Category Archives: Flowers

Are You Lonesome Tonight?

Are you lonesome tonight?
Do you miss me tonight?
Are you sorry we drifted apart?
Does your memory stray to a bright summer day
When I kissed you and called you sweetheart?

Do the chairs in your parlor seem empty and bare?
Do you gaze at your doorstep and picture me there?
Is your heart filled with pain, shall I come back again?
Tell me dear, are you lonesome tonight?

I wonder if you’re lonesome tonight
You know someone said that the world’s a stage and each of us must play a part
Fate had me playing in love with you as my sweetheart
Act one was where we met
I loved you at first glance
You read your lines so cleverly and never missed a cue

Then came act two, you seemed to change, you acted strange
And why I’ve never known
Honey, you lied when you said you loved me
And I had no cause to doubt you
But I’d rather go on hearing your lies
Than to go on living without you

Now the stage is bare and I’m standing there
With emptiness all around
And if you won’t come back to me
Then they can bring the curtain down

Is your heart filled with pain
Shall I come back again?
Tell me dear, are you lonesome tonight?

-Written by Roy Turk and Lou Handman
-Made famous by Elvis Presley

Another great Elvis song and a song with an interesting history. I think everybody knows that Colonel Tom Parker, Elvis’ manager, was a complete piece of trash. However, if he did one good thing in his life, it was to suggest to Elvis that he record this song.

From the Wiki:

In the final months of his service in the United States Army, Elvis Presley began experimenting with new material in anticipation of his return to recording. His first recording session was scheduled for March 20, 1960, and RCA’s Studio B had recently been equipped with a new three-track recorder. To improve the recording of Presley’s voice, engineer Bill Porter had Telefunken U-47 microphones installed. A follow-up session was scheduled for April.

During the selection of material for the sessions, Presley’s manager, Colonel Tom Parker, suggested “Are You Lonesome Tonight?”. The favorite song of Parker’s wife, Marie Mott (who knew the song from Gene Austin’s act, since he was also managed at the time by her husband), it was the only time he intervened in Presley’s choice of repertoire. Presley returned to the studio with his band, consisting of Scotty Moore, drummer D. J. Fontana, pianist Floyd Cramer, guitarist Hank Garland, bassist Bob Moore, percussionist Buddy Harman, and backing vocalists the Jordanaires, on April 3.

After the eight songs Parker needed for Elvis Is Back! were recorded, Presley moved on to his manager’s request. At 4 am on April 4, the singer began recording “Are You Lonesome Tonight?”, accompanied by acoustic guitar, drums, bass, and the backup group. He asked everyone else in the studio to leave the session, told Chet Atkins to turn the lights out, and performed the song with the spoken bridge. After the second take, Presley said to producer Steve Sholes, “Throw that tune out; I can’t do it justice”. Sholes told engineer Bill Porter to ignore Presley’s order and asked the singer to do a new take, explaining that the Jordanaires had bumped into their microphone stand while recording in the dark. As a result, Presley performed the song once more, and that take became the master for the single.

But Thursdays are for flowers! This flowertography session was taken in my yard with a Lensbaby Velvet lens. I think it lends a lonesome effect to the images:


Oh But Still... - 2023

Nature's Amen - 2023

Nature's Amen - 2023

Through Dirt - 2023

Last Penny - 2023

Last Penny - 2023

Last Penny - 2023

Last Penny - 2023

Last Penny - 2023

Last Penny - 2023

Last Penny - 2023

Last Penny - 2023

The next flowertography session will probably still be from my yard.

Can’t Help Falling in Love

Wise men say
Only fools, only fools rush in
Oh, but I, but I, I can’t help falling in love with you

Shall I stay?
Would it be, would it be a sin?
If I can’t help falling in love with you

Like a river flows
Surely to the sea
Darling, so it goes
Some things, you know, are meant to be

Take my hand
Take my whole life too
For I can’t help falling in love with you
For I can’t help falling in love with you

-WRITTEN BY HUGO PERETTI, LUIGI CREATORE, & GEORGE DAVID WEISS
-PERFORMED BY ELVIS PRESLEY

I watched PRISCILLA on Monday night and now I’m in a bit of an Elvis mood. Even though Elvis doesn’t necessarily come across great in the movie, I don’t think he comes off completely terrible. I think Elvis has demons, we all do, and his got the better of him because I think after his mom passed away, I don’t think he had anybody in his life to act as a moral compass. It might have been Priscilla, but there were too many other factors pulling him in too many other directions. I think Elvis’ life was a tragedy. A true Shakespearean tragedy.

