THANK YOU to those who have donated to the Mary Worth 4000 campaign! And thanks for your patience while I set up the proper link. Thanks for all your kinds words and support as we celebrate over 4,000 Mary Worth and Me posts.
Donors so far:
Karen K.
Helen M.
Deep Value Letter
Marilyn T.
Margaret T.
Richard F.
Conrad R.
James D.
6 comments:
Wanders said…
I was born in a small log mobile home in Maryland. My father was a newspaperman- he delivered the Baltimore Sun on muleback. Each Sunday he would bring home the beloved ‘funny papers’ which he would read to me after his humble breakfast of eggs Benedict and cappuccino. But before he read it, he would tear off a piece of the paper and burn it in the wood stove (were we poor? I don’t know for sure, but sometimes I was sent out to get a piece of wood siding from our mobile home so that we had something to burn).
One day the Fuller Brush man knocked on the door before PopDaddy could burn the mysterious comic. I eagerly and stealthily read the scrap of paper. I sounded out the words: Ma-ree Wo-erth, by Saunders and Connor. I was intrigued by the story of the wise and wrinkly-faced old lady who was able to tend everyone’s business while neglecting her own. For many weeks thereafter, I always pretended to hear a knock at the door before he had a chance to burn dear Ma-ree. One day he caught me reading about ‘Mary Worth’s Family’. He was shocked but patient as he explained the burning ritual to me:
‘Son, I hoped it would never come to this, but let me tell you a story. When I was just about your age, I took over my father’s paper route. Each week, just before I returned home, I would sit on the neighbor’s woodpile and chew a stick of Adams New York Chewing gum while I read the funnies, always leaving the best for last. I couldn’t get enough of Mary Worth; pretty soon I was reading the non-color strips on weekdays- there were FOUR panels then. I even took on a second paper route so that I could buy Mary Worth comic books- they were 10 cents, back when a dime was a dime. Soon- but not soon enough- I realized that I was addicted to Mary Worth. That malevolent wench and her posse were getting every cent I earned. No more, Mary Worth! I chanted into a mirror while holding a candle. No more, Mary Worth! I vowed my son would never be entranced by that evil old biddie.’
Wanders: Although I am still in Mary’s thrall, my own son has wisely escaped her clutches. Indeed, whenever he sees (catches) me reading or writing or talking about Mary Worth, he exclaims ‘Dad, that is so lame! Why don’t you play golf or pickle ball like all the other dads?’
What can I say? Mary, If loving you is wrong, I don’t wanna be right.
@meg has conferred the highest of honors upon the inimitable Wanders on the occasion of his four thousandth post:: she’s related the back story. Who could have guessed he had such humble origins, and the impact that “evil old biddie” had on his family? Remarkable! This is truly a tale for the ages - lucky us to be given the details!
It figures Mary would have one of those funereal plants in her apartment- eeesh. We can only guess what secret ingredients were in the muffins and lemon water being poured from an old coffee carafe. She’s beaten Dawn into submission and removed every last spark of personality. Stand by for Dawn’s Awkward Apology Tour as she convinces Jared that she was the guilty party. Then Jared and Jess can ramble off into Karen Moy oblivion, never to be seen again.
Accurate. Meg you brought back a lot of fond memories.
Mary's divine pitcher pours into Dawn's mortal vessel as June channels Michaelangelo.
Mary Worth and Dawn midday knocking down a pitcher of Margaritas, the Worth world finally loosens up.
meg - nice work! Someday, you'll have to give us "the rest of the story". Once Wanders' adult children start having children of their own (little Wilbur, Drew, and Iris), will they refuse to let those kiddos stay over at Grandpa's house on a Saturday night? Actually, I'm guessing that Wanders no longer subscribes to the "funny papers" but will instead line the little darlings up in front of a giant screen, muffins in hand, and will read to them Mary Worth online.
HelenClark
Post a Comment