Cyclops, Cerberus, and The Graduate

Hi Friends of the Red Baron. Nice to write you again, to tell you about some unusual comments to a recent blog during which I alluded to the Greco-Persian War some 4 centuries B.C. I had the temerity to say that Xerxes led the Persians to defeat. However, one anonymous common-tater who apparently has one eye and/or dyslexia indignantly complained that "Telex", his former employer had nothing to do with that war. Well, at least he recognized the "x". In order to assuage the Cyclop's linguistic trauma and alleviate his anguish, the kindly Baron wrote that it was "Mimeo" who fought the Greeks because he had "copied" Sparta's battle strategies. I became convinced that because of this untoward generosity and mutilation of history I had to de-cretinize my mental capacities perhaps by chewing on some shoe-leather. And a final common-tater in this Cerberus-like dialogue suggested it was Sal "Mineo", not "Mimeo" who lost the war. This guy needs to see a surgeon quickly for a lobotomy, and perhaps for humanity's benefit, he will think better with half a brain than a whole one--which obviously confuses him. The Baron would like to put this whole matter to rest right now, after having done some lengthy and important research in "Playboy" and "The Readers' Digest Large Print Edition" on the history of that war. I knew there was some guy who led the Persians who had an "x" in his name. And now I know it was "FedEx" who tried to deliver the goods to the Spartans and Greeks. After the loss, the Greeks used the booty to come to America and open restaurants. PARACKALO!!

As previously mentioned, I got a phone call from one of my former students who graduated in 1958, and now 50 years later is 68 years old! Amazing. He wanted me to know that the class is planning a 50th Reunion and would like me to come. Now this was a class I began teaching when I was 30 and hot to trot. I took over the 9th grade in Sea Cliff H.S. in 1954 and moved with them to the new North Shore H.S. in Glen Head. I taught the same kids for four years, and got very fond of all of them, especially when the girls were sophomores. There is nothing like a sophomore high school girl; I cannot explain it. At any rate, I would love to attend this reunion in Long Island in September, but I do not wish to fly another mile in my life, and Rhoda won't allow me to drive up there alone, so we are left with a very tough Gordian knot.