March 3, 2018

Saturday 9: Is There Life Out There

Is There Life Out There? (1992)

Unfamiliar with this week's song. Hear it here.


1) This song is about a woman who married at 20. It's estimated that the average American groom is 2.5 years older than his bride. Why do you suppose that is?  Men aren't as mature as women and it takes them that much longer to catch up.

2) A 2014 study shows the bigger the age gap in a marriage, the more likely the couple is to divorce. What do you think is the reason for most divorces?  Most people these days go into marriage believing it won't last forever right from the start so there is no value placed on it, no reason to protect it, or make any effort to save it. When things start getting hard, there's no reason to stay and work it out.

3) Reba's second marriage recently ended. Statistics show that second marriages are more likely than first marriages to wind up in divorce. Why do you suppose that is?  People already know from the first divorce what is needed to get through it, so divorce isn't an unknown and there's less fear. That and they still haven't learned how to stick with it and work at it.

4) This week's featured artist, Reba McEntire, was discovered when she sang The National Anthem at an Oklahoma City rodeo. Have you ever been to the rodeo?  Why, yes, I have.

5) Reba dropped out of Southeastern Oklahoma State University to go to Nashville and pursue a recording career. In that way, she's like the woman she sings about in this week's song. "She's done what she should, should she do what she dares?" Do you ever regret a risk or opportunity you didn't take?  Don't we all have at least one thing in our past that we regret not doing and wonder how differently our lives would be if we had done it?  I'm sure my life would have been different if I had done a lot of things, but would it have been better?  I'm learning the art of contentment in my middle age.

6) Reba's heroine is "dying to try something foolish, do something crazy, or just get away." Does that sound like you? What would you do, just for yourself, if time and money were no object?  I'd go to one of the places I've always wanted to go.  I'd go alone so I wouldn't be hemmed in by who I am at home and I'd have the freedom to sight-see as I chose, eat where and what I wanted, do whatever caught my fancy, and just lose myself in the experience.  And I'd have time to write about it with no interruptions.  I'm kind of picturing the Florida Keys here or maybe somewhere in the Caribbean.

7) Reba recently became a spokesperson for Kentucky Fried Chicken. Whose chicken do you eat most often: Popeye's, Church's, Chick-fil-A or KFC?  KFC because there's one not too far from here and my husband likes their chicken. I'm not really a fan.  I'd much rather have Chick-fil-A.  We had a Popeye's for a short time about 20 years ago, but it didn't even last a year. I guess we Yanks just didn't get it.

8) In 2001, Reba starred in her own sitcom. On the show, her character is first an administrative assistant and then a real estate agent. Have you ever tried your hand at either of those occupations? If not, which do you think you would be a better fit for you?  No, I've never worked at either of those, though I did take the classes to take the test for a real estate license quite a few years ago.  I never did take the test.  I would probably enjoy real estate because I love seeing different houses and talking about styles and possibilities, but I don't know if I'd be successful or not.  I really don't have that pushy drive that salespeople need.  I'd probably do better in the administrative assistant position.  I'm pretty sure I have mild to mid-range ADD and I do a lot better with structured schedules than left on my own.

9) Random question: Which of these super powers would you rather have -- extraordinary strength or invisibility?  I think we women have to have extraordinary strength just to get through life, so I'm going to go with invisibility.  Maybe I could become a world-famous private eye....think of how easy it would be to sneak around and spy on cheating spouses and such!



Thanks to Sam @ the Saturday 9 site for another
great song and round of questions!

17 comments:

  1. Replies
    1. I work with a man whose wife is a psychologist and I've been told it really is true. The part of the brain that puts consequences together with actions doesn't mature completely until around age 25 in men.

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  2. #5 is interesting. Different doesn't necessarily equal better.

    I suspect Popeye's does so well up here in The Land of Lincoln because of location, not flavor. They're in the commuter train stations and the mall food courts. I'd have to go out of my way to eat KFC, and frankly, store-bought fried chicken isn't really worth going out of my way for. (I've given this a lot of thought because I happen to know it was Reba's KFC commercial that inspired this week's song choice.)

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    1. Nope. It's a shame some spend their whole lives thinking the grass is always greener somewhere else.

      I suspect that would boost Popeye's popularity a lot. I don't have a clue where there are any up here. It seemed an odd choice to pop up. They did sell precooked Thanksgiving dinners that year...with deep fried turkey...something that was still unheard of in these parts.

      Maybe it's just me, but I think the Reba KFC commercials are kind of odd. Then again, so were the ones with Norm.

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  3. I love how we both think the same on that first question. Also, I want to thank you for that really amazing comment that you left me. I really have to see my girl in pain. I've been keeping her comfortable as much as I can.

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    1. The only difference between men and boys....

      You're welcome. I hope she isn't suffering too much. That was the hardest thing for me with my poodle, knowing he was suffering and not being able to help him. (((hugs)))

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  4. Spot on, for 1!
    And let’s go to the rodeo! It would be fun, and girls just wanna have fun...

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    1. Sweet! I'd go to the rodeo with you anytime!

      Trivia for the day: Girls Just Wanna Have Fun was my sorority pledge class song...spring of 1984.

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  5. This was another fun Sat9! I enjoyed reading your answers and now I want fried chicken again! LOL

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    1. I'm chickened out...too much of it lately. I could go for a big old steak!

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  6. I don't eat fried chicken, so those restaurants have no appeal to me. I like your answer to #6 the best.

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    1. I figured you'd like that one. Kind of the writer's dream, isn't it?

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  7. #6 is really a treat--I would love to travel more. And I love going solo.

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    1. I've never traveled solo, but I'd like to give it a try!

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  8. Really great answers, especially #2, very profound. Glad I found this link up, a lot of fun!

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  9. How funny. Your answer to #6 could SO have been me 20-30 years ago! Except my fantasy involved getting on a cruise ship and holing up in my cabin (w/ room service!) to write. Today, not so much. A favorite quote: The old dreams were good dreams; they didn't work out but I'm glad I had them.

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