Previous conversations w/ Sr. Bulba, as well as my ogling of the choice cuts a little further down the page, got me to thinking a little about Western culture and civilization, or more importantly -America's contribution to it. Now, I'm not just talking about the mainstreaming of tasteful pictures of half-nekkid beauties, as much as I may value its/their place in my everyday life. Nor am I talking about the basic stuff we all learned in grade school, broad concepts that shape our lives but aren't really a part of everyday water cooler discussions. I'm talking about personal things that I own/owned or events I witnessed, the minutia of daily life that paints the larger picture of American culture. So, my mint condition June '78 Playboy aside, here is my list, in no particular order:
1. Rebel Flag. I grew up in the deep south and it seemed natural to have the Stars and Bars hung on the wall over my bed. To a innocent kid it didn't hold much symbolism (aside from the almost instinctual belief that anyone living north of the Mason-Dixon was a Class A douche bag), but to an adult in today's world in most certainly does. Aside from being a reminder that America was able to survive such a bloody civil conflict to become an even stronger nation, it symbolizes the continuing struggle of our great country to ensure that all men are indeed created equal. Contrary to what most of Europe and all of California would have you believe, no other country in the world is as large a melting pot as the USA, and none tries harder to provide equal rights for each and every one of its citizens.
2. Ticket Stubs, Super Bowl VI, 1972. Dallas Cowboys 24, Miami Dolphins 3. America's Team. Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders. What more can I say?
3. Elvis 45's I still have. Say what you want about the mop-topped, Nehru jacket wearing nancy-boys of the british invasion, there was only one king.
4. My last doctor's report, which includes my latest cholesterol level of 315. That is most assuredly a lingering effect of the approx. 4063 McDonald's Big Mac/side large fries I inhaled as a teenager. Nothing says America like a big ol' greasy bag of fast food. Nothing tastes better, either.
5. Silver Surfer Comic Books, numbers 1-10. Before Hugh Hefner became the older brother I wish I had, Marvel Comics, Stan Lee and others kept me away from the tv on those days when it as just too miserable to go outside. Great thing was that I didn't have to lock the door when I read 'em.
6. Ratty ol' pair of Levi's. I only wear them when I'm doing yard work or painting, but I'll bet I could get 100 bucks for 'em in Prague. The rest of the world still hasn't figured out how to make a decent pair of dungarees.
7. Screw it, I'm going to include my mint condition, June '78 Playboy. Why? Like most men of my generation, Playboy had a memorable place in my formative years, and to this day my barber hands me the latest edition the minute I sit in his chair. Besides, people the world over no longer envy us because we live in the land of opportunity and the streets are paved with gold. They're bitter as hell because we have the opportunity to hit on Miss February 2008, that cute little blond who lives next store, attends City College and hates phony people.
More to come later. Feel free to add to the list.
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