You wouldn’t think that September the 19th would be so much. But it is. It comes packing with a punch, that nine-one-nine.
First and foremost, it is historically epic for me, in the most personal way. It is Batman’s birthday. I know you probably thought I was going to talk about Ruth Bader Ginsburg. An unbelievable loss, and my heartaches. But all we can do now, is wait.
So I’m talking about Batman instead. Not just any Batman. THE Batman. Today is the day when Adam West was born, out there in Walla Walla, Washington. In 1928. I’m certain he was born to be the guy in that cape, because let’s face it. Holy Baby Booties. All the other Batmans have waned in comparison.
Adam West was born William West Anderson. His daddy was named Otto Anderson, and he was a farmer. His mother, however, was the show person in the family. She was Audrey Volenne (née Speer). Audrey was an opera singer and concert pianist who left her Hollywood dreams to raise a family. But in her heart, I doubt that she ever left. She must have played and sung around the house because Adam followed her example. One day, Adam told his father as a young man that he intended to go to Hollywood after completing school. As it turns out, his parents divorced, and Adam moved to Seattle with his mother when he was 15.
You can’t learn Batman skills just anywhere. He attended Walla Walla High School and later enrolled in Lakeside School in Seattle. He attended Whitman College and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in literature. Then, after college, he was drafted into the United States Army, where he served as an announcer on American Forces Network television. After his discharge, he worked as a milkman before moving to Hawaii to pursue a career in television. But all that time, he was honing in on his tights and cape persona.
He filled the role of Batman from 1966 to 1968. I know it sounds short, but it will be forever emblazoned in my heart. Holy Heart Tattoo, Batman.
If that weren’t enough for September 19th, there is more.
The 19th is also the birthday of “Mama” Cass Elliot. .Yes, Mama Cass, born in 1941. She was an American rock vocalist for the Mamas & The Papas, one of the best singing sounds in the history of music. (Her real name was Ellen Naomi Cohen).
But more than anything was her death. Until this very minute, I thought she choked to death on a ham sandwich. Every time I’ve eaten a ham sandwich in my entire life, I have always thought of Mama Cass, and I chew, chew, chew, chew, chew. I was going to write about all that, which, I guess, I just did. But here is the real deal.
Mama Cass went to a party the night of her death, at the London home of Mick Jagger. Debbie Reynolds is one of the people that saw her there. Later that night, Cass, who was then aged 32, died in her sleep at the London flat where she was staying. They did an autopsy and ruled her death was due to heart failure. A drug screen revealed there were no drugs in her system.
Here is a twist to it. The apartment the flat was on loan from singer-songwriter Harry Nilsson. Four years later, The Who’s drummer Keith Moon died in the same room, also aged 32 years. I’m glad I never stayed there when I was 32.
But there is still more to love about September 19th. Today is National “Talk Like a Pirate Day” Matey! Arrrrr. ‘Tis true, my friends. Shiver me timbers. All-day long, I have committed to this. I did drive-thru on all my meals, just to do Pirate-Speak through the intercom. I wore an eye patch when I pulled to the window to pay, along with my face mask.
Truthfully, I watch the Wheel of Fortune every night that I am able. Whenever any of the players ask for an R, I shout out, Arrrrrrr. My dearest partner looks at me with doleful eyes. Or perhaps they are filled with pity. I’m not sure.
No matter how you look at things, this was a big day indeed.
Happy Batman, Ham Sandwich, Pirate-Speak Day.
May your day be packed with superhero-breathing-talking-bliss.
And, rest in peace, RBG.
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“Walk as if you are kissing the Earth with your feet.”
― Thich Nhat Hanh, Peace Is Every Step
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“When you do things from your soul, you feel a river moving in you, a joy.”
― Rumi
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“Pan, who and what art thou?” he cried huskily.
“I’m youth, I’m joy,” Peter answered at a venture, “I’m a little bird that has broken out of the egg.”
― J.M. Barrie, Peter Pan
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