Keeping Up Appearances

I love many of the Brit Sitcoms, and certainly Keeping Up Appearances is one of my favorites.

After watching the British comedy a million times, I have made the following conclusions, mainly about the sisters:

ROSE:  The most beautiful of flowers and thus the most beautiful sister.  She is a red rose attracting a lot of suitors; however, her thorns cause her to lose them almost immediately.  Her flirting embarrasses the "proper" Hyacinth.

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DAISY:  Just a common country flower, but she thinks she is attractive and beautiful constantly wooing her husband, Onslow.   But because Onslow is so indifferent, she pulls off the petals one at a time, saying "he loves me, he loves me not, he loves me, he loves me not, . . ."  

Hyacinth is embarrassed by Daisy, because she did not marry well, and is poor.

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VIOLET: Never ever appears on the show, thus she is a "shrinking violet." She communicates only by phone mainly about her cross-dressing husband, who wears her clothes.  Violets are purple, but her husband is more purple than she is.  She has married well and is wealthy and has a swimming pool, Mercedes and room for a pony.  Hyacinth is impressed with Violet.

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HYACINTH:  A very stately proper flower of many colors and fragrances.  Her stalk is very straight, and her beautiful trumpet like flowers are all arranged in neat vertical rows.  She knows that she is the BEST flower, and will not be outdone by other flowers, and rather looks down on them.  When the wind blows her little trumpets, she makes a horrible sound, though thinks she sings beautifully.  She is very disappointed that her species is not a climbing flower, because she thinks climbers are too haughty and disapproves of them, but not so secretly envies them.  She thinks that living in a country manor attic and road testing a Rolls Royce for others to see will impress them.  Thus, she invites them to her very proper "candlelight suppers."  Though she scatters grain for her hen-pecked husband, she describes him as "executive." 

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Then there is ELIZABETH, Hyacinth's next door neighbor, who comes for coffee.  Now Elizabeth is a "Royal" name, but not where Hyacinth is concerned.  She is afraid that Elizabeth will break her Royal Doulton china, so she gives her a beaker instead.  Even though it is just a coffee, Hyacinth treats it as if it were "high tea" serving biscuits on a doily.  

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Here is one of the episodes that highlights most of my observations:

"What's Up Doc?" -- Mel Blanc

Remember all the voices of Mel Blanc in the cartoons?

Read this article and listen to the podcast (orange line) to find out how his own cartoon characters awoke him from a long coma following a severe auto accident on Dead Man's Curve!

Click on this link:

http://www.openculture.com/2013/05/the_strange_day_when_bugs_bunny_saved_the_life_of_mel_blanc.html

Desiderata

Go placidly amid the noise and haste,
and remember what peace there may be in silence.
As far as possible without surrender
be on good terms with all persons.

Speak your truth quietly and clearly;
and listen to others,
even the dull and the ignorant;
they too have their story.


Avoid loud and aggressive persons,
they are vexations to the spirit.
If you compare yourself with others,
you may become vain and bitter;
for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.
Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.


Keep interested in your own career, however humble;
it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.
Exercise caution in your business affairs;
for the world is full of trickery.


But let this not blind you to what virtue there is;
many persons strive for high ideals;
and everywhere life is full of heroism.


Be yourself.


Especially, do not feign affection.
Neither be cynical about love;
for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment
it is as perennial as the grass.


Take kindly the counsel of the years,
gracefully surrendering the things of youth.
Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune.
But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings.
Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.


Beyond a wholesome discipline,
be gentle with yourself.


You are a child of the universe,
no less than the trees and the stars;
you have a right to be here.
And whether or not it is clear to you,
no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.


Therefore be at peace with God,
whatever you conceive Him to be,
and whatever your labors and aspirations,
in the noisy confusion of life keep peace with your soul.


With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams,
it is still a beautiful world.


Be cheerful.


Strive to be happy.
---Max Ehrmann, Desiderata, Copyright 1952.

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At various points in my life Desiderata has given me great comfort. Loud and aggressive persons learned to be avoided.  I always managed to remain interested in my career, because I loved helping others.  Learned to be my self.  Now I am trying to take kindly the counsel of the years and be gentle with my self.  I do strive to be cheerful and happy and these words always bolster my spirits.