Grumpy Grandpa

GRUMPY GRANDPA FOUND SOME NICE THINGS ABOUT BETHESDA.  Our world has become more constricted and isolated since the Big C started, but there are a few nice things that have emerged--or maybe just noticed.   First, people do their best to keep a safe distance.  If the dog and I are on the street, others move to the sidewalk, or vice-versa.   Almost the same, though not universal, is behavior in stores.   Second, total strangers now smile and wave as they walk nearby, and drivers wave as they go by.   Third, a sort of informal library system has emerged (or come to light).  At least four homes in the area have small revolving libraries in front of their houses--take one, leave one.  Now that our library, The Davis LIbrary, is closed, it is a real comfort for voracious readers like my wife, Eileen.     Fourth, a sort of "repurposing" system has become quite common.  Members of our area LIstserv announc...

A 79 YEAR OLD TRADITION.  Today being Sunday, I scanned the news, then turned to the "colored funnies" for my daily treat--reading the cartoons.  This has been going on since I learned to read English--roughly 78/79 years now, and it has been interesting to see the comics come, go, and change over time. Some of the ones that were there in 1941 or '42 are still being published, though not necessarily in the newspapers : Dick Tracy , still being published, was inspired by Elliot Ness, and introduced--albeit sometimes in carriture form-- a variety of villains, and a variety of (then) fanciful gadgets.   Most notable was a wrist-phone used to communicate with police headquarters and others,  then a magnetic space vehicle, etc.   Others also are still appearing, though over the years the writers and illustrators changes, such as Blondie which started in 1930, and was so popular that it inspired movies (28!), Two short TV series, and a radio series t...