When I was a child I loved to read Mad magazine, always first rifling through the pages to quickly find the deliciously enjoyable Spy vs Spy series. Antonio Prohías, an award-winning cartoonist, in exile from Cuba for being accused by Fidel Castro of spying for the CIA one day walked into New York's Mad magazine office, portfolio in hand. Unable to speak much English he was assisted by his daughter’s interpretation. He sold his first three Spy vs Spy cartoons that very day. No one had to explain to me when I first viewed the wordless cartoon that the opposing spies represented the U.S.A. and the Soviets.
At my Catholic grammar school, we had periodic drills in case of an attack/nuclear bomb. These drills required us to sit crossed legged in the school hallway (away from classroom windows and possibly breaking glass) and to tuck our heads in our laps, while shielding our heads with our arms. We kept cigar-sized boxes in our desks that contained water, chocolate, gauze and such, to tide us over until help could arrive. Like the fire safety slogan, "Stop, Drop and Roll," the drills had a kid-friendly catchy phrase, “Duck and Cover.” Again, it was clear we were ducking and covering because of the threat of the U.S.S.R.
When I wasn’t wasting my childhood brain on the reading of Mad magazine I would view the television cartoons of The Rocky and Bullwinkle Show. Again, always eager for the episodes featuring the nefarious spies, Boris Badenov and his sidekick, Natasha. Boris and Natasha spoke with mock-Russian accents and worked for the fictional dictator-run nation, Pottsylvania, “…but, first we must get moose and squirrel.” Together the protagonist Rocky, a flying squirrel and his sweet-natured pal, Bullwinkle, a moose, valiantly fought for truth, justice and the American way- wait, I’m mixing them up with Superman, but you get where I’m going with this -I was raised, I was reared, I was brought to maturity on this good vs. evil stuff, and the enemy, in my mind, was always the Russian government.
And now in my retirement years I see the whole Russian spy-thing playing out, in real time, like some kind of bizarre James Bond soap opera. There is the quiet lead-in, then nothing for a couple of days, then *Bing-Bang-Boom* rapid-fire, fast-action sequencing that makes it nearly impossible to follow the multiple threads. Then I’m left, breathlessly waiting for the next shoe to drop.
This is all bolstered by the fact that I follow the Twitter accounts of some exceptionally knowledgeable, patriotic political writers, analysts, statisticians and such. I cling tenaciously to the words of those who assure me that my side, the “good guys,” will eventually victor. It’s addicting and at the same time I know it’s not good for my health.
I long for the warm days of spring, with her longer periods of sunlight, that will allow me to put down my IPhone, allow me to go outside and work in my garden, allow me to drive more often into the city to visit beloved family and friends, allow me to take longer walk/jogs at home here around Privatopia.
I pine for a quick end to this political madness. But I know that even as I see our current president slowly heading for the drain, it could be that it's one of those slow, partially clogged drains and thus it will be a lengthy drawn-out process before he, along with the dirty water, will begin to finally spin quickly and then even more quickly, -when suddenly *slurp*, down he will go. And I also know that if, let me repeat this once again, IF this plays out, this will not be the end -no, not by a long shot, it will not be “over” for my country. No, for a sizable rift has been carved directly into the heartland of this nation and that divide will require some degree of surgical intervention.
I have faith that eventually we, as a nation, will heal, although it will be a long and slow recovery. I have that faith because daily I read and re-read the heartfelt Twitter accounts of so many intelligent, well-educated, young Americans, who thoughtfully advocate strongly for “truth, justice and the American way.” Yes, my nation is going to recover.
On another note, the weather reports indicate that it’s warming up this week, and so my garden, not unlike my nation, will need some tending. It needs, as a whole, to be kept a watchful eye upon, to be inspected for weeds, its trees and plants will need loving encouragement, pruning, clean and adequate life-essential water, healthy and healing sunshine…
I’m donning my jacket, putting on my boots, tugging on my gloves, gathering my tools and I’m heading outdoors. There is work to be done!
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In light of the many protests throughout Russia today (March 26, 2017) I thought I should add a note to my blog to say that I do NOT consider the Russian people to be the enemy, foes, adversaries or rivals. It is their ruler, Putin, and his regime that I oppose. Today my heart goes out to the many protesters, like the pictured young woman, the frightened boy, and the young man who gives the acknowledging-eye to the photographer. I admire their bravery: love & peace, my world brothers and sisters!
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| one of my childhood faves |
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| As I recall Boris & crew were about to draw straws to see who would swim across the body of water |
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| "duck and cover" in case of attack |
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| practice makes perfect |
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| just outside my door - when I place my hand on the knob she will look up, then dart away |
