Well Hi There, How Are Ya?: My encounter with Dolly Parton

 

Texans have a difficult time overcoming the stereotypes that are associated with the Lone Star State. I grew up in Houston and went to high school in Dallas. When I went on youth leadership trips around the country in high school, because of the HUGE hit on television, "Dallas," other kids would ask if I had an oil well, horses in my back yard, or knew J.R. Ewing. It was often assumed that I also listened to country music. But I never listened to Country Western in the mid 1980s and nearly felt like something was wrong with me the way kids went on about it.

My youth leadership days circa 1985

My country music phase came in the late seventies, sandwiched between disco and the musical explosion of the 80s. When I was 9, growing up in a place also known as Space City, I was turned on by the sounds of disco. They reminded me of spaceships- whooping, beeping, and futuristic.

Houston isn't just Space City, but also home to the world's largest rodeo, an annual weeks long event Mom and I attended. It was here that I was introduced to the 3rd love of my life behind my mother and Lynda Carter's Wonder Woman—Olivia Newton John. We also saw other bands on the tiny white rotating stage in the center of the Astrodome; of note, Conway Twitty, Glen Campbell, and Roy Rogers. And this one time...Dolly Parton. Oh, my stepfather loved her. Not her music so much as her figure.

One way I made money while in college was working concert security at various venues around Houston. In fact, we worked nearly every venue except the much-revered Houston Summit. (Ask anyone in Houston prior to 1998 when Compaq paid $5 million to change the name, and even then it was still revered for its concerts and sporting events. And an occasional Disney on Ice.)

Then came 1989, when the NASA Johnson Space Center created an event for 15,000 or so employees and guests to honor the 20th anniversary of man's landing on the moon. The show was also taped and broadcast on NBC, winning an Emmy for sound mixing. It was called "Kenny, Dolly and Willie: Something Inside so Strong." Yes, Kenny Rogers, Dolly Parton, and Willie Nelson.

Look at Penguin in charge

My role as the security company Sergeant meant I was on site at NASA, just south of Houston, while they set up the stage next to an authentic Saturn V, the tallest, heaviest, and most powerful rocket ever flown. I was in charge of the overnight security team. I took a nap on the very stage where in only 24 hours would be the first full concert by these iconic singers. The night before the show, I entered Willie Nelson's dressing room, where several of his guitars were already set up. Of course I picked one up and strummed it.

That same night as I got off shift and was headed to my car, guess who was coming from the parking lot. Miss Dolly Parton herself. She wore a pink outfit, no wig, and a huge smile. I was the only person in front of her and as we passed I said, "Good morning Miss Dolly." Her reply, in that country twang she's so well known for, and still circling in my head all these years later as if just heard, was, "Well, hi there. How are ya?" It's a story I've told hundreds of times.

The first thing I saw on my phone when I awoke on the 25th of August was a text from my friend Jason. It read simply, "Sad day." Below that was a wonderful photo of a smiling Dolly from People Magazine. She's wearing a white lace top, a simple charm on a necklace, and that famous smile of hers.

It wasn't but a few weeks ago I was telling someone that my brother and his wife gave me a book about Dolly one Yule a few years back. I don't know why. I like her but nothing how I like Stevie Nicks. Perhaps because I mentioned that I had bought her Rockstar album. Yes, I still love Dolly, but more because she sings with Stevie Nicks and other favorites, like Ann and Nancy Wilson, Sting, Debby Harry, Elton John, Melissa Etheridge, Simon Le Bon, Pat Benatar, and Michael McDonald. But mainly Stevie.

9 to 5

At the time the gift seemed odd. I have it displayed in my formal room but now that our dear Dolly has crossed over, I'll give it another look. She was such an icon, but more than that, a caring and magical woman.

She gave $1 million to help fund research that contributed to the development of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine. Through her Imagination Library, she helped put hundreds of millions of books into the hands of children around the world. She starred in one of my all-time favorite movies, 9 to 5—a movie that inspired the screenplay I've written and hope to film one day before I die.

It's not easy to put into words the loss I feel at her passing. Dolly Parton has always held a special place in my heart. When people scratch their heads and wonder how this Texas boy doesn't like country, I correct them. I don't like the overly twangy country about losing dogs, women, and pickup trucks. But I enjoy the classics. Willie Nelson. Patsy Cline. And of course, the unforgettable music from Miss Dolly Parton.

Maybe I never became much of a country music fan. But somewhere along the way, Dolly became something more personal than that. She was the woman I passed in a parking lot at NASA all those years ago. The woman who smiled at me and said: "Well, hi there. How are ya?" And somehow, all these years later, I can still hear her fresh as a country morning.

If you enjoy poetry, you can own signed copies of my books of Poetry at www.PenguinScott.com

Thanx for reading. Leave a comment below. 

Follow me for all my latest blog stories. Contact me at www.PenguinScott.com 

My Evening with Jane Fonda

I was in South America when I first saw an ad to spend an evening with Jane Fonda. I started to jump at the opportunity, then pulled back and thought, there really are better uses of money right now in my life. I'm still struggling to get back financially after being out with long covid for four years.

Several days later, and many discussions with myself, I decided that she is such an icon, has always meant a lot to me, and because of her workout video is a big part of my current health, not to mention the fact that I worked out with her every day for years resulting in the loss of 100 pounds. (I've been unable to do her workout routine since my car accident in July 2024.)

