PUT IT ON THE LIST
‘If you want anything to get done,’ Mama will say, ‘you need to put it on the list.’ That is the common refrain of our household: Put it on the list! Did we run out of milk again? Put it on the list. Is it your turn to iron laundry? Put it on the list. Is there a party next week? Put it on the list. Do you want to save the universe? Put it on the list.
One inspired evening, we began singing it to the jaunty tune of ‘Puttin’ on the Ritz.’ We decided with hilarious laughter that there should be a song just for us, called ‘Put It on the List’—a list of all the things that we do, buy and want.
So we put it on the list.
Finally, here it is! The famous syncopation made the lyrics the challenge of an entire afternoon, but this favorite scene from Jeeves and Wooster provided light-hearted commiseration. {And since that television series was our introduction to the song, here is a ukulele version that seems just the sort of thing for the Drones Club minstrels!}
{PUT IT ON THE LIST}
Twenty pounds of sorted fruits
Size thirteen in cowboy boots,
A ginger-flavored Larabar,
A silver Panamera car.
Fix lunch and iron laundry,
Wash plates and solve this quand’ry:
Will we have a single dime?
And when will there be time?
Things to do,
Things to buy, and where to go to—
All these must go on a paper wish.
Put it on the list.
Errands, chores, shopping, honey-do’s
Reenactments and parties too!
Will they fit?
Make another list!
Publix, BJ’s, library, Home Depot,
Now they call to say they want pistachios.
{Note that info.}
Plans, ambitions, hopes, needs, and dreams—
If you truly want to see these
Accomplished.
Put ‘em on the list.
• shopping lists for a party and my daily schedule •
December 20, 2013