I hope y'all don't mind another poem, but right now I still have writer's block (which is worse than writer's cramp)...
So many miles away
lies the country where my heart belongs.
Each moment of each day
it's to be by you for which I long.
And when I might despair,
I realise that you might feel the same.
I hope to hear your voice so fair
speak now and bring magic to my name.
For if you feel for me
the emotion that I feel for you
the distance ceases to be
and close neighbours become we two.
The distance between us
is not enough to keep us apart.
Though miles lie between us
we can be together in our hearts.
Saturday, February 5, 2005
Friday, February 4, 2005
Michelle
Okay, I have writer's block, so here is another poem. LOL. Of all the poems I have written, this is my favourite.
If you wove sunshine, it would be her hair,
And if stars were green they would be her eyes.
The gods themselves have seen no one so fair,
For all the heavens sing when she walks by.
Every movement is a work of art.
Every word she speaks is a song.
From her no man would willingly part,
For her favour he would forever long.
A fair and wise woman with whom to talk,
Her mind is as bright as her face is fair.
Poetry blooms wherever she may walk,
And beauty follows her everywhere.
If you wove sunshine, it would be her hair,
And if stars were green they would be her eyes.
The gods themselves have seen no one so fair,
For all the heavens sing when she walks by.
Every movement is a work of art.
Every word she speaks is a song.
From her no man would willingly part,
For her favour he would forever long.
A fair and wise woman with whom to talk,
Her mind is as bright as her face is fair.
Poetry blooms wherever she may walk,
And beauty follows her everywhere.
Sunday, January 30, 2005
Downtown
I don't know how many of you remember the old Petulia Clark song "Downtown." I remember hearing on the radio constantly when I was about three or four. There was a time when the downtown districts of towns were their hearts. They were where everything seemed to go on and where the bulk of the businesses were located. It seems to me that at some point in the Seventies (earlier for some towns), downtown districts went into decline. Shops closed and there weren't the variety of businesses that there once were downtown. I think that has changed for some cities, although I can think plenty, particularly small towns, whose downtown districts have never recovered.
Indeed, downtown Huntsville is a far cry from what it once was. Indeed, before I was born we not only had many businesses downtown, but our downtown was historic. It was in downtown Huntsville that the first Westlake Hardware store was opened. For those of you don't know, the Westlake Hardware chain was one of the cornerstones of the Ace Hardware chain. Downtown Huntsville also had a movie theatre, the Roxy, which closed several years before I was born. Huntsville's downtown suffered a blow even before I was born when part of it was cleared to make way for the new bank and the new post office. Still, there were plenty of businesses there when I was young. There was Westlake Hardware, Dave's TV, the drugstore, two grocery stores (Summers and Temple Stevens), and a cafe. Over the years all of these businesses closed. The drugstore and Summers burned. I guess the others just could not make a go of it. The recessions of the Seventies and Eighties took their toll.
Of course, neighbouring Moberly didn't fare much better. At one time downtown Moberly boasted two department stores (J. C. Penney and Montgomery Ward), a Krogers grocery store, two dime stores (Woolworth and Ben Franklin), a Coast to Coast store (a midwestern home and garden chain), and several clothing stores. J. C. Penney, Woolworth, Coast to Coast, and Ben Franklin are all gone now. Even the movie theatres aren't downtown any longer.
I am not quite sure why downtown districts started drying up. I know many of laid the blame at such discount store chains as WalMart, Kmart, and Costco, but personally I am not sure that I buy that. These chains arose in the Sixties and it seems to me that downtown districts really didn't start going downhill until the Seventies and Eighties. I think part of it may have been the phenomenon of the "strip," the length of highway that either runs through or beside many towns. In Moberly many businesses moved out to Business Highway 63, aka Morley Street. Even the theatres are located there now (they built the new Five and Drive beside the Drive In). I think another part could have been the simply the economy of the Seventies and Eighties. It doesn't seem to me coincidence that we went through recessions during these times when so many businesses were closing their doors. In the case of Moberly, I think its downtown was hurt simply by the railrood pulling up stakes and moving elsewhere. Besides the Thomas Hill Power Plant and farming, the railroad was Randolph County's chief industry. I have no doubt when it left it seriously hurt our economy.