The positive is he left so much great music behind. I don’t know that “Can’t Help Falling in Love” is my favorite Elvis song, but I bet it is a Top 10 song for me.

The song was written in 1961 for the album “Blue Hawaii” and was featured in the movie by the same name. The B-Side was “Rock-A-Hula Baby”. For a long time it was the song Elvis closed his concerts with. It was the last song Elvis performed live at his final concert in Indianapolis on June 26, 1977. He died less than 2 months later at the age of 42.

But Thursdays are for flowers! Today’s flowertography collection was taken in my yard:


Happy Things - 2023

Girl in the Blue Skirt - 2023

Girl in the Blue Skirt - 2023

Girl in the Blue Skirt - 2023

Girl in the Blue Skirt - 2023

Girl in the Blue Skirt - 2023

Girl in the Blue Skirt - 2023

Girl in the Blue Skirt - 2023

Nature's Amen - 2023

Nature's Amen - 2023

Nature's Amen - 2023

Nature's Amen - 2023

Nature's Amen - 2023

Nature's Amen - 2023

Nature's Amen - 2023

Nature's Amen - 2023

Nature's Amen - 2023

Flower from my Yard

Flower from my Yard

Can you believe it! It is almost flowertography season!

I Walk the Line

I keep a close watch on this heart of mine,
I keep my eyes wide open all the time,
I keep the ends out for the tie that binds,
Because you’re mine, I walk the line.

I find it very, very easy to be true,
I find myself alone when each day’s through,
Yes, I’ll admit that I’m a fool for you,
Because you’re mine, I walk the line.

As sure as night is dark and day is light,
I keep you on my mind both day and night,
And happiness I’ve known proves that it’s right,
Because you’re mine, I walk the line.

You’ve got a way to keep me on your side,
You give me cause for love that I can’t hide,
For you I know I’d even try to turn the tide,
Because you’re mine, I walk the line.

I keep a close watch on this heart of mine,
I keep my eyes wide open all the time,
I keep the ends out for the tie that binds,
Because you’re mine, I walk the line.
-Written and recorded by Johnny Cash

I figured since I spent some time bashing the Patsy Cline biopic SWEET DREAMS, I should at least reference what I consider to be the best biopic made about a musician, the 2005 movie starring Joaquin Phoenix and Reese Witherspoon, WALK THE LINE.

To be honest, a biopic about a musician has to be pretty bad for me not to enjoy it. Most of them are pretty middling at best, but I’ll still watch the heck out of them because if the music is good enough, I don’t care that much about the story.

Johnny Cash recorded “I Walk the Line” in 1956 and it was his first #1 hit. It remained on the charts for over 43 weeks. In June of 2014 Rolling Stone ranked it as the greatest country song of all-time. In 1998 it was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame.

Johnny Cash isn’t known for romantic songs. Most of his songs that are romantic are mostly sad. His ode to fidelity might qualify as his most romantic song. In its strange way.

I actually don’t consider SWEET DREAMS to be the worst musician biopic. That is a movie about the Hillbilly Shakespeare and I will reveal that in due course.

But Thursdays are for flowers! This Thursday’s flowertography images were taken in my yard:


Painted without Instruction -2023

Painted without Instruction -2023

Painted without Instruction -2023

Painted without Instruction -2023

Painted without Instruction -2023

Painted without Instruction -2023

Painted without Instruction -2023

Painted without Instruction -2023

Painted without Instruction -2023

Painted without Instruction -2023

Painted without Instruction -2023

Painted without Instruction -2023

Painted without Instruction -2023

Painted without Instruction -2023

Painted without Instruction -2023

Last Penny - 2023

Last Penny - 2023

Last Penny - 2023

Soul Expansion - 2023

Soul Expansion - 2023

Next Thursday’s flowertography session will involve more flowers from my yard.

I Fall to Pieces

I fall to pieces
Each time I see you again
I fall to pieces
How can I be just your friend?

