Dan Loves The Carpenters

One day, my husband, Dan, surprised me. Dan informed me he likes The Carpenters. Yes, I'm talking about the same Dan whose musical preferences usually hover somewhere around death metal, grunge, anything distorted and guitar-heavy, sprinkled occasionally with a little hip-hop, Riot Grrl, and punk.

He actually owns a "Best of The Carpenters. . ." album. This surprised me as well, almost more than the time I caught him singing along to the Indigo Girls' “Closer to Fine.” 

 

 

 

For a long time, I knew he liked the Sonic Youth version of “Superstar,” but little did I realize he was a genuine fan of full on Every-Sha-La-La-La-Why-Do-Birds-Suddenly-Appear Carpenters music.

 

As it turned out, being a Carpenters enthusiast was pretty typical for us GenX rockers who came of age in the '80s and '90s.  

 

Concrete Blonde and The Bangles both cited The Carpenters as an influence. Sonic Youth, per the band's most excellent cover of "Superstar," was obviously impacted by The Carpenters as well. (Apparently, Richard Carpenter did not like the band's version.)

 

And then there is the tribute album. 

 

By Source, Fair use, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=20161226

 

If I Were a Carpenter is a compilation of alt rock bands from the ‘90s covering Carpenters songs (including the Sonic Youth "Superstar"), and yes, it's as amazing as it sounds.

A few nights ago, Dan missed a question about Fleetwood Mac on Jeopardy.

 

“I can’t keep those soft rock bands straight,” he muttered.

“Fleetwood Mac is hardly soft rock, Mr. I Love The Carpenters,” I said.

 

Dan started singing, “Just like me, they long to be close to you . . .” then he said, “I was listening to this awesome Carpenters tribute album on Spotify—”

 

“Oh, I know all about the Carpenters tribute album . . . ”

 

"Why . . . ?"

 

"Because," I paused. Dan gave me a look. "I needed to research it for a blog post,” I continued.

A few weeks later, we were on a road trip listening to a playlist I had created, and—What?— The Carpenters came on the stereo. 

 

Dan glanced over at me, "I feel like this is a test for your blog post, to see if I sing along."

 

"My favorite Carpenters song is 'Superstar,'" I said, ignoring him.

"Mine too," Dan agreed, "But I also like 'Rainy Days and Mondays.'"

A few minutes later, we were both belting out, "Don’t you remember you told me you loved me baby?"

 

For the latest blog updates, visit and "like" Rebecca Turner-Duggan.

Now I'm 44 . . .

I remember when turning thirty seemed like THE milestone birthday. Now I'm forty-four. I'm in my mid-forties. I'm not even sure what happened these fourteen years.

 

However, according to a clue on Jeopardy the other night (because I watch Jeopardy like a real adult), middle-aged is considered between forty-five and sixty-five years old. I guess that means I have one more year to go before I fall into that category (at least as defined by Jeopardy.)

 

 

This year, we spent my birthday weekend in Sun Valley. 

 

 

"Expect lots of overnight trips to Sun Valley this summer since we haven't done that in a year!" I told my husband, Dan.

 

I knew my birthday gift was a new bike helmet because Dan had me pick it out online. The padding in my old helmet was falling apart and coming off in chunks on my head. Every time I rode, I felt like something was poking into my scalp, and I always ended up with a headache. 

I also dropped hints that I needed a new book for the summer, and by "hints" I mean I texted him a wishlist of titles and said, "I want one of these."

But when the box arrived, it looked like it was just big enough for the bike helmet. 

 

 

"I guess I'm not getting a book for my birthday," I said with a sigh. 

 

Dan was silent . . . and sneaky.

 

Not only was there a new bike helmet in the box, but two books I had been dying to read AND the new Weezer CD. We still buy CDs. #oldschoolGenX 

 

 

(I noticed, after looking at last year’s blog post, I wore the same dress on my birthday two years in a row. I really do own more than one dress.)

 

The new bike helmet is great and no headache!

 

In Sun Valley, we went hiking and mountain biking, of course.

 

 

While we were hiking, it was rather windy on the unprotected ridges, and during one of the more powerful gusts, I stopped, slightly overtaken by my well-documented acrophobia. 

 

 

 

"I'm afraid I'm going to get blown off the hill." 

"You're not tall enough for that," was Dan's response.

 

The whole weekend, Dan's catchphrase was, "It's your birthday weekend. You get to choose," which I soon realized was just his excuse for being indecisive.

 

I did have to draw the line when it came to a certain horror movie preview though, opening just in time for my birthday. 

 

"That looks like a good one!" he said, knowing exactly how well that would go over.

 

"We're not watching The Conjuring on my birthday!" 

We did watch a perfect-for-me birthday movie on Netflix called Moxie. You should watch it. I'm serious. Right after you finish reading this. Do it!

By 8:00 p.m. on my birthday, I was ready for bed and in cozy socks. Like I said, perfect-for-me.

 

 

For the latest blog updates, visit and "like" Rebecca Turner-Duggan.

Last Days of School: 2021 Edition

Stick a fork in the 2020-2021 school year. We're done. This year was like no other as I am sure you are all aware. At least our school district had a sense of humor about it.

 

 

 

After my fourth week of recording student performances in every single class, every single grade level, I needed a break. I took a couple of personal days and went on a quick road trip to Sun Valley, leaving behind this note in the hopes of preventing any substitute catastrophes. 

 

 

 

When I returned for the last week of school, I was greeted by some nice mermaid memorabilia from my 5th and 6th graders. We have not been able to perform our spring musical in the traditional sense for two years, but this year, we figured out a way to record a readers' theater version, with some fun drumming inserted between scenes. The kids (and I) had so much fun.

 

One of my students couldn't be at school on the days we recorded, so she joined the performance on her laptop, Max Headroom-style. (My fellow Gen Xers should understand that reference.) Her classroom teacher draped the show shirt over the keyboard, and the student turned on her camera. Welcome to 2021, folks.

 

 

During the last week of school, I also had the privilege of preparing the music for Kindergarten Graduation.

 

Practicing our final cool person pose!

 

My nephew also graduated from kindergarten. It seemed impossible that he could already be done with his first year of elementary school. Added bonus: he told his teacher he wants to be a singing teacher!

 

 

Almost as impossible to believe, I completed my twentieth year of service. (Extra credit for the people who say I don't look nearly old enough to have taught twenty years.) 

 

My students who knew me as "Miss Turner" are adults now. Although this was the longest and strangest school year ever, I am reminded how fast time passes us by.

 

A few weeks ago, I posted a teacher appreciation blog that included some of the sweet student letters I received as the school year came to close. A couple of them were from former students who graduated from high school this year. 

 

Printed here are highlights from a few more that showed up in my box during that final week. 💗

 

From a former student:

"I am grateful for how you always made me feel good about myself when learning how to do something I was shy at first doing. The way you guided me and pushed me to do my best is the reason why I learned not only music, but how to be confident, kind, and encouraging in those years from you. You really made a huge impact personally on my life, and I will never forget all the fun and amazing memories that were made in your class, especially the plays we put on!"

 

From one of this year's 6th graders:

"You are the best music teacher ever. This has been a really weird year, and we didn't get to do the big plays we usually do, but you made it work and helped us have fun . . . I appreciate everything you have done. You've helped us improve so much in music . . . I've known you for so long, so it's so hard to leave. I will always remember having the best music teacher from 1st-6th grade. . . Thank you."

 

 For the latest blog updates, visit and "like" Rebecca Turner-Duggan.