Hi Tommy! Your post is always a good way to start my Saturday. A question for you: what Dolly Parton song(s) do you think is/are best for these times in the sense of faith and the endurance to do the work that needs to be done?
If you have not seen this clip from You tube of Dolly talking about how she decided to record Cat Stevens' song Peace Train. The clip is 7 minutes but the song is so lovely and hopeful. Here is the link:https://youtu.be/7Cj5YxsuxrU?si=iutVjmliOV-zkl3O
Writing about grace and Dolly is a bit redundant but I love the overlap. One more advantage, among many, of living here in France, 🇫🇷 is that the well educated folk here just passed a law that prohibits telemarketing calls. (They also recently enshrined abortion rights in their constitution and passed right to die legislation so women don’t have to risk their lives in childbirth and terminally ill folk can end their suffering with medical help). For years my husband has graciously dismissed American telemarketers who get through to us on our U.S. mobile numbers; I mostly tell them I’m having a colonoscopy and ask them to call back later. As for Dolly, I cried through breakfast this morning watching an old Letterman video of her singing After the Gold Rush with Linda Ronstadt and Emmy. Lou Harris. It’s what music sounds like in heaven. The Newyorker tribute to Dolly is one of the best I read — brasides your’s of course.
My housemate works online for a pharmacy helpline and I once had a corporate career in customer service. Thanks for reminding people that others are doing the best they can do at some less fabulous jobs. I think Be Kind is the best possible way to live. Also please give a plug to the National storytelling festival in Jonesboro Tennessee..stories are the best way to build bridges.
Thank you, Tommy for another great column. Like you, I used to get very annoyed by marketing calls but maybe one of the benefits of age (and I have a decade on you) is understanding the importance of kindness, taking a breath and yes, the grace that you also mention. Maybe we just all need to channel Dolly more.
We have a 5-day trip planned in October. We always board our 3 dogs at Rudder’s Resort in Belmont @ruddersresort on Insta (if I may share that info; if not please remove).
Our granddog, I’ll call him Spot, always stayed with us when his family was out of town. Since his buddy died last year, he was lonely at home and stayed in a crate all day. He suffers anxiety when alone. So Spot decided he wanted to be part of our pack and moved in for good about 6 weeks ago.
Our plan was for our Spot to stay at his old home during our vacation. I worried about leaving him after he found his happy, comfort zone with us.
This morning after much thought, I texted the owner of Rudder’s Resort, explained the situation, and asked if she could accommodate Spot along with our 3 dogs in October.
Her gracious reply: “I’d love to have him here! Happy to COMP his stay as well.”
The older I get, the more I feel like extending grace to people even when they sometimes don't deserve it. Because, as the saying goes, you never know what burdens some people are carrying. But there are a few people whose offenses are so egregious that I don't give a damn what burdens they might be carrying. Not you. Or you. Or even you. But that person over there? Hmmm. I don't know.
I love the sentiment of giving grace. I work with the public and constantly have to remind myself when people behave poorly that I don't know what's going on in their life to lead them to those choices/those words. It's not automatic, but it is a choice to give grace, and I don't nail it every time, but I do continue to consistently try (and often, in my head, bless their hearts too).
Of course I feel guilty and then I go schedule a colonoscopy...my favorite dolly story is the one where she bails out Porter Wagoner by buying his music rights when he falls on hard times...this after he sues her for $3 million. And she then turns around and gives him back his music. I think Dolly was Jesus in a wig, but nobody recognized her. The historical Jesus, not the magical one. A bientot mon ami.
Tommy, I love your post about grace! Do you remember the ladies who would come to our office in the evenings to market the Charlotte Observer by phone? Lolo called them the "Phonettes." She would talk to them and tell us their amazing stories. Since then, I've had trouble hanging up on telemarketers. But now that most are AI, I have no trouble at all!
Hi Tommy! Your post is always a good way to start my Saturday. A question for you: what Dolly Parton song(s) do you think is/are best for these times in the sense of faith and the endurance to do the work that needs to be done?
Wow, this is a good question ... I would pick "Light of a Clear Blue Morning." https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RfinvuRolR0
If you have not seen this clip from You tube of Dolly talking about how she decided to record Cat Stevens' song Peace Train. The clip is 7 minutes but the song is so lovely and hopeful. Here is the link:https://youtu.be/7Cj5YxsuxrU?si=iutVjmliOV-zkl3O
Wow, that's beautiful. Had never heard this!