Missing the chance to meet such an amazing person, actress, and activist would manifest regret. After all, one of my philosophies on life is to seize meaningful experiences. Since meeting a legend such as Jane Fonda would be akin to therapy, something worth spending money on, I became the proud owner of a third row seat at the famed Jones Hall in downtown Houston.

I chose to dress in an artful fashion as I do, and noticed people across the lobby taking photos of me. Several even asked to take a photo with me. I had so many people compliment my attire, others out of earshot thought I was someone famous. "Look at all the people stopping that guy and take pictures with him. I wonder who he is." It's just little ole me, Penguin. I felt like a star.

Not only did I feel majestic, the evening was resplendent. I was one of only 60 VIPs to meet with her, get a signed book, "What Can I Do?" and tell her how much she means to me, having helped me lose 100 pounds.

My evening began on the red carpet of Jones Hall with sushi and a glass of Prosecco. She had tuna, eel, and California rolls, shrimp nagiri, caterpillar rolls, and more. I enjoyed the peppered tuna and caterpillar the most. The bubbly was divine, as bubbly tends to be.

We were then led to our seats—mine in the third row stage left. The lights came down, and she spent over 90 minutes talking about her life. In politics there are pillars required to fail in order for an authoritarian regime to succeed...it's up to us to dismantle the ability to tear these pillars down before he's successful. The audience replied with thunderous applause.

She spoke about her movie love interests. She cherished kissing Robert Redford and Donald Sutherland before revealing a surprise as her favorite leading man...Lillie Tomlin. She spoke about her years in Atlanta married to Ted Turner. She wasn't used to someone else paying for things, since she was well to do already. But advocating the power one enjoys with wealth and notoriety was something she came to enjoy. They still spend time together on his ranch fishing.

The evening had tender moments where she expressed regret in how she raised her children when they were young. She had no idea how to raise a child, having been raised by a governess. Observing mothers during the Atlanta years was educational. Now Jane spends much time earning the love of her children, saying that her goal is to die at home, in bed, surrounded by those she loves. But to make that happen means having to work at keeping those relationships, or she could die alone.

She is strong and driven to leave the world a better place for her grandchildren (and society). She was forgetful, at times going off in tangents and losing track of the question. She is 88 after all. From climate change to feminism, she understands the importance of voting, standing up for values, calling out authoritarianism, and doing the work required to better our world. Her advocacy of LGBTQ rights, social justice, and environmental challenges is legendary.

At one point in her life she was close to putting money down on a nice home in the mountains that looked down to the valley below, thinking it would be a great place to host fundraisers. But on a trip through Colorado, driving east, she had an epiphany. She didn't want to be looking down on the people she hoped to help, she wanted to live among them. 

Jane loves to work and to keep busy, so hopes for another TV series. It was obvious that the crowd enjoyed her Grace and Frankie series. I enjoyed hearing how she bonded with Dolly Parton. To prepare for a character, Dolly took her on tour in the forgotten parts of Appalachia where she met a family and later returned to spend time with them, sleeping on the floor.

One part of the night early on really struck me. She said that white people in America are beginning to experience something we have never gone through before. Black people know what it's like to have their freedoms at risk. They've fought for voting rights, to be able to marry who they please, to own land and businesses; things people are only now beginning to see are at risk. Elections are in danger, businesses are struggling, farmers are fearful, gays face a real chance of losing rights. Our country has never seen such attacks on our way of life, our rights, our very own constitution.

Her charge? Wake up, get involved, learn how to protest safely, and named freedomtrainers.net as a resource. The crowd cheered often as she made point after point, and the moderator from Texas Monthly Magazine, Mimi Swartz, pointed out how unusual it is to see this sort of support in Texas, being so conservative. The house clapped and in the silence afterwards I shouted in what my friend calls my stadium voice, "We are here!" This elicited more applause and Jane looked over at me and smiled.

After the show, back in the green room, she held out her hands to hold mine. I had watched her give comfort to two women earlier. Her smile was as warm as chocolate chip cookies fresh out of the oven. She not only embraced me, but was present as I thanked her for her body of work, especially the workout video. She was proud to have been such a big part of my life. And then I told her, if you ever need a home among the people to host a party, I'm your guy. (She had mentioned needing one in a place like Texas to do so.)

After our hug, I began to leave. She stopped me, "Please take my book. I've signed it for you." I nearly forgot. It was heavy in my hands and with a colorful cover, where the white dome of our nation's capitol watches over Jane Fonda and others protesting. "What Can I Do?" by Jane Fonda. And on the spine is a penguin. How perfect.

There are few stars in this world I am proud to have met. Stevie Nicks, Al Gore, Ann Richards, Henry Rollins, Barbara Bush, Shirley Maclaine, Tony Curtis, Larry Hagman to name a few...and now Jane Fonda. Honestly, I have no recollection of what this VIP experience cost. The entire evening was pure joy. Soaking in her passion and authenticity was invigorating. I spent an evening with Jane Fonda and loved it. Thank the gods.

If you enjoy poetry, you can purchase signed copies of my 3 books at 

www.PenguinScott.com

Includes free bookmark and button badge.

Thanx for reading. Leave a comment below. 

Follow me for all my latest blog stories. Contact me at www.PenguinScott.com