Saturday 9: Up the Ladder to the Roof

Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here. 

1) Many people are uncomfortable with ladders. Some feel unsteady on the steps, others have a fear of heights. Then there's the superstition that warns against walking under ladders. Are you afraid of ladders?  Not specifically. I'm kind of weird about them, though. I'm not afraid of them. I'm not afraid of heights. I am afraid of falling off a ladder. Plus, these days I'm not too steady on one so the only thing I climb is my contractor's step-ladder with big, wide steps.

 

2) In this song, the Supremes advise us to go up the ladder to the roof to be closer to Heaven. While poetic, that's not really why most homeowners climb onto the roof. They're more likely replacing shingles or cleaning the gutters. Have you ever been on the roof of your building?  No. I've been on a few roofs in my life, but never the one on this house.

 

3) The record was the Supremes first and biggest hit without Diana Ross. When Jean Terrell replaced Diana as lead singer, the two ladies appeared together at a press event to launch this new iteration of the Supremes. Have you ever met your replacement at a job, or perhaps the person you replaced?  Not that I can recall.

 

4) Mary Wilson was a member of the group when it was formed in 1959 and stayed through 1977, when the Supremes officially disbanded. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average American stays at a job 3.9 years. Looking over your job history, how long did you typically stick with an employer?  About 2-3 years, but I was a school bus driver for 16 years and I will likely retire from my current job which will have me there 7-9 years...depending on when I can retire.

 

5) The third Supreme performing on this record was Cindy Birdsong. After the group broke up for good, Cindy finished nursing school and practiced at UCLA Medical Center. When did you last interact with a nurse or nurse practitioner?  This past Monday and they were all wonderful.

 
6) In 1970, when this song was popular, TV shows about doctors like Marcus Welby, MD and Medical Center ranked high in the Nielsen ratings. Medical shows are still popular today, with Grey's Anatomy entering its 22nd season and The Pitt earning critical accolades. Do you have a favorite TV doctor?  No. I don't watch any medical shows.

 

7) Also in 1970, when this song was popular, audiences were lining up to see the movie Love Story. Without looking it up, complete the film's most famous line:  "Love means _______________."  Never having to say you're sorry. A total bunch of hooey. 

 

8) Slumberchums™ were all the rage among pre-teens in 1970. These sleeping bags had attached pillow "heads" that made it look like you slipping into sleep inside a plush bear. When did you most recently sleep in a sleeping bag?  I think it was on a mission trip in 2002. We don't even own sleeping bags these days. We gave them all to our son's family years ago when they went camping.

 

9) Random question: Did you take a multivitamin this morning? If yes, did you swallow it or chew it?  I swallowed that horse pill!

Thanks to Sam for the music and questions!

Play along here.