The Monkees | Page 6 | Fab Forum | The Beatles Bible

I know what you mean, but I must admit I keep my eyes open for that Season 1 (or 2) box when I’m in the used records store. I have all the deluxe CDs, the Listen to the Band box, and lot’s of Nez solo music. I got a used copy of the Monkees in Mono box that contains the first 5 vinyl albums. 3 of the albums are still sealed! I’ve never listened to them because I don’t have a working record player, but at $30. it was a great deal and I’m happy just to look at it.  

A Monkee Tale

A decade ago (give or take a year), I was celebrating Easter at my Dad’s place in Carmel Valley, California. There were a lot of little kids in our family then and my Stepmom ran out of vinegar for the egg coloring activities. My Dad and I jumped in the car and drove down the hill to Safeway that due to the holiday was closing early at 12:00. Here is a map to show where the character’s in this story resided.

My Dad lived on the Carmel Valley Ranch in a house perched on a hillside. Doris Day lived in the mansion on a higher hill overlooking the Carmel River, the ranch, and the Santa Lucia mountains. Unbeknown to me, Nez lived down the road a bit in the Sleepy Hollow community. My Dad adored Doris Day from her jazz singing career in the forties. She worked with Benny Goodman, Duke Ellington, Tommy Dorsey, and Glenn Miller and I believe was the original vocalist on the hit song Sentimental Journey (later covered by Ringo). She went on to star in movies and television. She was well known in Carmel Valley and always had her two little dogs with her. My Dad could never work up the courage to approach her to tell her what a big fan he was.  Everyone knew that Mike Nesmith lived in the general Monterey-Carmel area. He ran a local production company and did lots of charity work, so I knew he was around. I have been a fan of his for over 50 years and have always been inspired by his musical talent and humor.

We got to the store right before closing and found the vinegar. This particular Safeway has a high-end butcher shop and my Dad said we should see if they have any of the little weenies the kids like (they came in links of 5). We headed to the back of the store and there were two people waiting. One was Doris Day (with her doggies) and the other was a tall man with a baseball hat pulled low over his forehead. From behind us the weekend manager walked up and said to the man “Hello Mr. Nesmith, I haven’t seen you round in a while. Have you been helped?”.  In a voice I’d recognize anywhere he replied that he’d been really busy lately and yes he was being helped.

So…my mind starts racing. Neither my Dad or I is going to “possibly” annoy these people we love, but if they greet each other that could be our opening. I doubt there were any other two people on earth (standing next to each other) for which both my Dad and I had pictures of in our bedrooms when we were teenagers. Next I thought, Doris’s son Terry Melcher was a record producer in the LA sixties scene. Maybe Mike knew him as everyone was using the Wreaking Crew (studio musicians) back then. Finally, I thought if one of them orders the special weenies I’m going to comment “Wow, we like those too. Hey, aren’t you Doris Day/Mike Nesmith”. Sadly, that didn’t happen and they got their orders and left. My Dad and I never really got along that well and it was a shame to miss out on that bonding opportunity. Now that everyone in this story is gone except for me, thinking of the 4 of us standing there does make for a fond memory (especially our laughter together driving home with the vinegar and weenies).

Sarge – if you ever are inclined to make a digital drawing of this story, here is what the characters looked like .

Doris – her hair was shorter than this, but she was wearing a similar hat. Also her little doggies were pure white.

Nez – he wasn’t scowling that day but this was how he wore his cap.

Papa Butterfly

sigh butterfly

Safeway manager

The weenies

Absolutely!! Thanks VB

That is wild VB. I have to give this a good listen.