February 09, 2008
Here is a transcription of the message my father just left on my answering machine:
"Hi, Faustus, it's Dad. I'm calling at about 1:00 on Saturday, March 9. Gee, today is Felix Mendelssohn's birthday. Or is it Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's? Well, one of those. Give me a call, and I'll talk to you soon. Thanks."
I haven't called him back, mostly because I don't want to break his heart by telling him that it is neither Felix Mendelssohn's birthday (February 3) nor Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's birthday (February 24).
But wait! I can totally forestall any potential heartbreak by telling him that it's Carmen Miranda's birthday!
Whew. That's a relief. I mean, he's old. So God only knows how much disappointment he can take.
Posted by Faustus, MD at 02:59 PM
Comments
1) Rkkggg said (on 02/ 9/08 at 04:46 PM):
But how will you explain to him that it is February, not March?
2) TED said (on 02/ 9/08 at 06:14 PM):
The man survived your childhood and adolescence: nothing short of a direct nuclear hit is likely to shake him.
3) Justin said (on 02/10/08 at 04:06 PM):
TED, that's fresh.
4) henry said (on 02/11/08 at 11:11 AM):
The 10th is Leontyne Price's 81st - that's a classy substitute for Mendelssohn/Longfellow
5) Famous Author Rob Byrnes said (on 02/11/08 at 01:26 PM):
Faustus, I thought you would have keyed in on Gypsy Rose Lee's birthday before Carmen Miranda's.
But Rkkggg has a point. Unfortunately, if you're forced to pretend it was March 9, your choices are pretty much narrowed down to Vita Sackville-West and Joyce Van Patten.
6) Leo said (on 02/11/08 at 01:36 PM):
That is one of the sweetest post ever... Which I didn't expect. =P
7) David said (on 02/11/08 at 05:20 PM):
That's odd, I get a kick out of pointing out to my parents factual errors they have made.
8) Jonathan said (on 02/15/08 at 02:48 PM):
If it is March 9, it may not be Carmen Miranda's birthday, but it is Ernesto Miranda's (of the "Miranda Rights").
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