As I always say, two heads are better than one. While this is not always the case, it surely applies here. Today is the birthday of Erin Murphy. Born in 1964, and now, 56 years old. She is the actress who played “Tabitha” on the perfectly wonderful series, “Bewitched,” with Elizabeth Montgomery. Can you believe it, 56? It is also the birthday of Diane Murphy, also born in 1964, also the actress who played “Tabitha” so many years ago.
Yes, as often happens, they use twins to play kids on TV. If one kid is grumpy one day, they pop in the other. Or, sick, or in a tantrum. There are also child labor laws, which only allow them to work so many hours in a day. Double the kid, double the workable hours. So little Erin and Diane filled the spot of Samantha and Darren Stevens’ daughter. I wonder if you could tell a difference in the way they played the role? You know, how they twitched.
Today, they look completely different. Fraternal twins. Erin, tall and blonde, stayed in the “show” business side of things, doing a spot here and there. She now works as a fashion, beauty, lifestyle writer, as well as being the spokesperson for some residential development in downtown Las Vegas. She’s been married three times, but her current husband is named Darren. Yep. Darren.
Diane, short, with short brown hair, got her masters in psychology, and sociology. She is the Director of a domestic violence shelter for women and their children, in Santa Barbara. She serves on several boards, including the Greater Santa Barbara Community Association. She is openly gay, and currently single.
So. That’s Tabitha for you.
But all of it made me long for a little bit of Bewitched. I loved that show. Of course, I wanted to be like Samantha Stevens in every way. Well, not the whole “Darren” thing. But she was kind, smart, funny, and more than anything, she was magical.
Yet, these days, the thing I wish we had about the show, is the actual twitch. Yes, the wave of the hand, the spell, the twitch of the nose. It sure would come in handy in these times. I’m not familiar with the actual parameters of being a magical witch, like what you are “allowed” to do, and what is off-limits.
But I’d whip up a big bunch of cure for COVID-19. And I’d keep tweaking the hell out of the Supreme Court, keeping them moving in the right direction. Or should I say left? Oh yes, I would certainly be a busy witch, ending racism, and making equal rights equal for people of every sex, color, religion, lifestyle, and on. If you are human you have the same rights as the next human. Poof. I’d conjure up some new leaders, too. Then I’d walk through that swinging door into the kitchen and turn right back around carrying a perfectly cooked pot roast meal with all the fixings. Snap.
I was dreaming through these thoughts this morning when I read the front page of the NBC News site. And there was the article.
“Facebook will let users opt-out of political advertisements —
Mark Zuckerberg made the announcement in an opinion piece for USA Today, in which he discussed Facebook’s efforts to prevent election interference.”
https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/tech-news/facebook-will-let-users-opt-out-political-advertisements-n1231208
“Well, would you look at that?” I said to no one standing there. “The Universe opened up and gave us a little bit of magic today.” It’s Bewitching.
I hope every human does it. At least the ones on Facebook. The Opting-Out of Political Ads. Turn those off, as well as the phony stories being generated by Russian, Iranian, and Chinese hacks. As easy as twitching your nose. I mean, what would Tabitha do?
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“If it is not right do not do it; if it is not true do not say it.”
― Marcus Aurelius, Meditations
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“On the whole human beings want to be good, but not too good, and not quite all the time.”
― George Orwell, All Art is Propaganda: Critical Essays
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“Goodness is about what you do. Not who you pray to.”
― Terry Pratchett, Snuff
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