Milestone Song Parodies

OCCASION: Mary Jo's 60th Birthday

PARODY:  “60 Her Age is” - sung to Garth Brook's tune, 🎶“Friends in Low Places”🎶

BACK-STORY: 

• She's from Iowa

• Her boyfriend's name is Carl Edwards

• She's a lively fun, and loving friend

OCCASION: Beth’s 70th Birthday

PARODY:  “OUR GOLF WIFE” (just an excerpt of full parody)   - sung to the Beatle’s tune, 🎶“In My Life”🎶

BACK-STORY: 

Sung at Beth’s 70th Birthday Party.  Much of her neighborhood was there.  The parody focused on Beth's role as the organizer for the weekly ladies’ golf outings.  Beth is dependable, sweet, kind, and loving.  Because of her patience and dedication as the organizer of the weekly golf outings, the title of the actual Beatles song, “In My Life”, was changed to, “Our Golf Wife”, referring to how dependable Beth is in keeping the group organized... as if she was a "wife" taking care of all the golfers.  

The song is filled with silly anecdotes from golf outings and is a tribute to her calm demeanor and her selflessness displayed while keeping all the women straight, as she organizes tee times each week, and golfs with them.

OCCASION: Surprise for Gloria Stahr’s 75th Birthday 

PARODY: “GLORIA” (just an excerpt of full parody)  - sung to the tune - 🎶“How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria”🎶,  from The Sound of Music

BACK-STORY:  

Gloria’s a brightly spirited woman who arrived with 4 of her girlfriends at the former Katie Belles only to discover she’d been fooled into thinking it was a small outing.  Instead she was surprised upon arrival by a long table of many girlfriends gathered to celebrate her 75th birthday.  

Facts regarding Gloria woven into the excerpt from this parody: 

• is sweet, loved and admired by her girlfriends, and always viewed as sharply dressed when going out

• loves playing games of all kinds (board games) 

• plays pickleball 

• is always known for being cheery and authentic, 

• her last name is Stahr (pronounced Star) 

• known for having fun 

• is often kidded about her penchant for organizing using folders and rubber bands 

NOTE: One of the singing waiters at Katie Belles performed this parody for her, as the whole dining room listened (Note: this recording is not from that evening). 

OCCASION: Surprise for Mary Woolridge’s 85th Birthday 

PARODY: "12 DAYS OF BONE BUILDERS - MARY WOOLRIDGE IS MORE FIT THAN ME" - sung to the tune of 🎶“The 12 Days of Christmas”🎶 

Excuse the incorrect grammar: "more fit than ME"...should be "...than I", but it helps the parody 😉

BACK-STORY: 

This was a tribute to Mary Woolridge on her 85th Birthday.  She was the eldest and most dedicated participant (3 days a week) in a Bone Builder’s class that I, myself, also participated in.  

The entire song is humorously written, very tongue-in-cheeky, with envy regarding how very fit Mary is at the age of 85, and is filled with jealous commentary.  It is written from from the perspective of all the others in the class - all younger than Mary (in their 50’s, 60’s and 70’s).  

This Bone Builders Class was conducted during the covid pandemic, taking place outdoors in a neighbor's driveway. One particular week, Mary’s husband, Floyd, could be heard, all throughout the class, using a buzz saw and making cornice mouldings for their home inside his garage a few doors away (this random fact is woven into the song).  

The last verse refers to “Nuthatchers humming” - a reference to all the neighbors from their street (Nuthatch Ave), who were gathered there for her birthday when this song was performed.     

OCCASION: John Heraga’s 80th Birthday 

PARODY:  “JOHN HERAGA” – sung to the tune of 🎶“Johnny B. Goode” 🎶

BACK-STORY: 

• This was a tribute to John at his 80th Birthday party.  

• John Herega is from New Jersey.  

• He’s an active member of The Villages' Woodshop Club and held the position as the Chairman of Safety.  He’s an excellent wood turner.  

• He also is known for making delicious Polish Bismarks.  

• He’s an usher at his Church and a member of the Knights of Columbus.  

• This was sung at his 80th Birthday party in which family and friends in attendance had come in from long distances.

OCCASION: A talent show skit, performed by members of the Pickleball community and myself 

PARODY:  “The Pickled Blue Balls” – sung to the tune of 🎶“Great Balls of Fire” 🎶

BACK-STORY: 

• Was performed in a fun, tongue-in cheeky, talent show as part of a Fund Raiser for The National Brain Tumor Society

• Video below is from a dress rehearsal of the act

OCCASION: For fun, a surprise for the newspaper reporter who Interviewed me from The Daily Sun, named Michael Fortuna (article in Daily Sun issue, Wed, July 13, 2022, pg. A21) 

PARODY:  “Michael Fortuna - Newspaper Writer” – sung to the tune of 🎶“Paperback writer” 🎶 made popular by The Beatles

BACK-STORY: 

• Michael Fortuna, as of 2022, has worked for the Daily Sun for 22 years, enjoys playing drums in spare time, and drives to work from Ocala, FL

OCCASION: 25th Wedding Anniversary

PARODY:  “Anniversary 25 !” – sung to the tune of 🎶“Mambo Number Five” 🎶 

BACK-STORY: 

• The parody was purchased from me as a gift to be given by a friend of the married couple.  

• The couple had a destination celebration of their 25th Wedding Anniversary, and invited all attendees to celebrate with them in The Florida Keys

• Couple are from Chicago

• They met while working at a popcorn company

• They are fun loving and enjoy celebrating with their friends. 

OCCASION: 69th Birthday Party

PARODY:  “Turk is 69 !”– sung to the tune of 🎶“9 to 5” 🎶 

BACK-STORY: 

• A tribute to Terry (Turk) at his 69th Birthday Party

• Turk is a friendly and formidable opponent on the pickleball court. The song includes lots of pickleball court references.

• He often wears LOUD, bright tee shirts with BRIGHT matching socks

• He wears many tee shirts that read: DON'T HUG ME

• A friendly comment that his tiny wife "keeps him straight"

• He's a joke teller, but the song reprimands him to be sure he "NOT embarrass his wife with jokes he thinks are funny"

OCCASION: Birthday Present

PARODY:  “Know God Chose Her”– sung to the tune of 🎶“The Gambler” 🎶 

BACK-STORY: 

• The parody was a present honoring a friend on her Birthday

• A tribute to the sunny personality she has, with a kind and sweet disposition - the kind of person who brings cheer with her where ever she goes. 

• The song references marrying her childhood sweetheart, Dom. 

• The song reflects upon her entry into the world, and highlights that the sunshine she brightens the world with was God given and even recognized by her mother (Ruth) rocking her as a tiny baby.