At any rate, it does seem to me that downtown districts have recovered to some degree. In Huntsville there is Thelma's Gift Corral, Cindy's Craft Shop, and Cleeton's Flea Market, even though we have yet to get another drug store or downtown grocer. Moberly has a Dollar General downtown and several clothing stores. Of course, Huntsville and Moberly are both small towns. I think it has largely been the downtown districts of larger cities that have really recovered. I remember that Columbia's downtown district was in sharp decline in the Eighties. Now virtually it is filled with an array of specialty shops, everything from Best of the West (specialising in art and jewellery from the American Southwest) to the Danger Room (the local comic book and gaming shop) to several clothing stores.
I can only hope that the downtown districts of small towns recover the way that Columbia's downtown has. There is something to be said for an area in a city where one can go to a variety of shops, even walking from one shop to another. In fact, it seems a lot more convenient that driving to a WalMart, then to an Ace Hardware about a mile away, and then to a theatre that may be a little more further away...
Indeed, downtown Huntsville is a far cry from what it once was. Indeed, before I was born we not only had many businesses downtown, but our downtown was historic. It was in downtown Huntsville that the first Westlake Hardware store was opened. For those of you don't know, the Westlake Hardware chain was one of the cornerstones of the Ace Hardware chain. Downtown Huntsville also had a movie theatre, the Roxy, which closed several years before I was born. Huntsville's downtown suffered a blow even before I was born when part of it was cleared to make way for the new bank and the new post office. Still, there were plenty of businesses there when I was young. There was Westlake Hardware, Dave's TV, the drugstore, two grocery stores (Summers and Temple Stevens), and a cafe. Over the years all of these businesses closed. The drugstore and Summers burned. I guess the others just could not make a go of it. The recessions of the Seventies and Eighties took their toll.
Of course, neighbouring Moberly didn't fare much better. At one time downtown Moberly boasted two department stores (J. C. Penney and Montgomery Ward), a Krogers grocery store, two dime stores (Woolworth and Ben Franklin), a Coast to Coast store (a midwestern home and garden chain), and several clothing stores. J. C. Penney, Woolworth, Coast to Coast, and Ben Franklin are all gone now. Even the movie theatres aren't downtown any longer.
I am not quite sure why downtown districts started drying up. I know many of laid the blame at such discount store chains as WalMart, Kmart, and Costco, but personally I am not sure that I buy that. These chains arose in the Sixties and it seems to me that downtown districts really didn't start going downhill until the Seventies and Eighties. I think part of it may have been the phenomenon of the "strip," the length of highway that either runs through or beside many towns. In Moberly many businesses moved out to Business Highway 63, aka Morley Street. Even the theatres are located there now (they built the new Five and Drive beside the Drive In). I think another part could have been the simply the economy of the Seventies and Eighties. It doesn't seem to me coincidence that we went through recessions during these times when so many businesses were closing their doors. In the case of Moberly, I think its downtown was hurt simply by the railrood pulling up stakes and moving elsewhere. Besides the Thomas Hill Power Plant and farming, the railroad was Randolph County's chief industry. I have no doubt when it left it seriously hurt our economy.
At any rate, it does seem to me that downtown districts have recovered to some degree. In Huntsville there is Thelma's Gift Corral, Cindy's Craft Shop, and Cleeton's Flea Market, even though we have yet to get another drug store or downtown grocer. Moberly has a Dollar General downtown and several clothing stores. Of course, Huntsville and Moberly are both small towns. I think it has largely been the downtown districts of larger cities that have really recovered. I remember that Columbia's downtown district was in sharp decline in the Eighties. Now virtually it is filled with an array of specialty shops, everything from Best of the West (specialising in art and jewellery from the American Southwest) to the Danger Room (the local comic book and gaming shop) to several clothing stores.
I can only hope that the downtown districts of small towns recover the way that Columbia's downtown has. There is something to be said for an area in a city where one can go to a variety of shops, even walking from one shop to another. In fact, it seems a lot more convenient that driving to a WalMart, then to an Ace Hardware about a mile away, and then to a theatre that may be a little more further away...
Saturday, January 29, 2005
A Hedge of Thorns
I thought for a change I would subject any readers I might have to some of my poetry. This one is based on the fairy tale "Sleeping Beauty." By the way, her eyes are green because there is a certain woman I have always thought looks a lot like Sleeping Beauty....
So much stands between us two,
a hedge of thorns, a lake of fire.
