As a child of the 50’s, I spent many hours in front of the TV. When I got home from school I would plop in front of it with a snack on the floor in front of me. Often an apple or an orange, sometimes a dumdum sucker or a an oatmeal snack cake. The consistent part was always the Three Stooges. I loved them. Or at least I loved Curly. He was always being poked in the eyes, bonked on the head, or catching his suspenders in the door and being dragged backwards to his original starting point. I’d imitate his bark, the way he would twist his hips and do the Curly shuffle – he’d put his head down and pump his feet making the Curly sound: whoopwhoop! Ruff ruff! Nahhhhhh. As he once told bully Moe, don’t hit me in the head. I ain’t normal. Nope. Curly wasn’t normal and neither was I. I’m still not normal. I hated dolls and loved dogs and cats instead. I began reading Emily Dickinson and T.S. Eliot at the age of 11. I began writing haiku when I was six. I stood on a chair so I could make pancakes for the family when I was four. I hated school but loved studying. And I would bark at people I didn’t like. I still do. Not.Normal. Nyuk nyuk. Ruff ruff. Y’all.
times change – people change –
children discover strange heroes –
laughter and not tears
Jan 12, 2018 @ 21:05:53
I love this so much. Especially the barking. Smiles.
Jan 12, 2018 @ 21:10:02
Yeppers. Bark! Bark! I also bark at people I like. ??
Jan 13, 2018 @ 00:30:20
I’m married to Curly. He is a true Stooges fan and imitator. The day after my transplant surgery he sat on my bed and turned on the Stooges. It was the one where they had a restaurant and the cat ran through the dining area into the kitchen, Curly chasing him with an ax and you hear this horrible yowl and the chopping sound. (It wasn’t the cat) I had to have him turn it off. It hurt sooo much to laugh since I was just chopped up myself. We still watch them now and again. Fun memory.
Jan 13, 2018 @ 15:19:51
Oh Victoria. this puts me in mind of an occurance ages ago. I was in China Town in NYC in a Chinese restaurant. I was just getting ready to tuck into a bowl of hot and sour soup when this poodle comes dashing through the kitchen door into the restaurant with a crazed Chinese man behind him. the man picked up the dog and said loudly to everyone – he jus’ a pet! jus’ a pet! The place erupted into howls of laughter as he took the poodle back into the kitchen. No one asked why the poodle was there but I assume the poodle was an extremely spoiled pet and ruled over the kitchen. made sense to me! I never would have thought of David as being a Curly but I am so glad to learn about this. An excellent cook and a comic…love the combo.
Jan 13, 2018 @ 04:56:18
This is so rich. And just what is normal, anyway?
Jan 13, 2018 @ 15:21:42
Exactly. I think the Addams Family is normal. others? Well….
Jan 13, 2018 @ 07:07:42
Reblogged this on Frank J. Tassone and commented:
#Haiku Happenings #3: Toni’s latest #haibun recalls the Three Stooges!
Jan 13, 2018 @ 07:16:56
I love this celebration of not being “normal,” whatever that is.
(Even though I’ve never been a fan of the stooges.) So last night, after a stressful couple hours about my mom’s situation, visiting daughter and I were watching Star Trek: Next Generation (which had to do with her childhood). At the opening credits, and at the same time, I start crazy moving and she starts crazy singing. My husband just looked at us, and I said it must be genetic. 🙂
Jan 13, 2018 @ 15:15:47
🙂 Yeppers. Must be genetic. I come from a long line of eccentrics. Glad you and your daughter have that genetic crazy bond going.
Jan 13, 2018 @ 15:17:55
I’m sure other daughter would have gone along with it, too. 🙂
Jan 13, 2018 @ 15:20:50
As would I. That is great. lalalalalala
Jan 13, 2018 @ 15:59:49
🙂
Jan 13, 2018 @ 09:12:08
This is great. What a great application you made as a child.
Jan 13, 2018 @ 15:14:39
Thank you. I think it was Zee Somebody who coined the catchphrase, why be normal?
Jan 13, 2018 @ 15:25:04
This is wonderfly Toni. The stooges were comic genius personified and curly sole the show for me. Here to the not normal. Long may it nyuk nyuk it’s sound.
Jan 13, 2018 @ 15:26:56
Thank you Paul. Good to know there is another Curly lover in the house.
Jan 13, 2018 @ 17:20:59
The barking I love especially… never saw the three stooges.. it’s so amazing know that we all grew up with such varying references… all was so easy in my childhood… only one channel… so TV was TV
Jan 13, 2018 @ 18:32:46
Strange heroes sounds like a wonderful idea!
Jan 13, 2018 @ 20:08:12
Might Mouse, Paul Pioneer, Curly and Larry…strange bedfellows but most excellent heroes.