It’s the last two weeks before my kids go back to school and the good news is my services are very much in demand the whole world around but sadly, there is still only one of me, so I have that feeling that I’ve got 50 lbs pressing against my chest and so I thought okay, yeah, that’s a sign I need to go on and write about Dolly Parton.
There was a time when I thought Dolly Parton was impossibly cheesy. I fancied myself a very deep thinker with profound, complex emotions and there was no way that I could relate to somethingy so hokey and homey.
Then I grew up and blah, blah, blah life lessons, experiences, hard roads et cetera et cetera and now I think Dolly Parton is one of the most awesome people that have ever lived.
She has such a great sense of humor about herself but at the same time you can tell she takes pride in who she is and where she came from. Here’s some quotes I love:
I look just like the girls next door… if you happen to live next door to an amusement park.
I was the first woman to burn my bra – it took the fire department four days to put it out.
I’m not offended by all the dumb blonde jokes because I know I’m not dumb… and I also know that I’m not blonde.
You’d be surprised how much it costs to look this cheap!
She also has such a great attitude about work and life. Remember, she grew up one of 12 children, dirt poor in a one room shack in the Smoky Mountains and instead of turning her back on her community when she made it, she’s given back and invested in the area and people.
I’m not going to limit myself just because people won’t accept the fact that I can do something else.
If you don’t like the road you’re walking, start paving another one.
People make jokes about my bosoms, why don’t they look underneath the breasts at the heart? It’s obvious I’ve got big ones and if people want to assume they’re not mine, then let them.
The way I see it, if you want the rainbow, you gotta put up with the rain.
We cannot direct the wind, but we can adjust the sails.
When I’m inspired, I get excited because I can’t wait to see what I’ll come up with next.
Every month my kids get new books from Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library. If you have kids in your life from birth to age 5, I highly suggest that you see if the program is available in your county (they also serve Canada and are expanding into the UK!). I am not sure if it works the same in all areas, but in my county there are no income restrictions and they encourage everyone to participate. Some of the books that we’ve been sent have been loved to tatters and they are so excited every time a new one comes in the mail. Can you imagine how much this program must mean to kids that aren’t as fortunate and might otherwise have no books to call their own?
When I think about all Dolly Parton has achieved and how much she’s given back, it inspires me to do the best that I can do. She really is a hero. I wrote this today as much to remind myself of that as I did to share with you how wonderful I think Dolly Parton is.
Who is your hero? Or, if you don’t have a hero, what is your favorite Dolly Parton song?
PS I noticed that the Imagination Library Fan page is trying to reach 10K fans before school starts. Why not help them reach their goal?
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She doesn’t take herself too seriously. I like that.
Oh I LOVE Dolly Parton! I watched a documentary programme on her – twice, because I liked it so much. What a wise and kind hearted lady she is.
My favourite song has to be ‘Coat of many colours’ because it reminds me of how my mum made all our clothes herself (having 7 children) The only difference was that our school friends didn’t poke fun. Sometimes they were even envious. But there are so many of her songs that I love.
Babs´s last blog ..Painting by blackmail- instead of numbers
You don’t have to convince me of Ms Parton’s awesomeness.
For me the best thing about her larger than life personality is that despite the fame, the riches, the adulation, family always ALWAYS comes first. Despite having no children of her own, she’s raised her younger siblings and I’m sure I read somewhere that she also raised the child of a friend whose parents died.
Inspirational stuff.
Tara´s last blog ..Toy Story 3- Through the eyes of its target audience
I admire that woman! You can’t get any more down to earth than her. And I love that she’s had a long-lasting marriage despite all her fame. They’re doing something right (and perhaps it’s in part because her husband always laid low and let her shine). I respect that.
My favorite song of hers is “I Will Always Love You,” a song that Whitney Houston redid in the early 90′s. Dolly’s version is beautiful, whereas I found Houston’s annoying.
Junk Drawer Kathy´s last blog ..It’s Hard Being Me
“We cannot direct the wind, but we can adjust the sails.”
That’s a nice quote. I confess I used to see her as a figure of fun but now I recognise that’s she’s very switched on – and quite the survivor… she’s in a tough business.
Dave´s last blog ..The Mona Lisa Million Project – Introducing… Me!
Dolly Parton is truly the Mae West and Gandhi of our times. LOVED her in “9 to 5.” Not a huge fan of her music, but her worldview and sense of humor won me over long ago.
Dolly, you had me at “bosoms.”
JD at I Do Things´s last blog ..I Create and Eat The Strandwich! so you don’t have to
I *heart* Dolly Parton! [Not for her music] but for her attitude and personality!
meleah rebeccah´s last blog ..An Open Letter To Mother Nature
This is an awesome post Tracy. I love all the Dolly Parton quotes. She is awesome and a real inspiration. From what I’ve read, folk who live around her love her because she is so down to earth and kind.
Cath Lawson´s last blog ..How I Made My Knowledge Sell & You Can Too
I’ve been a Dolly fan for years, my two youngest get her Imagination Library books, AND her Sand Dollar production company created Buffy the Vampire Slayer. My fave Dolly song is the White Stripe’s cover of “Jolene”.
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