R.I.P. Gene Wilder

The now-late Gene Wilder was one of the comic geniuses of my youth. He will be missed.

In 1980 or thereabouts, I had a perm and thus curly hair. I was in an expensive restaurant with someone one day, and I noticed that a young lad of about 10 years at another table was eyeing me eagerly.  As time went on, I caught him pointing in my direction as he passionately pleaded with his Mom for something.  Eventually, carrying a small book with him and watched closely by the adults there, the kid slid down from his table and walked tentatively over to me.

“Can I have your autograph, Mr Gene Wilder, please?”

I was surprised, but hurried whispers between my companion and I about childhood disappointment led me to agree; and I signed his book as “Gene Wilder”.  The kid was delighted and rushed eagerly and noisily back to his people. I nodded to them, smiled, and went on with my day.  Looking back, I am still glad I did it.

Image: Sumo

Poem: Descent

 

The rustic lane unwinds

its way from the mountain

like a lover leaving her man

after a lingering entwining kiss;

 

a solitary clump of bluebells

reflects aquamarine raindrops

on the hood of the passing car

like mirrors round as hazelnuts in the mist;

 

and as I ignore the windowed beauty

the weekend ending burns into my soul

leaving me wondering if, once I’m gone,

she’ll remember me with a cheer or a hiss.

 

Remember The Ashes

One hundred and thirty four years ago, on this day in 1882, the Australian touring team beat England at cricket for the first time in England.  It was a devastating defeat for the English team and their supporters. A few days later, the obituary (see right) was published in the Sporting Times.

Not content with public lamentations, a group of supporters burned one of the bails from the wicket used that fateful day, and collected “the ashes”. They have remained within a tiny urn until this day, and the Ashes — as matches between Australia and England are called — remain perhaps the most bitterly fought regular contest in sport anywhere.

England currently hold the Ashes after their victory in 2015.