You want me to act like we’ve never kissed
You want me to forget (to forget)
Pretend we’ve never met (never met)

And I’ve tried and I’ve tried
But I haven’t yet
You walk by and I fall to pieces

I fall to pieces
Each time someone speaks your name (speaks your name)
I fall to pieces
Time only adds to the flame

You tell me to find someone else to love
Someone who love me too (love me too)
The way you used to do (used to do)
But each time I go out with someone new
You walk by and I fall to pieces
You walk by and I fall to pieces
-Written by Hank Cochran & Harlan Howard
-Made Famous by Patsy Cline

I do love the song “Crazy” but “I Fall to Pieces” is really my favorite Patsy Cline song.

But Thursdays are for flowers. And most of this flowertography session took place in my yard, but there are some bonus pictures (including one of Naima) that I took at Dickcissel.


Happy Things - 2023

Happy Things - 2023

Girl in the Blue Skirt - 2023

Girl in the Blue Skirt - 2023

Girl in the Blue Skirt - 2023

Girl in the Blue Skirt - 2023

Girl in the Blue Skirt - 2023

Girl in the Blue Skirt - 2023

Girl in the Blue Skirt - 2023

Girl in the Blue Skirt - 2023

Solace of Ordinary Humanity - 2023

Solace of Ordinary Humanity - 2023

Solace of Ordinary Humanity - 2023

Solace of Ordinary Humanity - 2023

Solace of Ordinary Humanity - 2023

Solace of Ordinary Humanity - 2023

Solace of Ordinary Humanity - 2023

Solace of Ordinary Humanity - 2023

Solace of Ordinary Humanity - 2023

Solace of Ordinary Humanity - 2023

Solace of Ordinary Humanity - 2023

Solace of Ordinary Humanity - 2023

Solace of Ordinary Humanity - 2023

Solace of Ordinary Humanity - 2023

A Yellow Flower

Dickcissel Park

Dickcissel Park

Dickcissel Park

The next flowertography collection will be less experimental. A bit more macro.

Crazy

Crazy, I’m crazy for feeling so lonely
I’m crazy, crazy for feeling so blue
I knew you’d love me as long as you wanted
And then someday you’d leave me for somebody new

Worry, why do I let myself worry?
Wondering what in the world did I do?
Crazy for thinking that my love could hold you
I’m crazy for trying and crazy for crying

And I’m crazy for loving you
Crazy for thinking that my love could hold you
I’m crazy for trying and crazy for crying
And I’m crazy for loving you
-Written by Willie Nelson
-Performed by Patsy Cline

Was kind of feeling this song as I recently endured the 1985 biopic about the life of Patsy Cline starring Jessica Lange called SWEET DREAMS. It is absolutely a dreadful movie. Do not put yourself through it. Somebody really needs to make a better movie about Patsy Cline that is truer to who she was and more historically accurate. Also, a movie that does the scene where she dies in an airplane, not laughably campy. Also, if you do see the movie, know that the airplane she was in didn’t fly straight into the side of the mountain and blow up on impact.

If you took this movie about Patsy Cline at face value, you would think she was never more than a middling success that spent her downtime as a punching bag for her husband. Do yourself a favor and watch COAL MINER’S DAUGHTER. It isn’t about Patsy Cline, but its representation of her is truer to her than this flaming pile of garbage is.

But Thursdays are for flowers. This flowertography session consists of pictures of flowers in my yard:


Girl in the Blue Skirt - 2023

Girl in the Blue Skirt - 2023

Girl in the Blue Skirt - 2023

Girl in the Blue Skirt - 2023

Nature's Amen - 2023

Nature's Amen - 2023

Nature's Amen - 2023

Nature's Amen - 2023

Nature's Amen - 2023

Nature's Amen - 2023

Nature's Amen - 2023

Nature's Amen - 2023

Last Penny - 2023

Last Penny - 2023

Last Penny - 2023

Soul Expansion - 2023

Soul Expansion - 2023

Painted without Instruction -2023

Painted without Instruction -2023

Painted without Instruction -2023

Painted without Instruction -2023

Painted without Instruction -2023

Painted without Instruction -2023

Oh But Still... - 2023

A flower from my yard.

