, unfortunately a late cancellation due to a family death.

It was Porter’s last time on the Opry stage, Carrie Underwood’s first; Minnie Pearl did a couple of minutes and Vince Gill was the closer. He was there due to another cancellation; apparently if an Opry member is in town they need to show up when called.

All this leaped to mind with Dolly Parton’s death.

Dolly’s career took off when she joined the Porter Wagoner show in 1967, but encountered some early turbulence. Eventually becoming the Queen of Country music to Porter’s Mr. Grand Ole Opry.

Her predecessor ‘Pretty Miss’ Norma Jean, left to focus on her marriage. She was so loved by fans, they booed Dolly and sent angry letters demanding Norma Jean’s return.

In today’s world, the social media backlash might have ended her career before it started.

I can’t do her life the justice the acclaims have; all I know is I now never want to hear ‘I will Always Love You’ ever again, and she might be the last universally loved person.

While her gifts singing and songwriting, her true gift to the world so much more: The amusement park, the books, the songs, movies – all of it.

Her true gift unbridled joy…

Though not as amazing as Dolly, we all have gifts, which come with two parts: What it means to the giver and to the recipient.

And viewed correctly, we all have plenty to offer.

Much of it our time, our experience, and at the risk of being trite – our kindness.

The best gift, Ourselves.

I’m thinking of my dad – on his recent birthday he would have been 105 – whose gift was being my dad, his example teaching me how to be a better father.

But also his time: Watching my little league games, school events, and Porter Wagoner.

A lesson ruling my weekends with my children – you just needed to be there.

Giving of yourself, of your time, another Dolly lesson – and why she will be so missed.

Even with strangers, your gift of a wave, hello or friendly smile.

Every interaction like an equation: Will your return be greater than your recipients?

My Captor bakes, I post. Any expression of “Mmmm” or “Loved it today”, make us feel like we got the equation’s greater return….

ENHANCE YOUR ENJOYMENT OF THIS POST, PAIR WITH THE FOLLOWING ‘AGING HIPSTER MUSIC/READING’:

Jayhawk’s new album just released – it’s good. Why are Kansans called Jayhawks? Due to militant abolitionist Abolitionism guerrilla fighters who fought to keep Kansas a free state during the violent pre-Civil War era known as Bleeding Kansas. I don’t think the band was involved; they’re from Minneapolis. Been around 40 years.

And Love Is Not Enough still available on Amazon. What a great read for anyone who has dealt with mental health or addiction issues. Or just wants to read about family love and recovery.