friday feast: tickle your pickle with arlo

~ jama


 from dadadreams’ photostream.

So, the big question for today is: sweet or dill?

Did you know that July is National Pickle Month? What would you do without me to tell you these things? Thought I’d better slip in a sweet gherkin while I still have a few more hours to celebrate. I do like bread and butter pickles, too — but for me the ultimate pickle experience has to do with motorcycles and Arlo Guthrie. I am indebted to him for many meaningful meditations on pickles, tickles, and the distinctive sound of  Harley engines. Beautiful!


photo by DAJanzen.

I’ve had the unrivaled pleasure of seeing Arlo perform a couple of times. What a storyteller — how can anyone not love him? I’ll never forget what he said about growing up as one of Woody’s offsprings. Every evening, when the family sat down to supper, they’d go around the table and each person would say what he/she did that day to make the world a better place. Is that not the best way to raise kind, socially conscious human beings? Instead of, “what am I getting out of this,” we should be asking, “what can I do to help?”


Rolling Thunder, Washington, D.C., photo by Hiranka.

For now, kick back, rev up your engines, and enjoy a little Arlo. First video is from a 1975 benefit festival for the Worthington Clinic. Second one was recorded earlier this year in Melbourne, Florida, and features a funny, real-life motorcyle story. Full lyrics for “The Motorcycle Song,” can be found here.

Sylvia Vardell is hosting the Roundup today at Poetry for Children.

Just in case you’re feeling ambitious this weekend:


from My Fiddlestix’s photostream.

This just in: Did you know Arlo joined the Republican party several years ago? Find out why in his provocative, insightful post, “2 Cups of Coffee, or My 2 Cents.”

P.S. Are you ticklish? ☺ Coast into the weekend with this!

24 thoughts on “friday feast: tickle your pickle with arlo”

  2. Sugar and Vinegar admiration

    Jama, you’re the one-stop shop! Something to read, something to watch, a recipe, a political platform…a complete prix fixe at no cost whatsoever! I’m a little jealous. 🙂 Thanks.

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  8. Thanks for this!

    Love, love, love Arlo. Even his alliance with the Republican party makes me smile. Andy

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  9. Pickles, etc.

    Elaine M.

    I loved eating pickles when I was a kid! I had an uncle who made the most delicious pickled green tomatoes and cabbage–not the sweet kind. In fact, his cabbage tasted a little like kimchee/kim chee/kim chi–not sure how to spell that word.

    I used to pickle cucumbers and tomatoes when we had a garden. That was quite a long time ago.

    Happy Pickle Month!

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  10. Re: Thanks for this!

    Welcome, Andy! Nice to hear from another Arlo fan. He makes some good points in his blog post, but not enough to make me convert . . . 🙂

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  12. Oh, I LOVE that family idea, that question they posed before dinner. I might have to add that to our Gratefuls.

    Jules
    7-Imp

    p.s. SWEET pickles!

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  13. National Pickle Month? I had no idea. And now there’s only one day left to celebrate… but this definitely is the place to do it!

    Love the dinner-table question, too.

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  14. I love dill pickles, particularly if they’re made with lots of garlic. I also love pickle juice! (Yes, I will occasionally sip from the empty jar!)

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  18. Pickle Posting

    Isn’t pickle a fabulous word? So much fun in the word itself. We have to have both dill and bread and butter pickles in the house to please particular pickle people.

    I introduced Arlo Guthrie to my teenage son this a few weeks ago. I’d bought Arlo’s “Greatest Hits” for the two day car ride to Maine. It amused us all.

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  24. PoetryForChildren

    Hi, Jama,
    Thanks for joining the Poetry Friday gang and for your help in smoothing out the wrinkles. Who knew there was a pickle month? And I love the Arlo connection, too. You rock!
    Sylvia

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