A sleeping curse e'er keeps you
imprisoned in a castle dire.
So many have tried before
to save the day and win your heart.
Dead litter the castle door,
brave knights and princes torn apart.
Yet I would brave the dragon
to look upon those eyes of green
and to stroke that hair so golden,
to kiss the fairest girl e'er seen.
Where others failed, I shall not
to awaken you from your sleep.
I've a weapon they did not,
a love that runs ever so deep.
Yet I would brave the dragon
to look upon those eyes of green
and to stroke that hair so golden,
to kiss the fairest girl e'er seen.
Where others failed, I shall not
to awaken you from your sleep.
I've a weapon they did not,
a love that runs ever so deep.
So much stands between us two,
a hedge of thorns, a lake of fire.
A sleeping curse e'er keeps you
imprisoned in a castle dire.
So many have tried before
to save the day and win your heart.
Dead litter the castle door,
brave knights and princes torn apart.
Yet I would brave the dragon
to look upon those eyes of green
and to stroke that hair so golden,
to kiss the fairest girl e'er seen.
Where others failed, I shall not
to awaken you from your sleep.
I've a weapon they did not,
a love that runs ever so deep.
Yet I would brave the dragon
to look upon those eyes of green
and to stroke that hair so golden,
to kiss the fairest girl e'er seen.
Where others failed, I shall not
to awaken you from your sleep.
I've a weapon they did not,
a love that runs ever so deep.
Friday, January 28, 2005
Genre Mélangé
For the most part it seems to me that people behave as if literary and film genres possess firm boundaries. A mystery is a mystery, a Western is a Western, and never the twain shall meet. In truth this is often not the case, as most literary and cinematic works tend to cross genre boundaries from time to time. The Ox-Bow Incident isn't just a Western, it is also a psychological drama as well. Pscyho isn't just a horror movie, but also a mystery. There are very few books or films that can truly be said to belong firmly to only one genre. That having been said, there are those times when a work combines two or more genres that are so distinct that it becomes something utterly new. I refer to such works as being genre mélangé or, in plain English, "mixed genre."
In my opinion the perfect example of genre mélangé is the old TV series The Wild Wild West. The Wild Wild West was pitched to CBS as James Bond in the Old West. It was then automatically planned to be a combination of the espionage and Western genres. As the series got underway, however, it emerged with elements of science fiction of the Jules Verne variety and even outright fantasy. The Wild Wild West was then not simply a Western, but also a spy drama and a sci-fi series. Common sense would seem to dicate that such a duke's mixture would not work. Not only would such a series be poor in quality, but it would also probably not see much success. Yet The Wild Wild West is regarded by many as a classic TV series. It ran four years on CBS before going onto one of the most successful syndication runs of all time. In fact, it was so successful that Fox debuted another sci-fi Western in the Nineties. While The Adventures of Brisco County Jr. did not have a long run, it remains a cult series to this day.
Another example of genre mélangé is the movie The Crimson Pirate. Made in 1952 at the height of Hollywood's pirate craze, The Crimson Pirate was ostensively a pirate movie. Burt Lancaster played the title character, Captain Vallo, who decided to sell weapons stolen from a Spanish galleon to a rebel leader. Along the way he encounters Professor Prudence, an inventor whose inventions are decidedly advanced for the 18th century! The Crimson Pirate is then not simply a pirate movie, but a sci-fi movie as well. As it is also played tongue in cheek and has a great deal of humour, it could also be considered a comedy. The Crimson Pirate is then simultaneously a pirate movie, a sci-fi movie, and a comedy.
Another cinematic example of genre mélangé is Kronos, known in the United States as Captain Kronos: Vampire Hunter. This Hammer classic follows the adventures of Kronos as he battles a new sort of vampire. The movie is obviously a horror film, yet as Kronos wields a sword to great effect, it can also be counted as a swashbuckler. Director/screenwriter Brian Clemens also incorporated elements of John Ford Westerns. Kronos is then a combination of horror, swashbuckler, and Western.
