How do we remember pop icons?

I think it's interesting that both Farrah Fawcett and Michael Jackson passed away on the same day. It was hard to miss the speculation about their lives and discussions about their legacies. Both led trouble lives, although Farrah seemed to have moved beyond some of that before she died. The question still seems to be -- how will they be remembered?

I think the way any pop icon is remembered largely depends on just that -- your memories of them.

I recently went to Graceland with my teenage son, his debate coach and her husband. Now, all of us were pretty close in age (except my son). Our memories of Elvis was not of the young, hip Elvis of the movies. Rather, we saw him more as the older, troubled Elvis. My son, on the other hand, just knows some of his songs that he downloaded.

It struck me in listening the the endless commentary on the cable channels that how Michael Jackson and Farrah are viewed largely depends on how old you are and where you were in life during their height of their fame.

In the case of Farrah, I was Middle School at the time of her Charlie's Angels fame. Like most girls, I wanted a Farrah do. For me, that image is sort of stuck in my mind.

Michael Jackson's career spanned longer. I remember going to the roller skating rink and skating to the Jackson Five. I had their records -- yes, they were records and not cd's. LOL. I had the forty-fives. (raise your hand if you remember those.)

By the time Thriller came out, I was out of college and working. In some summer youth programs I worked with, I took kids roller skating. And yes, once again, I skated to Michael Jackson's music. (I'll admit it was first time I felt old, because I remember him as a little boy, while none of kids in my group did.)

As I ate breakfast with son while he surfed the cable news channels and watched the images and music of Michael Jackson flashed across the screen, my son commented that he wasn't even born when Thriller came out. (He actually pointed out, too, that Michael Jackson was older than his dad and I. It's nice to know that he realizes somebody is older than us. LOL). He only remembers the scandal of the past few years.

I think because we'd been just been to Graceland and they were comparing Michael Jackson to Elvis, it made me think back to sitting with my mom, watching the news about Elvis dying. Like me and my son, both my mom and I had different images of Elvis, just as he and I did of Michael Jackson and Farrah (who he doesn't a clue who she is.) So I think it all comes back to where we were when they were popular.

So where were you when Farrah and Michael Jackson crossed that line to become icons? Did you have a Farrah do? Did you moon walk? Own their lunch box?

A week at the National Speech tournament

I had an interesting week last week. I went to Birmingham, Alabama with my son, his Speech teacher and her husband to Speech Nationals. All I can say was there was an amazing amount of talent there. I never heard the final total, but there were teenagers there from all over the United States. They had events including, Poetry, Prose, Dramatic Interp., Humorous Interp., Debate, Extemp. -- both Foreign and Domestic (and other events that I can't recall off the top of my head.) It was a week of intense competition.


My son was entered in Foreign extemp. and Impromptu. For Foreign Extemp. they draw three questions (each round is a different part of the world) from which they can pick one. They have 30 minutes to review their sources, write and memorize their speech. Then they give their speech for the judges. Out of about 300 kids, John made it into the top 30.


He did impromptu, too. For that event they also draw 3 questions that are about either famous people, proverbs, abstract words, or events. Then pick one. They have 5 minutes to pull together a speech, so most of the knowledge is off the top of their head. Out of 500 kids entered, John got into the top 18.


I was so proud of him!! The picture is of him in the cafeteria where camped out for most the week.


On the way down, we stopped in Memphis, Tennessee. We visited Graceland and the National Civil Rights Museum. Graceland was interesting. I was touched by the notes left on the fence and sidewalk. The National Civil Museum is a must see for anyone visiting Memphis. (Be sure to take the audio tour!) It is set on the grounds of the Lorraine Motel where Martian Luther King, JR was shot. I've seen the spot on television, but being there is a whole other experience. I was too little in 60's to remember any of Civil Rights Movement. (Probably partly because I grew up in Kansas.) Being a history buff, I thought I knew all about it, but I was wrong. There was so much I didn't know and didn't understand. All I can say is that visiting there was a moving experience. It hit my son that he was the same age as the young people who marched, did the sit ins and rode the buses. It reminded us, too, that there are still places in world where people don't have rights.

In Birmingham we visited the Civil Rights Institute. It is a must see, too. To learn more visit http://www.bcri.org/index.html

To learn more about the National Civil Rights Museum visit http://www.civilrightsmuseum.org/home.htm

To see my pictures visit my myspace page www.myspace.com/catherinestang

For more about The National Forensics League visit http://www.nflonline.org/AboutNFL/Advocate (I know I've said this before, but Speech and Debate teach your child life long skills like how to research, think on their feet, talk in front of groups and gives you confidence in yourself and your ability to express yourself. So if you have kids in High School, seriously consider enrolling them in Speech and Debate.)

Let's talk heroes

[Cathy] My heroes in my stories are like the real men in my life. Some talk to me easier than others. LOL.The one that gave me the most trouble as a writer was Barclay (Ravensthorpe Legacy). Since he was a duke, he didn't think he had to explain himself. I was worried that he'd go to prison for a crime he didn't commit ... if he didn't hurry up and explain to me what happened.How about you, Dani? Which hero was the hardest for you to get information from?

[Dani] I've got a well-dressed werewolf right now that refuses to talk to me! His name is Joe Lassiter and he is the most close-mouthed hero I've ever run into. It's tough to get to know him. No wonder the heroine thinks he's the most stuck-up man she's ever met!

