52 Comments
Apr 10Liked by Sharron Bassano

One of my favorites too. Magic in a siren way. PErfect companion story to the ancient goddess. Thanks for bringing her out again after SO long )))

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Thanks, Kate. For some reason I love how that man suffers at the sight of Jolene and has given up trying to resist her. I, too, thought the two stories were of the same theme.

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Apr 10Liked by Sharron Bassano

That reads like a country song, the way they used to make country songs. Or an Elmore Leonard novel.

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Well, shoot! I should get Mark Starlin to put it to music! Thanks, John.

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Apr 10Liked by Sharron Bassano

.. read it once ‘so far

what’s that sly word & meaning.. ? ? licentious .. ha.. lascivious ..

side order o innuendo.. gah ! Unrequited even mebbe ? 🦎🏴‍☠️

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Oh that Jolene. She is just working him. She loves the power she has over him. He has surrendered.

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I love this Sharron! But I still wouldn’t want her to take my man 😂

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I get your reference. Ha ha ha

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Dolly Parton says on some interview on YouTube that there’s always some woman out there who could probably take one’s man. That statement made me feel guilty about one year when I had a totally platonic, talk on the phone relationship with a man I deeply admired. (He put his phone number out for anyone to call him about problems, that’s a long story!!!) I look back and think I shouldn’t have taken his time that way and still feel terrible for the time taken from his family. And I was no Jolene beauty, no Auburn locks nor eyes of emerald green. But maybe we all have a touch of being a potential Jolene and can guard against it. 😘

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Maybe. Let's put that in the past tense, Karen. ha ha ha

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Apr 11Liked by Sharron Bassano

You're too funny Sharron. Haha.

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No, YOU are funny.

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Temptress and she knows it. Youth flaunts the breezes with wind in the willows. Cut off shorts create quite a subject matter written about for ages but leaves Tantalus in purgatory reaching for an apple he cannot comprehend.

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Yep. Same story since time immemorial...

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Apr 10Liked by Sharron Bassano

Really. There's always that gal who can turn a guys head around and make him crazy!

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Some women seem to work at it - they've got it, might as well flaunt it. Can't say I wouldn't have done the same - if I'd had the same type of build. Ha ha ha Then again, maybe her body is all that little Jolene has going for her...

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Apr 10Liked by Sharron Bassano

"Then again, maybe her body is all that little Jolene has going for her..." So true. Still...

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Hah! Spoken like a real practical man, James Ron.

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Ultimately, a girl who attracts men initially because of her great body, needs to have many other things going for her to keep a relationship growing. I imagine it could almost be a handicap in a sense, (though I wouldn’t turn down having a great body 😅)

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Okay... I will have to think about that, Karen. Thanks!

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"I'm begging of you, please don't take my man..."

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Hee hee hee!

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Apr 11Liked by Sharron Bassano

I loved this maybe even more the second time around, Sharron. She has complete power over him, doesn’t she? Have you ever listened to any Ray Lamontagne? He has a song titled “Jolene” and it pairs so beautifully with this story.

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Apr 11Liked by Sharron Bassano

In addition to Dolly’s “Jolene”, of course, ha!

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I didn't know of Ray Montagne. I checked him out. Love that rugged, rough sound mixed with obvious sensitivity. A magic combination, if you ask me.

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He’s one of my favorites! He has a wonderful variety of albums.

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Apr 11Liked by Sharron Bassano

Love the story but must not look at the picture. Must not look. I'm old enough to feel like it would be creepy. Ok, I looked again, I'm definitely creepy, but I'm working on myself.

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Yes, Jim... just keep that positive self-talk going. You'll be fine, you'll be fine. I should have sent a warning...

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Loved this, Sharron!

'....and she knows it'. Yup, she sure does!

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Just using what she was given to her best advantage. Smart girl.

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There have always been women who understood their power, and it ain't in the board room. More has been finagled, whispered in ears, and accomplished under the sheets than in any other venue, except maybe the kitchen.

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Ah, well, you do what you can do, drawing on your strengths where you can. Jolene knows what she wants and how to get it. That's more than I can say for some of us...

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Apr 11Liked by Sharron Bassano

Awesome read!

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Wow! Thank you, Padra! And welcome to 🌿Leaves. So happy to see you over here on my little island in the Great Substack Sea.

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Certainly me too. I try to get something I want and the room empties.

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Apr 11Liked by Sharron Bassano

I love/hate/want to be Jolene. Great reads, Sharron.

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I know what you mean. But, um...would your husband go for the new Jolene-version of Meg?

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Apr 12Liked by Sharron Bassano

He already gets the Jolene version of Meg. 😂 And he's the only one.

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Whew! Is it getting hot in here?

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Just a hot flash in my case. Thanks, perimenopause. 🙃

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Apr 12Liked by Sharron Bassano

Beautiful story, you posted it on my birthday :).

I'm fascinated with the comments section. People think that such a young girl knows her power over men but it's not true. Young girls have no idea of the new meanings their bodies acquire when they start to change. To a certain extent, we put those meanings into them.

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Wise words, Claudia. Thank you! She'll learn soon enough, won't she. And thanks for reading 🌿Leaves -- there is so much to choose from and I appreciate you choosing me.

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I have heard it said that the cruelty that girls can show others when they are that age is them discovering the boundaries of their new-found power.

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Might be true, Dee Dee. I guess some DO go a bit overboard. It might make them lose touch, much in the same way that having a lot of money can....?

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Femme fatale, we hear the siren’s call, strap me to the mast .. quick! 😅

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Phew!! Out of the danger zone - and not a moment too soon. Best laugh of the day, Alexander. Thank you. Not exactly sure why, but this post instantly shot up to the very top of the favorites list. Are my readers trying to tell me something?

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Yes, use all the word and dig deep

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Okay! Got it! But I am off to look for more photos of half-dressed young women...just in case.

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Apr 27Liked by Sharron Bassano

Captures it all so perfectly and concisely.

Strong stuff, Sharron 👏

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Ooooh! Good, Nathan! Thanks for poking around in my archive. Glad you found something you liked. My work is a bit up and down, as you see. This was one of my favorites.

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