Next Thursday’s flowertography session will include more flowers from my yard!

Couldn’t Love You More

If you kissed the sun right out of the sky for me
And if you told me all the lies that I deserve
And if you laid all night in the rain for me

Well, I couldn’t love you more
Just couldn’t love you more
I couldn’t love you more

And if you loved me ’til my eyes gave no more shine for you
If you walked beside me all the long way home
And if you wasted all of your time on me

Well, I couldn’t love you more
Just couldn’t love you more
I couldn’t love you more
Just couldn’t love you more

And if you gave me all the things I’d never ask of you
And if you showed me all the ways you have to cry
And if you laid all night in the rain for me

I couldn’t love you more
Just couldn’t love you more
Just couldn’t love you more
John Martyn

I’m not going to cover much about this song. If you are a music lover, and you haven’t heard it, I would urge you to track it down and listen to it. The emotional delivery of the artist will blow you away!

But Thursdays are for flowers! This flowertography session consists of flowers in my yard. Coneflowers, sunflowers, daisies, lilies, oh my!


Happy Things - 2023

Girl in the Blue Skirt - 2023

Girl in the Blue Skirt - 2023

Girl in the Blue Skirt - 2023

Girl in the Blue Skirt - 2023

Girl in the Blue Skirt - 2023

Girl in the Blue Skirt - 2023

Girl in the Blue Skirt - 2023

Girl in the Blue Skirt - 2023

Girl in the Blue Skirt - 2023

Girl in the Blue Skirt - 2023

Girl in the Blue Skirt - 2023

Girl in the Blue Skirt - 2023

Girl in the Blue Skirt - 2023

Girl in the Blue Skirt - 2023

Girl in the Blue Skirt - 2023

Girl in the Blue Skirt - 2023

Couldn't Love You More

Last Penny - 2023

Last Penny - 2023

Painted without Instruction -2023

Painted without Instruction -2023

Painted without Instruction -2023

The warm weather lately has really triggered my urge to do some flowertography. I almost bought some flowers the other day, just to feed the beast. But I didn’t. However, I have today and tomorrow off and depending on how this morning went, I just might.

Both Sides Now

Rows and flows of angel hair
And ice cream castles in the air
And feather canyons everywhere
Looked at clouds that way

But now they only block the sun
They rain and they snow on everyone
So many things I would have done
But clouds got in my way

I’ve looked at clouds from both sides now
From up and down and still somehow
It’s cloud illusions I recall
I really don’t know clouds at all

Moons and Junes and Ferris wheels
The dizzy dancing way that you feel
As every fairy tale comes real
I’ve looked at love that way

But now it’s just another show
And you leave ’em laughing when you go
And if you care, don’t let them know
Don’t give yourself away

I’ve looked at love from both sides now
From give and take and still somehow
It’s love’s illusions that I recall
I really don’t know love
Really don’t know love at all

Tears and fears and feeling proud
To say, “I love you” right out loud
Dreams and schemes and circus crowds
I’ve looked at life that way

Oh, but now old friends they’re acting strange
And they shake their heads and they tell me that I’ve changed
Well something’s lost, but something’s gained
In living every day

I’ve looked at life from both sides now
From win and lose and still somehow
It’s life’s illusions I recall
I really don’t know life at all

It’s life’s illusions that I recall
I really don’t know life
I really don’t know life at all
-Joni Mitchell

This might not be a straight love song, like the other journal titles. But it is definitely one of the best songs ever written. It was written by Joni Mitchell when she was 24, but it feels like it is written by somebody that is much farther along on their life’s journey. The song was originally recorded by Judy Collins, before Joni Mitchell recorded itself. It has been reported that it has been covered over 1500 times. If I was in a band or had a drop of musical talent, I would cover it in a heartbeat as well.

The song has a connection to multiple aspects of the songs I have been using for flowertography journal entry titles. In 2022, Joni Mitchell made her first appearance at the Newport Folk Folk Festival since 1967. Her first full-length concert since 2000. Brandi Carlile was the force behind Mitchell’s return to the stage. Of course “Both Sides Now” was one of the songs she played.

