Childish Fun

Dear Ones:
our attention was recently drawn to an old psychiatric theorist named Eric Berne. His goldmine was a book, I'm OK, You're OK which popularized his Transactional Psychology. In it, he described the three parts of every "transaction" (interaction between consenting adults) as emanating from their 'parent' or controlling, punitive manner; their 'adult" or pretty grown up manner, and their "child," or whiney, dependent, submissive manner.
Somebody hauled this old wheeze out to illustrate a point today, and we (grandma letty and husband john) had a flash of insight.
Berne's child may have been a rather unappealing person; John's "child" is a fun-loving, playful hoot. Therefore, when my punitive, controlling parent confronts his child, I laugh. Long and Hard. And we have what amounts to an adult-adult transaction which insists 'We're oK.
Now Berne may have postulated this funny child, but I certainly don't remember it. For years, people like the late Art Linkletter (before your time, little ones, but google him) had been making hay with funny, funny children. His early TV show included "Kids Say the Darndest Things" (has anyone put these on UTube?) and all America tuned in and guffawed. I tell you, as I remember Berne had a very dim view of children. Did I mention he was a psychiatrist? I think when God passed out funny bones, all the psychiatrsts were asleep on their couches.
Also, as an aside, kids, Rachel outdid herself tonight. Broadcasting in a snuggie, she celebrated my guys for "rolling out the couches" for an all-nighter on the Senate Floor, only to have McConnel and Co. fold their filibuster. Harry Reid may lose his election, it seems, but Chuck Shumer is on deck to lead the Senators and I betcha he'll "roll out the couches"at the drop of a Republican cliche. That's what it takes.

Jokes that fly over their heads

We oldsters often slide sly silly sayings past puzzled people. I have an example: On the commuter train, the Coater, I so often stood in line for the car's toilet that i finally told the next guy in line, "I have an antique bladder."

Back at the trailer park, they thought that was pretty funny.

The other day my hairdresser, a slip of a girl, called me "A foolish old woman." I was so pleased I promptly got a badge fabricated that said"Foolish Old Woman". I wear it on special occasions.

One day I was holding an open house for an owner who was addicted to Glen Beck. I was asked by more rational friends, "How do you stand it?"Simple, I told them. I just turn off my hearing aid. If the whole world did that, it would be a saner place. As a matter of fact, it's a durn shame that everyone doesn't have a hearing aid which could shut out Glen Beck.

My baby girl has a 47th birthday in a few days and I hope to send her a check. If the market behaves, I'll withdraw a bit and do that. But you know, the market is almost as quixotic as Glen Beck.

The other day, John McCain said he had never been a Maverick. Well, I'm his age so I think I'll declare I never have been a Socialist. Wanna fight?

But I bet he has an antique bladder.

Premature, but Right at Last

I was so bummed about the Senate I retired and read and helped my husband write the book of the century about Russian Opera. Now, I have glimmers of hope again.
I got a card for Christmas, which is better than nothing. My boy, Barak, will get a bill signed by Easter, I betcha. I can only hope.
I salute the Heavenly Trio, Harry, Pelosi, and Barak for toughing up.
My major concern is aging, anyway. I was bonked by a car while I was parked and I'm chronically dizzy. Some of my friends would say that is normal, but it feels like a different dizzzy to me. Naturally, I'm aging at a different rate from some of my friends; that is difficult.
I'm happy because our house is paid for and our taxes are minimal and we are better off than almost everyone. I'd celebrate, but I'm a bit too dizzy to do that!
Love to all the little ones. Jessica is getting married in October so we'll get a grandson in law. Hooray..