Of course, at times when enough works combine enough elements of enough genres, a whole new genre can be born. This was the case with cyberpunk. Cyberpunk combined film noir elements with elements of science fiction with a focus on computers and other information technologies. What originally began as genre mélangé became a subgenre of science fiction in its own right. Oddly enough, cyberpunk would spawn yet another subgenre--steampunk. Steampunk is a subgenre of science fiction using a Victorian or Victorian style setting, but with decidedly advanced technology (usually powered by steam, hence the name). The early steampunk works used the noir elements of cyberpunk and the same anti-authoritarian attitudes, although they eventually grew to resemble the scientific romances of Jules Verne and H. G. Wells more than cyberpunk. Arguably, both The Wild Wild West and Adventures of Brisco County Jr. could be considered precurssors to steampunk.
Anyhow, genre mélangé as probably existed as long as the whole convetion of genres has. Indeed, the past few years have seen Van Helsing, Hellboy, and others. I rather suspect as time goes by there will be more works of genre mélangé.
In my opinion the perfect example of genre mélangé is the old TV series The Wild Wild West. The Wild Wild West was pitched to CBS as James Bond in the Old West. It was then automatically planned to be a combination of the espionage and Western genres. As the series got underway, however, it emerged with elements of science fiction of the Jules Verne variety and even outright fantasy. The Wild Wild West was then not simply a Western, but also a spy drama and a sci-fi series. Common sense would seem to dicate that such a duke's mixture would not work. Not only would such a series be poor in quality, but it would also probably not see much success. Yet The Wild Wild West is regarded by many as a classic TV series. It ran four years on CBS before going onto one of the most successful syndication runs of all time. In fact, it was so successful that Fox debuted another sci-fi Western in the Nineties. While The Adventures of Brisco County Jr. did not have a long run, it remains a cult series to this day.
Another example of genre mélangé is the movie The Crimson Pirate. Made in 1952 at the height of Hollywood's pirate craze, The Crimson Pirate was ostensively a pirate movie. Burt Lancaster played the title character, Captain Vallo, who decided to sell weapons stolen from a Spanish galleon to a rebel leader. Along the way he encounters Professor Prudence, an inventor whose inventions are decidedly advanced for the 18th century! The Crimson Pirate is then not simply a pirate movie, but a sci-fi movie as well. As it is also played tongue in cheek and has a great deal of humour, it could also be considered a comedy. The Crimson Pirate is then simultaneously a pirate movie, a sci-fi movie, and a comedy.
Another cinematic example of genre mélangé is Kronos, known in the United States as Captain Kronos: Vampire Hunter. This Hammer classic follows the adventures of Kronos as he battles a new sort of vampire. The movie is obviously a horror film, yet as Kronos wields a sword to great effect, it can also be counted as a swashbuckler. Director/screenwriter Brian Clemens also incorporated elements of John Ford Westerns. Kronos is then a combination of horror, swashbuckler, and Western.
Of course, at times when enough works combine enough elements of enough genres, a whole new genre can be born. This was the case with cyberpunk. Cyberpunk combined film noir elements with elements of science fiction with a focus on computers and other information technologies. What originally began as genre mélangé became a subgenre of science fiction in its own right. Oddly enough, cyberpunk would spawn yet another subgenre--steampunk. Steampunk is a subgenre of science fiction using a Victorian or Victorian style setting, but with decidedly advanced technology (usually powered by steam, hence the name). The early steampunk works used the noir elements of cyberpunk and the same anti-authoritarian attitudes, although they eventually grew to resemble the scientific romances of Jules Verne and H. G. Wells more than cyberpunk. Arguably, both The Wild Wild West and Adventures of Brisco County Jr. could be considered precurssors to steampunk.
Anyhow, genre mélangé as probably existed as long as the whole convetion of genres has. Indeed, the past few years have seen Van Helsing, Hellboy, and others. I rather suspect as time goes by there will be more works of genre mélangé.
Sunday, January 23, 2005
Good Night, Johnny
This morning Johnny Carson died at age 79 from emphysema. I don't think I have to inform any Americans reading this who Johnny Carson is. After all, he was host of The Tonight Show for 30 years.
Johnny Carson was born in Corning, Iowa, although his family moved across the state line to nearby Norfolk, Nebraska when he was very young. He made his debut on stage at age 14 performing magic tricks as the "Great Carsoni." During World War II he served in the Navy. After being mustered out, he worked at various Nebraska radio stations before getting a job at KNXT-TV in Los Angeles in 1950.