Another connection is that “Both Sides Now” makes an appearance in FLORA AND SON. After being aghast at Flora’s terrible taste in music, Jeff gives her “homework”. Her homework is to listen to the song “Both Sides Now”. The song makes Flora cry. (Side note: In the original screenplay for FLORA AND SON this song was supposed to be “Couldn’t Love You More” by John Martyn. – This isn’t the only song that was changed from the page to the screen, but that is a story for another day.)

However, FLORA AND SON is not the movie I affiliate “Both Sides Now”. That movie is the 2021 movie CODA. A movie that would win the Oscar for Best Motion Picture. CODA (in addition to having a musical definition) stands for Child Of Death Adults.

A rudimentary Google search will come up with following storyline of CODA:

Ruby is the only hearing member of a deaf family from Gloucester, Massachusetts. At 17, she works mornings before school to help her parents and brother keep their fishing business afloat. But in joining her high school’s choir club, Ruby finds herself drawn to both her duet partner and her latent passion for singing.

Side note: The actor that plays the “duet partner” is Ferdia Walsh-Peelo who was the star of SING STREET.

That synopsis leaves a lot to be desired. It doesn’t cover Ruby’s (played by Emilia Jones) relationship with her music teacher (played by Eugenio Derbez). Or more importantly the friction between Ruby and her parents, played by Troy Kotsur and Marlee Martin. Ruby is the only person in her family that can hear, which makes it hard for her to share her passion for music with her family. Plus they rely on her heavily to communicate with the outside world.

I don’t want to give a way much more of the story, but “Both Sides Now” is the song that Ruby performs that reaches her family.

CODA streams on AppleTV+ and I highly recommend it.

Thursday is for flowers. Today’s flowertography collection was all taken in my yard:


Girl in the Blue Skirt - 2023

Girl in the Blue Skirt - 2023

Girl in the Blue Skirt - 2023

Girl in the Blue Skirt - 2023

Girl in the Blue Skirt - 2023

Nature's Amen - 2023

Nature's Amen - 2023

Last Penny - 2023

Last Penny - 2023

Last Penny - 2023

Last Penny - 2023

Last Penny - 2023

Soul Expansion - 2023

Next Thursday’s flowertography session will involve more flowers from my yard.

Talking to You

If I said purple
You’d say red
With your brown hair tumbling
Like an unmade bed
Then we’d both die laughing
At something I said
Talking to you

I find my point
And you lose your sh*t
There’s just so much broken
That the words can’t fix
And the dawn is breaking
But I just can’t quit
Talking to you

I’ve seen a Jesus
Roller skating down Sunset
Watched a ballet of sprinklers
In the rain
But I know I’d go crazy
If I couldn’t get
To talk to you again
So if God takes me
And leaves you here
I want no black limousines
And no sad tears
‘Cause I’ll still be hanging around
The atmosphere
Talking to you

And no words or music
Can come even near
To talking to you

-Written by Gary Clark
-Performed by Joseph Gordon-Levitt

This is the final song I’m going to use as a journal title from FLORA AND SON. I haven’t discussed the story much yet. But here is the basic synopsis you would get from a rudimentary Google search:

Single mom Flora is at a loss about what to do with her rebellious teenage son, Max. Her efforts to keep him out of trouble lead to a beat-up acoustic guitar, a washed-up LA musician, and harmony for this frayed Dublin family.

FLORA AND SON has the basic theme of all John Carney films. A couple of down on their luck people find one another and put their lives back together by making music.

The movie stars Eve Hewson (Bono’s daughter) as Flora, who quite frankly is a terrible mom, who finally finds common ground wither her son Max (Oren Kinlan) when they bond over making music. Flora pulls a beat up old guitar out of a dumpster and tries to give it to Max. When he shuns her gift, she decides to learn how to play guitar in an attempt to win her ex back. She starts taking internet guitar lessons from Jeff (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) a somewhat washed up musician.

Through this meeting and through music, they start to put their lives back together. I don’t want to go more into the details of the movie cause I think you should watch it yourself. The movie currently streams on AppleTV+.

The song “Talking to You” isn’t the most important song in the movie. That is probably “Meet in the Middle” the song that Flora and Jeff write together or the song “High Life” that Flora, Max, Jeff, and her ex-Ian perform together at the end of the movie. In fact you could very easily miss “Talking to You”. Jeff references writing a song for Flora, but we never get to hear it… until the closing credits. That song… “Talking to You”.

