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June 4, 2008 Few people knew Thelma Keane but most Baby Boomers and Gen-X'ers knew Thelma's alter ego quite well, in fact they grew up with her, namely the mommy from the cartoon, "Family Circus". On Friday, May 23, 2008, "the mommy", Thelma Keane died at age 83 of Alzheimer's disease. Thelma's life in cartoon began, with the rest of the family, in 1960, coincidentally the year the largest number of "Baby Boomers" were born which was near the beginning of the Gen-X'ers entrance to pop demography as well. And who can forget Billy, Dolly, Jeffey and PJ? Unlike the drab wit of many of today's cartoons passed off as universally appealing, Family Circus was read by children and adults alike, with the former being introduced to intellectual humor and the latter laughing at the irony in life they've experienced. And so time passes, life and death comes upon us all. But with the passing of Thelma Keane I am compelled to reminisce and reflect about yesterday, today and tomorrow. What a great time I had growing up as a child and adolescent in the 60's and 70's! It was more than marvelous at times and somewhat surreal in my nostalgic trips down memory lane. Bugs Bunny, where'd you go? Only to be replaced by...well whom or what? Do you have any idea what it was like waking up on a Saturday morning and sharing with the entire country of kids the exact same 4 channels of cartoons? Our memories and experiences, while hundreds and thousands of miles apart were identical! That is part of the magic of the Boomers and X'ers generation. In fact allow me a bit more self-indulgence and see if you, too, remember some of these points on the Boom-X scale. Creepy Crawlers? Slinky (too easy)? Crew Cuts? Adam-12? Get Smart (coming to a theater near you)? Bazooka Bubble Gum? 15-50 cents comics? Marvel vs DC comics? Ricochet Rabbit? Land of the Lost and the Sleestacks? Jiffy Pop? Super Balls? Johnny Carson (gawd does Leno pale in comparison)? Two all beef patties special sauce lettuce cheese pickles onions on a sesame seed bun? The smoking section at high school? Davey and Goliath? Jot? Hang Ten? Converse All-Stars when there were no Nikes? The arrival of Adidas? The arrival of Nikes? John McEnroe vs Jimmy Connors? Chuck Connors? Bedknobs and Broomsticks? Acapulco Gold? The Monkees? The Archies? Rocky and Bullwinkle, Boris and Natasha? Cigarette machines? Tube tops? Being bored out of your skull when seeing 2001: A Space Odyssey but pretending it was cool? Soylent Green? Planet of the Apes? Deliverance? Cigarette commercials on TV? Boones Farm? Annie Green Springs? MD2020 (Mad Dog 2020)? Slip n' Slide? Record players? A new 45 each weekend and the crummy flip side? The Green Hornet? Illya Kuryakin (The Man From U.N.C.L.E.)? Ultraman (and you thought Power Rangers where the first, you're so way behind)? Those were the times my friend. Yes, they had their down side too, but every generation did. But it was a fantastic time, a time where kids shared experiences and teenagers shared music, movies and places to go. Disney was still new and on Sunday Nights, if you weren't at church you were at home watching The Wonderful World of Disney. Today we live in an ever encroaching society where more and more law enforcement disregards personal boundaries, where weak personalities have climbed atop the shoulders of the the real stability of our society and clamored for laws outlawing or diminishing much of what we grew up with and punishing the least human vice and foible with the severest and unmerciful punishment. Yes, we have our threats always, both internal and external but the mentality has changed and the innocence is lost. And the truth is it IS the fault of many Baby Boomers and Gen-X'ers who have become hysterical personalities in their middle and now later years. They have succeeded in introducing and establishing excessive, invasive and oppressive laws and doctrine to govern our society. I hope an age comes where there is a reduction in the social and legal hysteria. I hope tomorrow holds for this country and this world a generation like mine but better. One where the freedoms of yesterday can be experienced, yet without the weakest personalities of that age climbing on the backs of the strong to rule and oppress with their irrational hysteria and loss of imagination and grace. But leaving that sad reality behind, my thoughts go out to the Keane family. Thank you for enriching my youth with humor and lessons in irony. Mommy, you were the kind of gal we don't often see these days portrayed in cartoons or any form of entertainment. You kept your poise, laughed at yourself and life, respected your husband and loved your family. Thanks, you will be missed. ------------ About the author: Guy Arthur Thomas was born an Air Force brat and raised mostly in South Carolina. He has traveled and lived in the Middle East and the Pacific Islands and now makes his home in Virginia. Guy has a Bachelor’s degree in Biblical studies and enjoys social, political and religious discussions. Email: guyarthurthomas@yahoo.com Comment on this article here! ------------ All articles are EXCLUSIVE to Useless-Knowledge.com. Please link to this article rather than copying and pasting it onto your site (which would be unauthorized and illegal). |
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