Monday, February 26, 2007

Tough Crowd


Marilyn picks-up and delivers dogs door to door. She picks them up in the morning and delivers them back to the owners that evening. Most of her customers are in a larger town 25 miles away. This time of year I normally go with her. Her knee replacement operation has put a crimp on that. It would have been hard to use crutches and carry a dog to the car. Yes I have and will do about anything for Marilyn but picking up strange dogs isn't one of them. Dogs generally don't like strange men. They do like Marilyn, she has a way with animals of all kinds. So our daughter has taken over that duty. As a trade off she tucks her kids into bed here at our place most week nights, we get them up, Grandpa cooks breakfast, and then we put them on the bus for school.
Every morning I've been going to the upstairs doorway, take a deep breath, and start with my best Luciano Pavarotti impersonation. I love the big echo in that hallway. I've been singing things like Zippity Do Da... and Ohhhhh What a beautiful Moooorning, Ohhh what a beautiful day...
Yesterday I finished my song and in my best Las Vegas stage show voice said, "Thank You, my names Cliff Morrow and I'll be here all week." My 8 year old Grandson is stumbling all sleepy like down the stairs and as we come face to face he mumbles "You've been here your whole life Grandpa."
And Good Morning to you I thought. I fear I'm having some effect on these kids.

17 comments:

Lee said...

Hahahahahaha! Don't give up singing, Cliff...don't stop your morning recitals, no matter how grumpy your 8-year old grandson may appear. If it were me, his grumpiness would make me do it all the more! ;)

It will definitely be one thing he remembers about his grandfather when he's older and I bet he will tell his kids about it and do it to his grand-kids. (I also bet that secretly he just loves his early morning reveille, but purposely won't let on.)

Keep it up! ;)

Miki said...

Out of the mouths of Babes...Everyone's a critic! I sometimes sing the "Good Mornin'" song from SINGIN' IN THE RAIN
The one where they topple all of the furniture in Gene Kelly's house. I love that movie! It is a new song to get the kids up, now run out and rent the movie. You are a good Grandpa, cooking breakfast, I don't do that every day, lots of cereal in our house gets consumed, but I do cook a mean dinner, ever night!

EV said...

"Zippity Do Da" isn't that from Song of the South???

I hope you're having a HUGE effect on those kids, grandpa. We need a lot more Cliff Morrow's in this world. Have a good one!

Ralph said...

Cliff
After reading this I just want to say Thanks.
Thanks - for letting the alarm clock wake Char and I when we stay there.
Ralph

Rachel said...

They will remember your singing when they are old!! They are so lucky since you sing and cook too!

I think you should do this for Ralph and Char the next time they visit! (ignore Ralph's comment). In reality he will love it and it will set the stage for a fun filled entertaining day!!

Anonymous said...

Cliff,
Not being a morning person myself, I can realte to his dismay at being awaken by singing. But that comeback of his was classic. I guess you could have shot back: "Thank you. Thank you very much."

eyes_only4him said...

now i thought a mans best friend was a dog cliff, shame on u.

so now I am dieing to hear your Pavrotti impression...

eyes_only4him said...

now i thought a mans best friend was a dog cliff, shame on u.

so now I am dieing to hear your Pavrotti impression...

Paul Nichols said...

I used to sing to my grandkids, too. They have a way with words, don't they? That was the end of my singing career.

Great photo. It reminds me of the promised coming summer.

Raggedy said...

I loved this post!
Wonderful!
Keep up the routine!
Have a wonderful day!
*^_^
(=':'=) hugs
(")_ (")Š from
the Cool Raggedy one

Hanley Family said...

Awww...what fun. I normally am known for an obnoxious song or two, but illness has taken over the house and we are in for silent-as-can-be mornings at the moment.

So we're more in soft lullaby mode.

Rhodent said...

"L" still complains about how I used to waker up by opening the shades and proclaiming in a loud, lively, sing-song voice... "Good morning Mary Sunshine" I don't know if she will EVER forgive me!

Keep on singin Cliffy!

Rhodent said...

Oops! "wake her"

Songs also occasionally eminated from my mouth, but I am sure that yours are much better!

PinkCat said...

Thats so cute. I think you should record your singing and play it on here for us. I would just love that as my morning wake up call.

Gotta love kids.

Take care xx

Jamie Dawn said...

Your grandson has a quick wit just like someone else I know.
I'm sure the grandkids are LOVING their morning wake up concerts.

You may want to try this one:

Rise and shine and give God the glory, glory.
Rise and shine and give God the glory, glory.
Rise and shine and give God the glory, glory,
Children of the Lord.

The Lord told Moses to build Him an arky, arky.
(repeat once more)
Build it out of hickory barky, barky.
Children of the Lord.


Cliff,
Whatever you do, DON'T leave any plops on the bathroom floor. The grandkids won't want to stay there any more.

It's good hear your roto rooter sessions are over for another three years.

Unknown said...

Let's expand your repetoire a bit...

Good Morning Starshine
Good Day Sunshine
The aforementioned "Good Morning," even better with Debbie Reynolds (no offense to Judy Garland)...
Hmmm.

I'm out.

Jim said...

Yes, you could record your song and you singing it on a video. Then put it on YouTube.
If you don't want a YouTube you can e-mail the video to me and I will put it on my YouTube, giving you the credit.

Marilyn had better be charging a pickup and drop-off fee for her efforts. Otherwise make those people carpool and bring them to you. The customers you lose will make up for the savings in gas.
..
I remember when I was little I discovered how good Uncle Howard could yodel.
You just made a life-long impression on the grandson.
..