When I was a school boy, this atypical Merrie Melodies short popped up occasionally on television. I also caught it once or twice in a movie theatre. Even better, a 16mm color print appeared in the classroom from time to time.
Every Independence Day, my thoughts include Porky, role model.
I think about tater salad, too, but it never made a movie with Uncle Sam.
I experienced Walt Disney's "Pollyanna" (1960) when I was freshly eight. At the great risk of shocking you, I confess it was here where I first fell in love with a certain older woman. Hayley Mills was about 13.
I am not alone. Gathered from a half century of personal conversations, adolescent Hayley was the object of more affection by my collective contemporary fellows than any other female, at any point in our lives.
(Apologies to Annette Funicello, who trended to the slightly older boys. We caught up with her in our teens.)
Watching "Pollyanna" again on Independence Day was special, steeped in its unabashed Americana. One portion, faded from my memory, caught me by surprise.
Pollyanna and the children at the early 20th century bazaar, dressed up as the flag, singing "America the Beautiful," is a remarkably touching scene. I prize and place this sequence in high esteem and good company, alongside the endearing ham suit of "To Kill a Mockingbird" (1962).
Oh, certainly, the celebration of America's independence and the live fireworks were important activities, but they pale in comparison to my discovering Family Napkins. I might even qualify for a medal.
These sweet finds work for the entire family! The whining tots, brothers with lip pelts, the wife and her girly gnaws, and, of course, me -- and, hey, maybe even the cat. Morty is fambly. Now, he can napkin, too!
I tell ya, with the technological advances of this youngster century, it is hard to keep up with all of the different and ever-changing napkin formats. I'm confident everyone will be served. Thank you, Family Napkins!
This video fell out of the sky and I'm glad it did.
Perhaps the social highlight of the year in a small town is the Independence Day fireworks display, if not the display of Pall Malls over at the Walmart.
Last night, we had 11 minutes of colorful explosions in our faces and I managed to catch them with the camera, rather than 11 minutes of my nose. I have a lousy sense of direction.
Instead of me writing about it, here's the 9½ minute finale. All that would fit.
See plenty o' fireworks a-poppin' on the Fourth of July, as we celebrate America, watching the up with a cool breeze, no gnats, and lotsa yummy oatmeal cookies.
Interesting, in this cartoon, there's no Olive Oyl celebrating the holiday and only two of Popeye's nephews (Peepeye, Pupeye, Pipeye, and Poopeye) appear.
America's most patriotic cat watched the annual July 4th fireworks extravaganza, broadcast live from Boston Harbor, his tail batoning to Sousa.
Then, we all settled in for the night's DVD, which, as pure luck would have it, was the Declaration of Independence episode of HBO's "John Adams" series. The impact was stunning, although Morty curled on my lap and snoozed.
He's seven. He avoids anything too much like homework.
This video fell out of the sky and I'm glad it did.