But Thursday’s are for flowers. This flowertography session consists of flowers in my yard:


Girl in the Blue Skirt - 2023

Girl in the Blue Skirt - 2023

Girl in the Blue Skirt - 2023

Nature's Amen - 2023

Nature's Amen - 2023

Nature's Amen - 2023

Nature's Amen - 2023

Nature's Amen - 2023

Last Penny - 2023

Last Penny - 2023

Last Penny - 2023

Last Penny - 2023

Last Penny - 2023

Last Penny - 2023

Last Penny - 2023

Last Penny - 2023

Last Penny - 2023

Last Penny - 2023

Painted without Instruction -2022

Happiness Shared - 2023

Happiness Shared - 2023

The beautiful pink flowers belonged to my Mom and Grandma. They sit in two metal kettles. During the fall I take them down and store them in a dark place in my basement. This year I’m hoping to split the flowers in two of the kettles into 3 kettles so that Carla and Teresa can also have one. Will need to find a metal kettle for that though.

The next Thursday flowertography session will involve a song that actually does appear in FLORA AND SON, but it isn’t an original song. In fact it is a song that is over 50 years old. But I affiliate it with a movie that is only a few years old.

I Get Along Without You Very Well (Except Sometimes)

I get along without you very well
Of course, I do
Except when soft rains fall
And drip from leaves, then I recall
The thrill of being sheltered in your arms
Of course, I do
But I get along without you very well

I’ve forgotten you
Just like I should
Of course, I have
Except to hear your name
Or someone’s laugh that is the same
But I’ve forgotten you just like I should

What a guy
What a fool am I
To think my breaking heart
Could kid the moon

What’s in store?
Should I phone once more?
No, it’s best that I stick to my tune

I get along without you very well
Of course, I do
Except perhaps in spring
But I should never think of spring
For that would surely break my heart in two
-Written by Hoagy Carmichael
-Inspired by poem by Jane Brown Thompson
-Recorded many times but perhaps most famously by Chet Baker and most successfully by Red Norvo

This is another song that is featured in FLORA AND SON. It clearly isn’t an original song as Hoagy Carmichael was born in 1899. “I Get Along Without You Very Well (Except Sometimes)” isn’t his most famous song. That is probably “Stardust” famously recorded by Willie Nelson and many, many, many others or “Georgia on My Mind” made famous by Ray Charles.

If that wasn’t enough to make Hoagy Carmichael a legend, Ian Fleming described James Bond as looking like Hoagy Carmichael.

“I Get Along Without You Very Well (Except Sometimes)” also has a fascinating history. Check this from The Wiki:

“I Get Along Without You Very Well” is a popular song composed by Hoagy Carmichael in 1939, with lyrics based on a poem written by Jane Brown Thompson

Thompson’s identity as the author of the poem was for many years unknown, even to Carmichael; he had been handed the poem anonymously at an event at Indiana University, and the poem only noted the author as “J.B.”. Carmichael noted J.B.’s name in the song’s sheet music as the author of the poem that inspired the lyrics, and asked for help to identify “J.B.”. However, it wasn’t until the mid-1950s that a positive identification was made. Jane Brown Thompson died the night before the song was introduced on radio by Dick Powell.

What an amazing story! And an amazing song!

But how does it fit into the movie?

I’m not going to get into the full story of the movie, but to understand the scene blow it should be sufficient for you to know that the movie is about Flora, who takes up guitar to win her ex-husband back. She starts taking online guitar lessons from Jeff. This scene is the interaction from their second lesson.

From the screenplay and no apologies to any James Blunt songs:


INT. FLORA’S TINY KITCHEN – LATER 31
Flora has changed into clothes that don’t leave much to the imagination, and put on a lot of lipstick and eye shadow on. She pours, lights up, and waits by the computer. Checks watch. Then she suddenly remembers about the No Wine Rule, and moves the bottle and glass behind the well out of frame to the side of the screen. She picks up her guitar and readies herself. Takes a swig. She clicks on her email and opens a Zoom session. Jeff is waiting there.