It was at KNXT that he hosted Carson's Cellar, a sketch comedy show. He soon found himself writing for The Red Skelton Show. One night Skelton was injured, so that Carson found himself having to stand in for the famous comic. That was Carson's big break. Carson soon found himself as host of a number of different shows. In 1954, CBS placed him on The Morning Show, their first atempt to compete with NBC's Today. That same year he as then made the host of the quiz show Earn Your Vacation. From 1955 to 1956, he had his own variety show, The Johnny Carson Show. From 1957 to 1962 he aas the host of the game show Who Do You Trust?. It was in 1962 that NBC decided he was the man to replace Jack Paar as host of The Tonight Show. He remained its host for thirty years.
Johnny's death saddens me a good deal. Carson was brilliant as the host of The Tonight Show. He was a great interviewer who also had a flair for sketch comedy. And to this day, his monologues are still unmatched for being funny. Indeed, Carson has always reminded me a bit of Jack Benny, my favourite comedian of all time. Like Benny, Johnny could be self deprecating. He often joked about his divorces and even his wealth. And like Benny, he could create laugther with a mere look. Whether Johnny Carson was the greatest late night host of all time is a matter that is up for debate, I suppose, but there are two things that cannot be debated. No one else will probably host a late night show as long as Johnny did. And I doubt anyone else will be as well loved.
Johnny Carson was born in Corning, Iowa, although his family moved across the state line to nearby Norfolk, Nebraska when he was very young. He made his debut on stage at age 14 performing magic tricks as the "Great Carsoni." During World War II he served in the Navy. After being mustered out, he worked at various Nebraska radio stations before getting a job at KNXT-TV in Los Angeles in 1950.
It was at KNXT that he hosted Carson's Cellar, a sketch comedy show. He soon found himself writing for The Red Skelton Show. One night Skelton was injured, so that Carson found himself having to stand in for the famous comic. That was Carson's big break. Carson soon found himself as host of a number of different shows. In 1954, CBS placed him on The Morning Show, their first atempt to compete with NBC's Today. That same year he as then made the host of the quiz show Earn Your Vacation. From 1955 to 1956, he had his own variety show, The Johnny Carson Show. From 1957 to 1962 he aas the host of the game show Who Do You Trust?. It was in 1962 that NBC decided he was the man to replace Jack Paar as host of The Tonight Show. He remained its host for thirty years.
Johnny's death saddens me a good deal. Carson was brilliant as the host of The Tonight Show. He was a great interviewer who also had a flair for sketch comedy. And to this day, his monologues are still unmatched for being funny. Indeed, Carson has always reminded me a bit of Jack Benny, my favourite comedian of all time. Like Benny, Johnny could be self deprecating. He often joked about his divorces and even his wealth. And like Benny, he could create laugther with a mere look. Whether Johnny Carson was the greatest late night host of all time is a matter that is up for debate, I suppose, but there are two things that cannot be debated. No one else will probably host a late night show as long as Johnny did. And I doubt anyone else will be as well loved.
Friday, January 21, 2005
Piracy in 1974
I may not have mentioned it before, but I have always been fascinated by pirates. Like many boys I read Robert Louis Stevenson's Treasure Island as a child and eagerly watched any pirate movie that happened to be on televison. With regards to pirates, however, one year in my childhood stands out most clearly in mind: 1974. I don't know if there actually was more pirate related merchandise in 1974, but it certainly seemed that way to me.
Indeed, at least two different companies came out with pirate action figures. One was Mego, which brought out a small line they called the World's Greatest Super Pirates. The line included three figures: Blackbeard, Captain Patch, Jean LaFitte, and Long John Silver. Unlike their ever popular World's Greatest Superheroes line, Mego never produced any playsets to go with their pirate action figures.
That same year, Matchbox, better known for miniature cars, came out with a series of pirate action figures as part of their Fighting Furies series. Initially it consisted of two figures, Captain Hook and Captain Peg Leg. Eventually they added other figures: Ghost of Cap'n Kidd and Captain Blood. Two different playsets were sold in connection with the Fighting Furies line, although both were called the Sea Fury. The one sold at every store except Sears was basically just a vinyl ship that also served as a case. The other, sold exclusively through Sears, was a fully equipped toy ship. Matchbox produced a large number of accessory kits to go with the action figures, from the Hooded Falcon Adventure set to Cap'n Kidd's Treasure. Unfortunately, neither Mego nor Matchbox saw much success with their pirate figures. As far as I know, the World's Greatest Super Pirates lasted only one year. The pirates of the Fighting Furies (there was a Western series) managed to last into 1975.