[Cathy] Behind Barclay in the stubborn department was Ross (Secret Wishes). He thought he knew what was best for Emma. Followed by Nick (Locked In His Heart). I wasn't sure he was ever going to let Melanie in.[Dani] Stubborn doesn't begin to describe James Macleod (Heart of the Winter Wolf). He was so certain that he had to protect Jillian, whether she wanted him to or not. And so convinced that he couldn't have happiness.[Cathy] Some heroes are fun. One of my favorites was Burke (Ravensthorpe Heir). As a known rake, you never knew what he'd say.

[Dani] My favorite in the fun category has been Galen (The Holiday Spirit). He had a great sense of humor, but more than that, I could never shut him up! I first got the inspiration from the story when I "heard" Galen arguing with the heroine, Kerri.

[Cathy] Ooo I loved Galen! Burke (Ravensthorpe Heir) was like that. He had this darkly, wicked sense of humor. I just never knew what he was going to say. How about the heroes who aren't quite what they seem? My Flynn was a bodyguard with a hidden agenda (In The Blink of An Eye)

[Dani] Rhys from A Leap of Knowing would certainly qualify. My heroine had a tough time accepting his incredible story -- she was certain he was crazy! And that he'd stolen her dog!
There are other types of heroes though -- how about the brooding, or tortured ones? My James from Heart of the Winter Wolf has both qualities in spades. But the one that squeezed my heart the most was definitely Rhys (A Leap of Knowing). He'd been a prisoner for so very long...


[Cathy] There are many types of prisons too. Nick was definitely a prisoner of his past in Locked In His Heart. I keep telling Dani that Nick and James could sooo understand each other.[Dani] One of the best question I've ever been asked about writing is "Do you fall in love with your heroes?" And you know, I DO fall a little in love with every one of them. But then, such a lot of what makes them loveable comes from my real life love -- my husband. He has no idea how much he inspires me![Cathy] There's a big soft spot in my heart for each of my heroes too. And since I'm a reader as well as a writer of romance, I've got a lot of keeper stories on my shelves with heroes I've loved. A few of my favorites are Karl Lindstorm from LaVyrle Spencer's The Endearment, Wulfric Bedwyn from Mary Balogh's Slightly Dangerous and Cosmo Ritcher from Suzanne Brockmann's Hot Target. And of course who couldn't love Brockman's Jules Cassidy, who meddled in romances including Max and Gina before finally getting his own chance at love.

[Dani] I've got some I sigh over too. I adore each and every one of the vampire heroes in JR Ward's Black Dagger Brotherhood, but Butch and Vicious are my favorites. (But then, I'm the gal who thought Buffy should have picked Spike over Angel. Apparently I've got a thing for bad boys...)

[Cathy] and [Dani] Now it's YOUR turn. Tell us about the heroes you've fallen in love with!

Dani Harper http://www.romancingthewolf.com/

Catherine Stang http://www.catherinestang.com/

What is your favorite National Park?

I'm not sure where last week went. LOL. It always takes time to adjust the the summer schedule and the days go by before you know it. And I here I am answering my question a week late.

Robyn Lee is the winner. The first National Park is Yellowstone. In March of 1872 President Ulysses Grant signed into law the act that created Yellowstone Park. http://www.yellowstone-natl-park.com/history.html

I was kid the last time I visited Yellowstone. It's on my list of places to visit again.

I LOVE National Parks. This is one of my favorites Canyonlands in Utah. I've enjoyed it along with Zion and Bryce Canyon.

So what is your favorite National Park to visit? For a complete list to jog your memory visit http://www.nps.gov/findapark/index.htm#

Have a great week!

Friday Trivia question

What was the first national park, established in 1872?

The day never quite goes as planned

My washing machine gave out on me yesterday, so this morning I got a new one delivered. LOL, it's never quite that simple is it...

They brought it about nine in the morning. So far so good.

They had to take door off my laundry room/bathroom to get the old one out and put the new one in. OMG, you should have seen what under there. I did fast scrub job while they took the old one out and got the new one.

It seemed like it took a long time to hook the new one up, but I was busy writing and didn't pay too much attention. Then they came up and told me the barrel was cracked. (Thank goodness they discovered that or I could have ended up with a big mess when I did.) So they hauled it out and promised to bring another one this afternoon.

A few hours later, they brought back my other new one. So far so good this time. There was a lot of water the floor the first time, so I'm running a big load of towels and keeping my fingers crossed that it works this time.

A little too much reality?

I have been a big fan of Jon and Kate Plus 8 from the early days. I saw the first show they did on having multiple multiples (I think it was on the Discovery Channel) and I was hooked. When they began their show on TCL I was there watching from the beginning.

I remember the early days when the little kids didn't talk. They just cried. My husband used to call it the screaming show. LOL. As a stay home mom I could relate to being home all day with crying and the diapers. They just did on it a bigger scale.

With end of year activities, I missed quite a few episodes this past season. So I was stunned when the rumors flew about Jon and Kate. Without watching the others the last show didn't quite make sense.

This weekend, though, I caught up when they ran all the episodes gearing up to the new season that started last night. Back to back, with hindsight provided by the media, you could see hints of things unraveling.

The show last night was almost too painful to watch. My heart broke for all of them. I don't know what is going to happen. Or how far in advance that was filmed. So it will hard to know if we are watching events play out in real time or not. But I have to say I feel a bit ... I don't know... awkward watching it. Yet, I can't quite look away.

How you do feel? Are we contributing to their pain by watching and reading about them?

I don't think the answers are easy. Any of the answers. What do you think?