The President and Congress Got It Right

Dear ones:

you know why grandma letty is celebrating the congress and president? Because they got something done.
With the present government set-up, that's nearly impossible. And when I say "something" got done that is accurate. It's something, but it isn't a lot.
But they got it right.
They asked for a Ferrari and finally in the face of total opposition they got a Buick.
Getting a Buick is no small feat, under the circumstances.
The health care bill that it looks like everyone is settling for is no Ferrari. By the time the conference committee is done with it, it may even not be a Buick. Or a new Buick. Maybe a used Buick.
But the lesson was not lost on me.
My husband and I are totally out of money. We now get the bulk of our groceries from Catholic Charities. His medicine costs $400; mine $800, and we decimated our retirement, not on our high living, but on the economy's high living.
So I wasn't going to ask for a Christmas present. Then the Health Bill. And I told John (husband) I wanted a diamond pendant for a gift. I did that, knowing I won't get one. But I'll betcha he springs for a zircon or something to hang around my neck. I won't get a Ferrari. But my money is bet on a used Buick.
Merry Christmas to all . We are all very blessed. And it looks good for all our children who don't have health coverage: 6 in all.

Just read David Plouffe; changed my TV

In the last week I've read "The Audacity to Win" and Dan Baltz and Haynes Johnson's new book about the 2008 campaign and I am resolved, as we used to say in college debates: I will never listen to cable news again.
That may mean saying goodbye to Rachel Madow, whom I adore, but I'll be firm.
Plouffe, my hero, says the cable people rarely got the campaign strategy right, even when it was laid out for them in press conferences in black and white. For weeks, i have been hearing the ins and outs of the health care battle. I was so disgusted with Joe Liberman and his opposition in the face of all Barak had done for him that I paid $15 for his supposed email address and wrote a blistering letter, calling him dumb as dirt and kowtowwing to Haddasa's $1 million from the Health Insurance Industry.
Here's what changed my life: Plouffe writes that the cable input was so wrong that they watched ESPN on the campaign bus. Voilla. I'll get movies.
I may even watch football. Anything but cable news. The 24/7 cycle has polluted the atmosphere for me. Except for Jon Stewart. I'll watch him.
And a great big shout out for David Plouffe.

photo shopping the commercials

May there ever be an adman.
I can't even tell you what the sponsor for this silliness is, for sure. I think it's Comfort Inn.
The ad features an obvious Circ'd'soleil performer swinging on a drapery, for heaven's sake.
When the ad first aired, there was a problem: the performer stripped down to her underwear to do her swinging, and she was wearing a simply awful bra.
Enter photoshop. A year or so later, she is clad sensuously, except in the last frame. There, the mutli-strap old bra is evident. Go figure.
In the second Comfort Inn pitch, we are expected to believe that an exotically clad and made up woman is on a business trip. Sure. She's another circus performer.
Actually, the ads are pretty clever. They just defy reality. And neither one (nor the guy spinning dinner plates) have anything to do with me, my business travel, nor my life.
And as for photoshopping, give me the Geico gekko every time.

A Nobel! A Nobel!

Well, really. The curmudgeons are having a field day. At our senior citizens park the other day, the reaction was "Why?"
Fortunately, the cable chatter featured an expert or two who elaborated. One said that although our president, unaware of his candidacy, was nominated six days after he won; that was the closing date for names. But the voting took place AFTER he had led the atomic energy meeting of six (seven?) U. N. Security council nations who had reached a tentative agreement about disarmament. That had clinched the deal, the expert said.
Another factor had been his speech in Cairo which re-formatted the American approach to the Muslim world. Another had been his groundbreaking analysis of race during the campaign. And lastly came his work on climate change, another reformatting.
Let's face it: So far, it's primarily what he said. But people who characterize him as just a smooth talker overlook two fundamental changes he represents: He is capable of analysis, a trait long missing in this country. He is, furthermore, capable of eloquence. Kids, eloquence stirrs. That's why your grandma signed on lo these three years ago. I would even guess that was a major factor in his unbelieveably groundbreaking victory.
Don't forget, the very fact he put himself out there in a country with very little history of race tolerance was amazing. Don't tell me, the Nobel committee didn't cotton to that, too.
I'm so pround. I knew he was a winner in Iowa.