"Down From Dover" is great, one of the Dolly cuts I played on my show this week: https://www.y42k.com/2026/08/27/listen-to-wmfos-tardis-jukebox-for-august-26-2026/
Very cool! Thanks, Ray.
Writing about grace and Dolly is a bit redundant but I love the overlap. One more advantage, among many, of living here in France, 🇫🇷 is that the well educated folk here just passed a law that prohibits telemarketing calls. (They also recently enshrined abortion rights in their constitution and passed right to die legislation so women don’t have to risk their lives in childbirth and terminally ill folk can end their suffering with medical help). For years my husband has graciously dismissed American telemarketers who get through to us on our U.S. mobile numbers; I mostly tell them I’m having a colonoscopy and ask them to call back later. As for Dolly, I cried through breakfast this morning watching an old Letterman video of her singing After the Gold Rush with Linda Ronstadt and Emmy. Lou Harris. It’s what music sounds like in heaven. The Newyorker tribute to Dolly is one of the best I read — brasides your’s of course.
That’s it! I’m moving to France 🇫🇷
Please do...we welcome everyone
"I'm having a colonoscopy" is such a perfect response :)
My housemate works online for a pharmacy helpline and I once had a corporate career in customer service. Thanks for reminding people that others are doing the best they can do at some less fabulous jobs. I think Be Kind is the best possible way to live. Also please give a plug to the National storytelling festival in Jonesboro Tennessee..stories are the best way to build bridges.
I need to go to Jonesboro for that festival sometime ...
Thank you, Tommy for another great column. Like you, I used to get very annoyed by marketing calls but maybe one of the benefits of age (and I have a decade on you) is understanding the importance of kindness, taking a breath and yes, the grace that you also mention. Maybe we just all need to channel Dolly more.
Not a bad idea. Dolly understood the assignment better than any of us.
We have a 5-day trip planned in October. We always board our 3 dogs at Rudder’s Resort in Belmont @ruddersresort on Insta (if I may share that info; if not please remove).
Our granddog, I’ll call him Spot, always stayed with us when his family was out of town. Since his buddy died last year, he was lonely at home and stayed in a crate all day. He suffers anxiety when alone. So Spot decided he wanted to be part of our pack and moved in for good about 6 weeks ago.
Our plan was for our Spot to stay at his old home during our vacation. I worried about leaving him after he found his happy, comfort zone with us.
This morning after much thought, I texted the owner of Rudder’s Resort, explained the situation, and asked if she could accommodate Spot along with our 3 dogs in October.
Her gracious reply: “I’d love to have him here! Happy to COMP his stay as well.”
Now that's great service...
To give grace is a choice. To receive grace is a blessing.
The older I get, the more I feel like extending grace to people even when they sometimes don't deserve it. Because, as the saying goes, you never know what burdens some people are carrying. But there are a few people whose offenses are so egregious that I don't give a damn what burdens they might be carrying. Not you. Or you. Or even you. But that person over there? Hmmm. I don't know.
You're right--not everybody has earned grace. But sometimes it's a gift worth giving anyway.
I think that's fair.
I love the sentiment of giving grace. I work with the public and constantly have to remind myself when people behave poorly that I don't know what's going on in their life to lead them to those choices/those words. It's not automatic, but it is a choice to give grace, and I don't nail it every time, but I do continue to consistently try (and often, in my head, bless their hearts too).
All we can do is keep trying...
My fav Dolly song is her cover of Tom Petty’s Southern Accents. Makes me tear up a bit.
It's great--and that's one of my favorite songs anyway...
Great reading, as usual. Hope you know you were quoted in Frank Bruni’s column today - my idea of high praise for writing. 😊
Somebody else mentioned that to me! High cotton for sure...
Of course I feel guilty and then I go schedule a colonoscopy...my favorite dolly story is the one where she bails out Porter Wagoner by buying his music rights when he falls on hard times...this after he sues her for $3 million. And she then turns around and gives him back his music. I think Dolly was Jesus in a wig, but nobody recognized her. The historical Jesus, not the magical one. A bientot mon ami.
Hi! You may have already seen this in the last NC Rabbit Hole but this piece from The Assembly is an amazing read for any Dolly bluegrass fans! https://www.theassemblync.com/news/culture/music/dolly-parton-barry-poss-sugar-hill-records-durham-nc/
Tommy, I love your post about grace! Do you remember the ladies who would come to our office in the evenings to market the Charlotte Observer by phone? Lolo called them the "Phonettes." She would talk to them and tell us their amazing stories. Since then, I've had trouble hanging up on telemarketers. But now that most are AI, I have no trouble at all!