If you have the six minutes to spare, listen to the BRILLIANT Joni Mitchell. She's incredible.
I didn't come by my love of this song in the right way...I was old enough to appreciate Joni Mitchell when this tune was first released but I was probably too busy listening to Bobby Sherman and David Cassidy to notice.
The FIRST time I became aware of Circle Game was when I was married to Carly's dad, Clyde, who had an incredible sense of musical beauty. He taught me a great deal.
The second time I recall is when I was a news director at another station. The general manager "fired" a long time consultant at the TV station where we both worked. The GM had preceded me by about a year, hired me and we both agreed that our consultant (who had worked with the station for more than two decades) needed to go. He (the consultant) was a really nice guy. Really nice. But the station we were working at had slipped from a dominant first place to number two. And you know how that goes:
- Fire the consultant
- Get new graphics
- Build a new set
- Hire a new news director
- Lather, rinse, repeat
But I digress. This particular GM sent an email to the consultant relieving him of his duties. And the last line of the email was "and the painted ponies go up and down."
At the time, I thought the phrase was kinda heartless. I know better now.
When Carly's dad died, we played Circle Game at his memorial.
And since our son Charlie moved from KC to Jackson, Wyoming, it is meaningful again.
USAToday has a story about how Boomers are helping their kids get along. We have tried to help both of ours as they meander through adulthood.
How funny it is that both John and I have struggled so with Charlie's decision to move west when both of us did it decades ago.
John was the oldest of two, finished a stint at college and in the late 70s felt the need for more. He and some friends moved from Connecticut to Reno.
I, the oldest of seven, dropped out of college in the late 70s because I wasn't a great student and felt the need for more. I move from South Dakota to Reno.
Eventually we found each other and Charlie is the product of our discovery. Yay!
Now our Charlie has jumped from the nest. He graduated from college, spent some months with us and felt the need for more.
Wednesday, he left for Jackson, WY. He has a job. He loves the outdoors. This is perfect for him.
And the seasons, they go round and round. And the painted ponies go up and down.
