Winning Words 8/19/11
“And the seasons, they go round and round. And the painted ponies go up and down. We’re captive on the carousel.” (Joni Mitchell) Can you solve this puzzle? Julia is riding on a horse. To her left is a hippo. In front of her is an elephant. Following behind is a lion. They’re all going at the same speed. And to her right is a ledge. How will Julia make it to safety? Are you stumped? See the blog. ;-) Jack

PUZZLE ANSWER: Julia will just have to wait until the merry-go-round stops and then get off of her painted pony. Life can sometimes seem like a ride on a carousel.

FROM NL IN INDIANA/FLORIDA: THAT'S THE TRUTH JACK:////FROM JACK: Enjoy the ride while you can. Up and down, round and round. It can be fun, if you don't take it too seriously.

FROM PL IN MICHIGAN: I'm living on the Merry go Round! But..having a good time!////FROM JACK: I'm reminded of the line from Summer Vacation when the Griswolds are at WallyWorld. "I had a bad experience on this ride once." "Why? What happened?" "I threw up." Even Merry-Go-Rounds can do that to some people.

FROM MV IN MICHIGAN: I cannot get to the blog. This is one of my all time favorite songs-“Circle” So isn’t the answer Julia is on a carousel?////FROM JACK: You solved the puzzle, but now the trick is for you (and the rest of us) to get off of the financial merry-go-round.

FROM PEPPERMINT MARY: by waiting until the carousel stops! "carousel" is one of my favorite musicals. "when you walk through a storm keep your head up high" has been one of my life-time mantras.
////FROM JACK:
Dr. Selden: [at Louise's graduation ceremony] It's the custom at these graduations to pick out some old duck like me to preach at the kids. Well, I can't preach at you. I know you all too well. I brought most of you into the world, rubbed linament on your backs, poured castor oil down your throats. I only hope that now I got you this far that you'll turn out to be worth all the trouble I took with you. I - I can't tell you any sure way to happiness. I only know that you've gotta go out and find it for yourselves. You can't lean on the success of your parents. That's their success. And don't be held back by their failures.
Billy Bigelow: [to Louise] Listen to him. Believe him.
Dr. Selden: Makes no difference what they did or didn't do. You just stand on your own two feet. The world belongs to you as much as to the next fella, so don't give it up. And try not to be scared of people not liking you, just you try liking them. And just keep your faith, and your courage, and you'll turn out all right. It's like what we used to sing every morning when I was a boy. Maybe you still sing it: "When you walk through a storm, hold your head up high." You know that one?
Singers at graduation: [singing] And don't be afraid of the dark.
[they continue with the rest of the song]
Billy Bigelow: [to Louise, as the singing is still going on] Believe him, darling. Believe.
[Louise joins in the singing, and puts her arm around the girl sitting next to her, who reciprocates]
Billy Bigelow: [Walks over to Julie] I loved you, Julie. Know that I loved you.
[Julie smiles and joins in singing. As the song reaches its climax, Billy and the Heavenly Friend walk away from the graduation and up a hill. Billy then takes a last look toward the schoolyard and follows the Heavenly Friend]
Singers at graduation: [singing] Walk on, walk on, with hope in your heart/ And you'll never walk alone,/ You'll never walk alone!

FROM PLAIN FOLKS CHESTER: As a senior in high school, I was showing off riding sidesaddle. Fell off. Not the ride, just the horse. But that's why I never played basketball. I kept tripping over the black lines. ////FROM JACK: I never heard of anyone riding sidesaddle on a merry-go-round.

FROM SH IN MICHIGAN: The hippo to her left is not going the same speed. It's going the same rpm on the carousel. ////FROM JACK: Is that your answer, or one from your physicist husband?

FROM TAMPA SHIRL: Merry go rounds can be lots of fun, too. The rehearsal dinner for our first grandchild's wedding was held at the carousel museum close by, and it was great fun for all- young and old. Some did ride side saddle and others played it safe and rode on a bench. What a pleasant memory of that evening it all was.////FROM JACK: What a great place for a party! Plain Folks Chester (Fanning) should have been invited, since he likes to ride sidesaddle on merry-go-rounds. The Tigers have a ferris wheel and a merry-go-round at their ballpark. All of the riding animals are tigers.

FROM DR IN SEATTLE: You've probably heard this one. I was remembering what my mother had said to me when I was a college student and wondering if a friend's marriage would work. Her response was: " Two halves do not make a whole". It was only as a seasoned adult I understood the meaning of her response. Two people who both have personality or psychological problems are not going to bring qualities to a marriage relationship that will make it a happy or enduring one. Even one person with problems who would qualify for "a half" can make a marriage relationship difficult. Keep up your good work.////FROM JACK: That's a new one for me, and it makes a lot of sense. Marriage can sometimes be a puzzle, especially if each person expects his/her own way.

FROM OUTHOUSE JUDY: If it were me, I wouldn't get on in the first place. I love to watch them but they don't do much for my stomach. I used to ride them all the time though and I loved them. One of the joyous things about life is it's ups and downs. We have to get on, hold on and give the horse his head. Yipee!!////FROM JACK: The Twilight Zone once had an episode called, "Kick the Can," in which old people could become young again by playing "Kick the Can." If you had a chance, would you kick the can?