In 1972 MPC released a series of model kits based on Walt Disney's Pirates of the Carribean ride. Seven kits were released in all--five in 1972 and two more in 1974. The models featured such titles as "Hoist High the Jolly Roger" and "Dead Men Tell No Tales." I have to admit that I am surprised that they did not reissue the kits in the wake of the success of Pirates of the Carribean: the Curse of the Black Pearl. Of course, pirates were nothing new to MPC. They had long been making plastic toy pirates, along with their plastic soldiers, knights, and cowboys.
Speaking of the Pirates of the Carribean ride, I have to wonder that, if there were more pirate related toys in the mid-Seventies, it wasn't due to the popularity of that ride. It opened on March 18, 1967 and soon became one of Disneyland's most popular attractions. Indeed, the apparent popularity of pirates in the mid-Seventies may have started in the late Sixties. While people were buying tickets in Disneyland for Pirates of the Carribean, 1969 a pirate themed fast food restaurant opened--Long John Silver's Fish 'n' Chips. I first became aware of Long John Silvers in the mid-Seventies when they would advertise on the St. Louis and Kansas City TV channels. I remember that they used pirate characters in their commercials. I have no idea why they ceased using pirates in their commercials, as those commercials held my interest much better than the generic ones they use today!
As I said, I don't know if there were more pirate related items available in 1974 or if I just took more notice of them. Regardless, it helped fuel a fascination with pirates that has stuck with me for the rest of my life. To this day I must confess to fantasies of unfurling the sails on fast ship and hoisting the Jolly Roger...
Indeed, at least two different companies came out with pirate action figures. One was Mego, which brought out a small line they called the World's Greatest Super Pirates. The line included three figures: Blackbeard, Captain Patch, Jean LaFitte, and Long John Silver. Unlike their ever popular World's Greatest Superheroes line, Mego never produced any playsets to go with their pirate action figures.
That same year, Matchbox, better known for miniature cars, came out with a series of pirate action figures as part of their Fighting Furies series. Initially it consisted of two figures, Captain Hook and Captain Peg Leg. Eventually they added other figures: Ghost of Cap'n Kidd and Captain Blood. Two different playsets were sold in connection with the Fighting Furies line, although both were called the Sea Fury. The one sold at every store except Sears was basically just a vinyl ship that also served as a case. The other, sold exclusively through Sears, was a fully equipped toy ship. Matchbox produced a large number of accessory kits to go with the action figures, from the Hooded Falcon Adventure set to Cap'n Kidd's Treasure. Unfortunately, neither Mego nor Matchbox saw much success with their pirate figures. As far as I know, the World's Greatest Super Pirates lasted only one year. The pirates of the Fighting Furies (there was a Western series) managed to last into 1975.
In 1972 MPC released a series of model kits based on Walt Disney's Pirates of the Carribean ride. Seven kits were released in all--five in 1972 and two more in 1974. The models featured such titles as "Hoist High the Jolly Roger" and "Dead Men Tell No Tales." I have to admit that I am surprised that they did not reissue the kits in the wake of the success of Pirates of the Carribean: the Curse of the Black Pearl. Of course, pirates were nothing new to MPC. They had long been making plastic toy pirates, along with their plastic soldiers, knights, and cowboys.
Speaking of the Pirates of the Carribean ride, I have to wonder that, if there were more pirate related toys in the mid-Seventies, it wasn't due to the popularity of that ride. It opened on March 18, 1967 and soon became one of Disneyland's most popular attractions. Indeed, the apparent popularity of pirates in the mid-Seventies may have started in the late Sixties. While people were buying tickets in Disneyland for Pirates of the Carribean, 1969 a pirate themed fast food restaurant opened--Long John Silver's Fish 'n' Chips. I first became aware of Long John Silvers in the mid-Seventies when they would advertise on the St. Louis and Kansas City TV channels. I remember that they used pirate characters in their commercials. I have no idea why they ceased using pirates in their commercials, as those commercials held my interest much better than the generic ones they use today!
As I said, I don't know if there were more pirate related items available in 1974 or if I just took more notice of them. Regardless, it helped fuel a fascination with pirates that has stuck with me for the rest of my life. To this day I must confess to fantasies of unfurling the sails on fast ship and hoisting the Jolly Roger...
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