FLORA
Hiya. I can’t believe you got back to me.
JEFF
You’re a challenge. I like challenges. Shall we begin?
FLORA
Let’s rock!
She picks up her guitar.
JEFF
Let’s find out who you are, Flora. What’s your all time favorite song?
She thinks hard.
FLORA
I’m more into dance music. Oh, “You’re Beautiful” by James Blunt.
Jeff’s face falls.
JEFF
Okay, we may have a problem here.
FLORA
Why?
JEFF
That’s not an acceptable song.
FLORA
It’s catchy.

JEFF
So was Cholera.
FLORA
I don’t know that one.
JEFF
If you’re going to learn how to play songs we’ll have to raise the bar a little bit.
FLORA
So what have you written then?
JEFF
I’m a teacher.
FLORA
Exactly. So shut up, criticizing Blunt. YOU do it.
JEFF
Do what?
FLORA
Write a song that reaches millions of people’s hearts. And makes them weep.
JEFF
Making people cry isn’t an achievement. Bullies do it every day.
FLORA
Let’s hear one of your songs then.
JEFF
We’re here about you. Not me.
FLORA
Jesus, it’s a guitar lesson, not a therapy session.
JEFF
Wrong. Lyrics have to be more than “You’re beautiful”. Or a series of platitudes to lonely women telling them how great they are. That’s not a love song. It’s a self help group.

FLORA
You don’t know the first thing about women if you think that.
JEFF
I know that grown up women don’t just want to hear how stunning they are, like some creep in a bar trying to pick them up.
FLORA
Jesus Christ, It’s just a bloody.. Song.
JEFF
No! It’s never just “a song”. It’s a three and half minute pause in time, in which to do something wonderful. Something touched by God.
FLORA
Oh no. Are you some sort of Christian evangelist dude?
Suddenly, and frustrated, Jeff begins plucking a familiar song. “I Get Along Without You Very Well (Except Sometimes)” by Hoagy Carmichael.
He sings the first verse and chorus. He is a fantastic singer.
JEFF
I get along without you very well
Of course I do
Except when soft rains fall
And drip from leaves, then I recall
The thrill of being sheltered in your arms
Of course I do
But I get along without you very well

The chord rings out. In song terms, this is a slam dunk. No question. Flora is blown away. Also, we have travelled round him, and now, all screens are gone, and they are sitting fact to face across her kitchen table.
FLORA
Jesus Christ.
JEFF
Right?

FLORA
That’s unbelievable.
JEFF
So simple. So direct. Nothing about beauty.
FLORA
You are a genius. What are you doing hanging around the internet teaching muppets like me with a song like that?
He starts to realize she thinks he wrote that. He lets it go for a minute.
JEFF
Do you really like it?
FLORA
It’s stunning.
JEFF
It’s never just “A song”. It’s three and half minutes in which time shuts down. It’s all we’ve got.
She feels his passion for this.
FLORA
You’ve got to get that out there into the world.
JEFF
Do you think it would sell like “You’re Beautiful”?
FLORA
Maybe not as much as that. I still like the other song too. Is that allowed?
JEFF
No! That’s Stockholm syndrome. Don’t worry- we’ll de-brainwash you. By the time you’ve finished here you just won’t have time for childish jingles and cliches.

The line:

“No! It’s never just “a song”. It’s a three and half minute pause in time, in which to do something wonderful. Something touched by God.”

Maybe my favorite line from any movie I saw in 2023.

Next week we will share one last song that appears in FLORA AND SON.

But Thursdays are for flowers! This flowertography session consists of flowers from my yard and includes a bonus picture of Naima.


Not All Love Stories - 2023

Morning Glory

Last Penny - 2023

Last Penny - 2023

Last Penny - 2023

Last Penny - 2023

Last Penny - 2023

Last Penny - 2023

Last Penny - 2023

Last Penny - 2023

Last Penny - 2023

Nature's Amen - 2023

Nature's Amen - 2023

Girl in the Blue Skirt - 2023

Girl in the Blue Skirt - 2023

Girl in the Blue Skirt - 2023

Solace of Ordinary Humanity - 2023

Naima

The pink lily is sort of a miracle flower for me. I transplanted it from my Mom’s yard. It didn’t come up in 2022. But then there it was in 2023!

Next flowertography session will involve more flowers from my yard.