Monday, October 26, 2009

Comic relief

Here's what I saw when I entered the MD's office this morning for a check-up. Right in front of the window where the receptionist sits. Unless something really new and terrific comes along to outclass such excellent and fitting Halloween decor, consider this is my contribution to the holiday celebration.

Of course, I had more in mind when I planned this post. Three comic strips I've clipped which were particularly poignant. Number one, above, takes me all the way back to my childhood and then to my own motherhood. Long, long ago in the far beyond, my mom made a point of declaring that all store bought witch or princess costumes only proved that the wearers (or certainly their mothers) lacked imagination. She managed to convince me, though I had a hard time convincing the dotter that a fine Cat in the Hat outfit that I made from cast off grey sweaters plus a big stovepipe hat fashioned from a kraft paper grocery bag, painted in those famous red & white stripes, beat all hell out of outfits from the store. Of course, back in those days, All Hallow's Eve had not become a big national holiday worthy of huge temporary shops dedicated to ghosts, goblins and even costumes for Rover. I wonder if anybody bothers to dream up a one-off costume these days; so many themes have already been coopted by the Halloween industry.

You've probably noted that I have a habit of treating The Google in the style of a modern oracle. I felt absolutely vindicated when I caught this bit in the Arizona Republic a couple of days ago. Repeat after me, ALL PRAISE TO THE GOOGLE.

Finally a memorial to my dear, late cat, Max, who, like Fuzzy, was likely to suddenly march up and bite, without warning or reason. I still miss Max very much; he never returned home.

Note: I realize that I have jumped copyright on these cartoons and hope that the owners will be kind enough to consider this post the equivalent of inviting my friends to see the clippings that I post on my refrigerator.

14 comments:

OmegaMom said...

And, in further irony, your dotter remembers the Cat in the Hat costume quite well, and recounts the tale to all & sundry as an example of the wonderful costumes my mom created for me when I was a little one.

I am sad to say that you will not get pics of pink camo pants; we couldn't find them locally, and I was unwilling to pay the double-the-price shipping. OmegaDotter is still going as a Rock Star, though, just sans the pink camo...

I am still very sorry about Max. :-(

Steve said...

I must have missed the Max post. Did Max run off or did something more sinister happen to your friend?

Antipodean Curmudgeon said...

Mom's ventures into costumery, with me, started with the skunk suit with elevatable sail and hit it's apex with the yellow, plaid zoot suit coat she constructed. Pop contributed with a battery powered flashing bow tie to complete the outfit.

Your efforts in providing proper outfits for assorted occasions in her latter years were outstanding.

Hermano

Changes in the wind said...

When I first saw the skeleton in the Dr. office I thought it was a protest against the Obama health care:):) Seems apporpriate for that as well as the season.

quilteddogs said...

Oh no! I am so terribly sorry to hear about Max. What a sad, sad thing for you.

Catalyst said...

I, too, will grieve the loss of Max. He is/was a beautiful cat.

Anonymous said...

Hugs to you, GJ, re: Max Cat.

Words cannot ease the loss right now.

~Anon in AV.

Judy said...

I think that Halloween decoration is about the best I have seen. It made me laugh.
So sorry to hear about Max not returning home.

Kathleen said...

So sorry to hear that Max was lost =(

I remember a Martha Washington costume my mom made - complete with a white cotton wig and a skirt with a hula hoop.

Well, that just dated me! roflol!

Granny J said...

First, thank you, everyone, for your appreciation of Max and sorrow at his disappearance. I've no idea of his fate; he ran away and never came home.

Granny J said...

dotter -- I enjoyed the making -- and, of course, coming up with the outre idea of an appropriate costume (in its time -- I've no doubt that a perfectly good Cat in the Hat costume or any other Suess character can be boughten at the Halloween store these days...)

bro -- I never got to see that famous outfit, being up in the wicked north rebelling against all things Jacksonville.

changes -- actually, the doc said the skeleton was his wife's idea.

frame -- Martha Washington -- that sounds pretty doggone elaborate.

Kathleen said...

It was a very fun costume - and I refused to let Mom disassemble it... well, until I wanted my hula hoop back! I think that the wig is still in the sewing box...

Lucy said...

I too am very sorry about Max, he was so lovely. How old was he? That's the worry with cats, one simply can't keep tabs on them, they need to be free to go off.

Granny J said...

frame -- that's the trouble when an important item gets borrowed for another important use...

lucy -- Max was a member of the family for eight years. As a cat of Great Attitude, he could not be kept indoors...

 
Photo Blog Blog Top Sites Blog Directory for Prescott, AZ

Local Blogs - Blog Top Sites