Your Own Little House

My favorite movies are the old Classics. I love the simplicity of how they are filmed especially that they are in black and white. I am intrigued with the stories and getting to know these characters of long ago. I enjoy seeing the styles, fashions, décor of the homes and models of the cars. These old films easily hold my interest. I particularly love the films with the music of the 20’s - 40’s. I am captivated by the big band music and the jazzy bluesy tunes.



A few days ago for the first time, I watched a comedy “Here Comes the Groom” directed by Frank Capra in 1951 starring Bing Crosby, Jane Wyman, and Alexis Smith. In 1952 this film won the Oscar for Best Musical /Original Song with “In the Cool, Cool, Cool, of the Evening” written by Hoagy Carmichael-music and Johnny Mercer-lyrics.


I wanted to share this little tune called “Your Own Little House” lyrics by Ray Evans and music by Jay Livingston. This movie is about the work of Bing Crosby’s character, Paul Garvey, a Foreign Correspondent who is working with the war orphans in Paris and finds himself adopting two of the children, but must be married in 5 days or he will lose his adoption. It’s pretty crazy and ridiculous, but entertaining. Thank God we have changed our ideas about women and their place in the world from the understanding held by the writers of this screenplay! It is true to its era.


I was touched by this little song because one of the girls had just been adopted and one of the boys asked Garvey, if he will ever have a house/home and this song is Garvey’s reply.


In the song he teaches the children the value of their bodies. That the body they have been given is the house of their minds, hearts and souls and all they hold dear. So many children and adults need to be reminded of this. No matter where we are or what we are going through we have ourselves to love, respect and care for. We belong to ourselves and the Creator who made us. Sweet message at this Christmas time. Hope you enjoy it. Bing Crosby’s performance is fun and delightfully playful.

Merry Christmas! Be good to yourselves. You are the only you that you have! Jeanne

We all have a little Lucy and Jerry inside us. Thank God!

No wonder we all connect with characters like Lucy as in I Love Lucy, or Jerry and the other characters of Seinfeld and many other similar comedies. I don’t know about you, but some of the things that happen in my life could easily be part of a script for a sitcom.



Last Friday night our band was playing at a Restaurant/Bar. It was a great evening. After we were finished with our last set, I was across the room sitting with a couple having a nice conversation, while the guys packed up the equipment, when my son, Jamen came to the table to tell me that they couldn’t find the car keys. He then asked me if I had them. I knew my husband, Jim had parked the car after we unloaded and did not remember him giving me the keys, but at this time in my life…well, let’s say I remain open because, sometimes if I’m focused on one thing and someone comes and gives me something or whatever, I may just “be on automatic” and take it without really realizing it. So I never swear that this or that did or didn’t happen. After they looked everywhere, I went up and did a look through everything myself. NO KEYS. At my friend’s table, I carefully took everything out of my purse. NO KEYS. We all continued to look but to no avail. I began to think they were either inside the car or they had been dropped somewhere. By this time more and more folks were becoming aware that our keys were missing. At the table where I was sitting I took everything out of my purse one more time. NO KEYS.

My friend Lori whom I was sitting with, then told me how once her husband Bill couldn’t find the keys so she frisked him and found them. I thought that was hilarious so I looked at her and said, “ I’m going to go frisk Jim right now.” Lori laughed and watched as I went up on the stage where Jim was standing with his coat on. By now, a lot of people were watching and I was hamming it up. I said, Okay Jim this is an official frisk, I’m frisking you…get those hands up in the air.” Jim laughed and played a long. I got about a third of the way down his coat and in an obscure pocket on the left front side I FOUND THE KEYS!!! Jim was shocked and perhaps a bit embarassed, you should have seen the look on his face. He didn’t even realize he had a pocket there. I was more shocked then him. Everyone fell out laughing!!! It was very funny. I could not believe I actually found them.

We were all laughing and glad to have found the keys. It was getting late and time to load up and head out for our 1.5 hour drive home. I went back to sit with Lori and Bill and as I was going to sit on my chair which was a high stool, I happened to notice something on the floor. I went down to pick it up. It was dark and I immediately felt the mesh outside of my wallet and realized that I had probably dropped it when I was taking everything out of it to look for my keys. I wasn’t too surprised because I have actually done this before. I was relieved to find it, threw it back in my purse and remarked to my friends that I had found my wallet on the floor. Bill mentioned that he couldn’t find his wallet. Oh I hope you find it. Lori said, “He’ll find it, he does this all the time.” I could relate to that. The car was loaded up and it was time to go. We said our good-byes. Bill made one more comment about his wallet. Lori laughed and said it was probably in the car. I told him I hoped he’d find it soon. I know how maddening that can be.


It was about 11:30 p.m.when we arrived home and it had been a long day. I was tired, but a bit wired from all the excitement of the day. I thought it would be a good time to order a gift for my older son, Justin. I had found this gift and decided on it a few days before, but hadn’t had time to purchase it so, I go back on line and go to the site where the gift is, fill out all the information and reach into my purse and grab my wallet. As my eyes focused on the mesh wallet I could see Bill’s I.D. peeking through. It was Bill’s wallet I had picked up. Though it was the same material I could see now in the light that it was a tiny bit larger and a tiny bit heavier. I was mortified and yet, laughing my head off.

I hoped I wasn’t calling too late, but knew I had to let him know that I had his wallet. He had just gotten off the phone canceling some of his credit cards but was very relieved to get his wallet back. We had quite a laugh about it all. I referred to myself as Lucy. Bill told me we couldn’t have written a better comedic sketch. I still laugh when I think about how goofy the whole thing was. I think we all have a little Lucy and a little Jerry in us. Thank God! It makes for interesting stories that make us laugh and helps us connect in new and deeper ways.