QUARANTINE BLOG # 77

June 15, 2020

My mind works in unusual ways.  Strange and confusing ways may be closer to the truth.  Typing the title of QB 77, I was transported back to an early television show: 77 Sunset Strip.

Characters and actors changed as the series ran from 1958 to 1964, but three who remained the longest were Efrem Zimbalist, Jr. (Stuart Bailey – a former government secret agent), Roger Smith (Jeff Spencer, also a former government agent and a non-practicing attorney), and Edd Byrnes (Gerald Lloyd “Kookie” Kookson III).

The title of the show was the Sunset Boulevard address of the detective agency.  Next door was Dean Martin’s real-life lounge, “Dino’s Lodge.”  The lounge’s parking lot was frequently seen, giving Dino free publicity.

The “breakout” character was Kookie, the rock and roll-loving, wisecracking, hair-combing hipster and aspiring PI who initially worked as the valet parking attendant at Dino’s, and was eventually made a full partner in the firm.

The Kookie character became a cultural phenomenon, with his slang expressions such as “ginchy” (cool) and “piling up Zs” (sleeping).  In modern TV history, is anyone thinking of Arthur Herbert Fonzarelli?  When Kookie helped the detectives on a case by singing a song, Edd Byrnes began a singing career with the novelty single “Kookie, Kookie (Lend Me Your Comb),” based on his frequent combing of his hair.  This clip https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MT9QZBGyXjU is from one of Dick Clark’s shows and features Connie Stevens doing vocals.

The musings about my mind reminded me of William Cowper and a beautiful hymn he wrote.  That will be the closing piece today.

👉  In our “Which Millionaire Do You Dislike The Most Department,” we note that baseball players say further negotiations are “futile,” and have told the owners to set a date to start the season.  A 50-game season, the shortest season in 150 years, could be played.  The obvious bitterness seems to guarantee a strike after the collective bargaining agreement expires next year.  I seem to remember a story about a goose that laid a golden egg.

👉  “CruiseMapper” had a news item yesterday about 10,000 cruise ship employees finally being repatriated.  This home-going took place in Mumbai, India as 11 cruise ships brought home crew who had been stranded on board since the coronavirus restrictions began.  Having met a lot of the young people who work so hard to make cruising fun, I’ve followed those stories with interest and concern (and have read in recent days that at least 4 quarantined crew members have committed suicide).  Adding to the poignancy of those “kids” finally getting to go home is the fact that we’ve sailed on 5 of the 11 ships.

👉  More from our “Bad News from the Cruise Industry Department.”  Holland America Line announced a further pause on select departures into early 2021 affecting departures from the Port of Vancouver, British Columbia and Canada for the remainder of 2020.  Also, select Hawaii itineraries will no longer take place into early 2021.  Itineraries which will not be taking place any time soon including cruises that feature Panama Canal, Hawaii, Pacific Coastal and South America.

👉  A few issues ago I shared some Paraprosdokians sent to me by two Canadian cruisers.  You know, those are figures of speech in which the latter part of a sentence or phrase is surprising or unexpected and is frequently humorous.  Here are five  more:

1. In filling out an application, where it says, “Who to notify in case of an emergency,” I always answer, “a doctor.”

2. I used to be indecisive, but now I’m not so sure.

3. The last thing I want to do is hurt you, but it is still on my list.

4. I was going to wear my camouflage shirt today, but I couldn’t find it.

5. Going to church doesn’t make you a Christian, any more than standing in a garage makes you a car.

👉  From the Los Angeles Times:  “With COVID-19 cases at very low levels within its borders, Israel fully reopened its schools in mid-May.  By the end of the month, 130 students at a Jerusalem high school had tested positive for the virus, setting off a flurry of quarantines for people who’d had physical contact with the students and the closure of dozens of schools.  This is the kind of outcome American parents dread as they contemplate sending their children back to school sometime this summer or fall.”

👉  In the United States there are 2.14 million confirmed cases of COVID-19, and more than 117,000 of us have died.  The number of confirmed cases is up 21,191 from yesterday, and was up 25,891 the day before (Florida reported 2,581 new coronavirus cases on Saturday, a record-high number for the third consecutive day).  States continue to reopen, while affirming guidelines for safety that continue to be ignored.  Go to a store where workers are required to wear face masks and check the number who have them on their chin, with mouth and nose exposed, ready to pull them up when a member of management passes.

👉  Let’s go back to the 1950s for one more song from the jukebox, before we move tomorrow – by request – to the 1980s.  From one of the legends of country music, Hank Williams, this clip https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-yCQraOX4Bw features one of his best known songs.  He wrote it after visiting his wife, Audrey, in the hospital.  When she refused to kiss Hank, blaming him as the reason she was in the hospital, he told his children’s governess, “She has a cold, cold heart,” and later wrote the number one song.

👉  In 1773 William Cowper wrote six verses of a poem – “Light Shining Out of Darkness” – that would become the hymn,  God Moves in a Mysterious Way.

God moves in a mysterious way,
    His wonders to perform;
He plants his footsteps in the sea,
    And rides upon the storm.

The inspiration was Jesus’ answer to Peter’s question, “Lord, are You washing my feet?”  Jesus replied, “What I am doing you do not understand now, but you will know after this” (John 13:7 – NKJV). 

The Olney Parish Church in Buckhamshire, England, where John Newton pastored for 28 years and wrote Amazing Grace, has a beautiful stained glass window featuring both Newton and Cowper (they shared a ministry there for many years).  Between the two is an open book.  On the left side is written “How sweet the name of Jesus sounds,” and on the right, “God moves in mysterious ways.

Verse 3 could have been written for these troubled times:

Ye fearful saints fresh courage take,
    The clouds ye so much dread
Are big with mercy, and shall break
    In blessings on your head.

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