Beloved

My brother and I, although twisted in our own peculiar ways, both love literature and drama, and some of this can surely be traced to three recordings given to us by our parents as a joint birthday present, along with a portable record player, in 1970 or 1971. They were from a series called Tale Spinners for Children which was produced in the 1960's and which was basically a number of dramatic theater presentations of classic stories combined with orchestral music.

We received Robin Hood, William Tell and Sleeping Beauty. We also had Peter and the Wolf, but it was from another series and entirely too scary for me to listen to. Robin Hood and William Tell, in particular, caught our imaginations and we learned them by heart and acted them out as our favorite way to play together. If you can remember what it was like to be a child, check out this link and take a listen to William Tell or Robin Hood.

http://www.artsreformation.com/talespinners/

Age and time have done nothing to reduce their magic for me.

I've indulged myself by reproducing below a scene from each of them that my brother and I loved to reinact over and over again.

From Robin Hood

Robin: (Whistling and talking to himself) Ho, ho! What can that be? I’ve never seen such a big man in my life. (To Little John) Hey, you! Over there on the other side of the river!

Little John: Yes?!

Robin: Your legs are so long that you could cross this river in a couple of strides!

Little John: Ah, that may be. All the same, I’m going to walk across this tree trunk here. Everybody uses this as a bridge.

Robin: You’ll have to wait for me! I was here first.

Little John: Oh, come on, now. That’s not quite true. We arrived at the same time.

Robin: All right, then! I’m going to cross first.

Little John: Why should I give way to you?

Robin: Because I’m the stronger man!

Little John: Oh, ho! Just wait until I get near you. Then I’ll give you a taste of my stick!

Robin: Come on, then, and have a taste of mine!

Little John: Ha-ha! I like your reply, bantam! There seems to be quite a lot of courage in that little frame of yours!

Robin: Ha! Listen to me, then. We’ll fight it out between us, standing on the tree trunk! And I know who’s gonna find himself in the river!

Little John: Oh, right! A fight let it be! Come on, what are you waiting for?!

Robin: Um, I’m not waiting for anything, I’m just choosing the spot where I’m going to strike you. (A beat.) There you are, take that!! (Bap!)

Little John: Ha! Ha! Ha! You don’t get me like that! See how you like this!

Robin: Ah! (Bap!) Ha-ha! My stick was there to parry your blow, even before you struck! Come on, let me pass!

Little John: Never! Never!

Robin: Make way, I’m coming!

Little John: I’m going to split your head open!

(Cries and splashing)

(Both are laughing)

Robin: Who’s gonna pass first now?

Little John: Let’s forget all that. The scores are even! The best thing you and I can do is to swim to the bank again, and let the sun dry us.

Robin: Yes, I think you’re right.


From William Tell

Lackey 1: William Tell’s running away worries me a lot, Your Grace.

Lackey 2: I’m sure he’s turning up a revolt.

Gestler: I’ll soon master him. I didn’t come here to flatter the people, but to grind them down.

Peasant Woman: Pity, Your Grace! Pity!

Gestler: Get behind, you! What do you want?

Peasant Woman: My husband’s in prison and my children are hungry! Pity, I beg you!

Lackey 1: This is neither the time nor the place to present a petition. Come to the castle tomorrow.

Peasant Woman: And my husband did no wrong! Set him free!

Gestler: Get rid of this woman, would you?

Peasant Woman: I won’t move! I want justice!

Gestler: Get out of my way or my horse will trample you down.

Peasant Woman: Trample me down, then! All you’ll be doing will be to add one more to your list of crimes!

Gestler: I am the master, here, and you must bow to my wishes!

Peasant Woman: Oh, if only I weren’t a woman! But one day, someone will come to square the accounts with you! And that person, whoever he may be, will have the whole country behind him!

Gestler: Oh-ho-ho! Nonsense, woman! Nobody has the courage to do such a thing!

Tell: I have.

(Gasps and whispers by peasants all around.) It’s Tell! William Tell!

Gestler: William Tell.

Tell: The hour has come for you to pay for your crimes, Gestler. Prepare to die.

Lackey 2: Take him!

Lackey 1: Too late!

(Fwwwwp!)

Gestler: Arrrrrrrgh!

Lackey 2: The arrow has struck him right in the heart.

(The music, Rossini’s William Tell Overture, swells)


Great stuff.

Having a Good Time

I finished. My time was way slower than I would have expected a few months ago, but then I didn’t know I would be running this thing with virtually no training base, 10 days after surgery. It reminds me that I don’t know what the next few months will bring. I may face a challenge to the completion of the marathon that has not yet revealed itself. Although the half took me longer than I thought, the challenges I faced made crossing the finish line oh, so much sweeter to me than doing it without them would have been. I admit it – I had more than a few tears in my eyes when I crossed.

Are the fastest of our tribe the “serious” runners, while the others are not? Well, yes, in some ways, this is true, and I found that out yesterday. I didn’t see Mom except for a few minutes before the race, but Amy and Tim seemed to be experiencing a higher level of tension. For them, it isn’t enough to finish, they want to have a good time.

We will each bring our own devils to the marathon, but Duke City made me realize that I had allowed myself, unwittingly, to take on one of Tim’s as if it were my own. It wasn’t until the morning of the run, when I woke up with Tim, the Litigator, instead of Tim, the Boyfriend, that I understood I was hanging with the wrong crowd, at least for that morning. I let Amy and Tim go on ahead and quickly sought out Dan and Adolph, who helped me to set myself straight. We laughed and joked and got to the starting line in a great mood.

So, that’s my second goal at the marathon. I want to have a good time. At the finish line, at the starting line - heck, the whole time we’re there.

Be on the Watch for Fairytale Creatures - You Don't Know Where They've Been

Just got back from my post-surgical checkup and everything looks good. My nose, which in its current state is substantially smaller and straighter than any nose previously located on my face, is, my surgeon assures me, hugely swollen both inside and out, and while it will apparently not disappear entirely from my face, it will not attain its ultimate splendid petiteness for approximately three months.

He also gave me the dubious permission to blow my nose, something I haven't attempted since I broke it a little over two weeks ago. I wasn't quick enough to catch full sight of it, but I think a leprechaun or perhaps a small wood sprite may have sprung out and scurried away on my first timid, experimental attempt.

He says I can run on Sunday, but my nose will swell up even larger and hurt. I haven't decided for certain, but my thoughts are leaning heavily toward either walking the entire thing or abstaining entirely, but I'll be there.