The Garlic: 02/07/2010

Saturday, February 13, 2010

Our Eulogy

Today, we had final services for my now late Aunt, Celia C. Malmberg, age 97, and this was the eulogy I delivered, thanks to the richness of my childhood, my life, inhabited, surrounded, nurtured and loved, by my Aunt, and all her siblings.

The quiet demeanor Cele often posed almost, completely, shielded what an incredible, remarkable woman she was.

Iconoclastic would be, perhaps, a bit too loud, but she was, truly, an independent spirit, following her own path, throughout her life.

This perhaps surfaced, when, back in the day, when it was not encouraged, marrying the love-of-her-life, though he had been married before, and had children.

Cele took in and loved those children as her own, as she would, with each and every, niece, nephew, and grandchild that came along.

And she had a trick.

She made each and everyone one of us feel uniquely special, that she was "our Aunt", just ours, without ever letting all the others lose the same feeling.

She was a prolific knitter, sewer, baker (ahhh, who wouldn't go for a batch of her home-made devil dogs right now, or one of her pistachio cakes?), shopper, and, yes, iconoclast, adopting early, long before they became popular, mainstream topics, such as healthy eating, and vitamins.

And, most of all, she was an incredible "giver" ... She was always there, always ready to help, not looking for anything in return, again, for everyone, with the specialness, always making you feel uniquely special.

She is reunited now, with her siblings, those that left before her, The Mokaba's ...

The Seven Wonders of the World rock, again ...

(Photo by Adrienne Pilarski, my niece, taken in May, 2009, at the dedication ceremony of "Mokaba Square", named after my grandparents, Yusef and Jamille, and the entire family)

We would be remiss, if we didn't acknowledge the gigantically generous words my good friend Barry Crimmins posted today, a posting that brought me to my knees, in a flood of both, sorrowful and joyful, tears;

A Tribute Before a Eulogy

One unique, special person gone, but another, here, that I can still love.

Peace
JTD

Wednesday, February 10, 2010

In Memoriam ...

Good Evening Garlic Fans

I had expected to put up an Editor's post this evening, to explain our absence yesterday (due to a severe flu bug thing going around), however, we received much sadder news.

The Aunt that we have been caretaker to, who we made numerous references to, in our trials-and-tribulations, has passed away, at the age of 97.

She is the end of an era, the last of her siblings to pass.

Born to Syrian immigrants, she lived a rich, full life, living independently, until age 90 (and, fighting off a purse-snatcher, at, around, 87 or 88).

She was a prolific baker, sewer, knitter, and giver, always there, always giving of herself.

It is sad, but we know now, she is in a better place.

With this, we can't say, for sure, when we will resume posting, certainly not over the next few days.

So, busy yourself by running down the left sidebar, and read the highlighted post, or explore some of the other great writers out there via our Links Section.

This Date ... On The Garlic

10 February 2009... On The Garlic

Rachel's Grand Experiment

Beware, This Press Conference Protected By Lapdogs!

This Didn't Make The 11PM News ...

10 February 2008... On The Garlic

Good Thing Frank Rich Doesn't Work For MSNBC!

Top Ten Cloves: Things Overheard At CPAC

10 February 2006... On The Garlic

White House Burns Midnight Oil As President Loads Up On "Unvarnished Advice"

McCain - Obama Feud Update: Obama Grammy Sends McCain Heading Into Studio

Top Ten Cloves: Ways Bush Administration Is Dealing With Danish - Muslim Cartoon Controversy

10 February 2005... On The Garlic

Boston Mayor Calls for Rolling Rallys 24/7/365

Kilts, Gillette Board Vote For All Profits

Romney Calls For Closing of Big Dig; Old Expressway To Be Re-Built

Top Ten Bush Incentives To Open A Private Social Security Account

Monday, February 08, 2010

Bizzaro World

One could, I suppose, find some irony in here, if you take into account, the decades-long rumors of Old Blue Eyes being all mobbed up.

Which leaves us bereft of knowing if he ever had someone whacked, for singing one of his songs badly, or out-of-key.

Ah, but the Philippines, that's a different story;

Sinatra Song Often Strikes Deadly Chord

The authorities do not know exactly how many people have been killed warbling “My Way” in karaoke bars over the years in the Philippines, or how many fatal fights it has fueled. But the news media have recorded at least half a dozen victims in the past decade and includes them in a subcategory of crime dubbed the “My Way Killings.”

The killings have produced urban legends about the song and left Filipinos groping for answers. Are the killings the natural byproduct of the country’s culture of violence, drinking and machismo? Or is there something inherently sinister in the song?

Whatever the reason, many karaoke bars have removed the song from their playbooks. And the country’s many Sinatra lovers, like Mr. Gregorio here in this city in the southernmost Philippines, are practicing self-censorship out of perceived self-preservation.

[snip]

Indeed, most of the “My Way” killings have reportedly occurred after the singer sang out of tune, causing other patrons to laugh or jeer.

“The trouble with ‘My Way,’ ” said Mr. Gregorio, “is that everyone knows it and everyone has an opinion.”

Oh My!

Think about how many more layers of legend that could have added to Sinatra, if such was the practice, particularly, after 1965, or so, when his vocal talents began sinking, much like the 'Lady in Cement'.

The poor Yankee fans, who must feel like changing citizenship, to Filipino, after each home game, when the PA systems starts blaring the tune Sinatra hijacked, 'New York, New York'.

Warbling, indeed.

Bonus Riffs

In The "Admit It, It Crossed Your Mind" Department

For Me, It's John Denver ...

The Rendition The Yankees Should Be Playing

New York, New York (Theme song, 1977)

Bonus Bonus - The Other "New York New York"

Gene Kelly Frank Sinatra - "New York, New York"

This Date ... On The Garlic

8 February 2009... On The Garlic

So Long Blossom, It Was A Great Ride!

8 February 2008... On The Garlic

The Shakedown, Roasting and Burning-At-The-Stake of David Shuster

Top Ten Cloves: Ways Hillary Clinton Can Raise More Money

Good Read ... The Lemming Pledge

8 February 2007... On The Garlic

Top Ten Cloves: Reasons Tim Russert Didn't Ask Scooter Libby About Joe Wilson and His Wife

8 February 2006... On The Garlic

White House: "Eulogies Are Not A Strategy"

Top Ten Cloves: Ways NHL Plans On Handling Gambling Scandal

Sunday, February 07, 2010

It's a "Who Dat" Kind of World Now!

We took it kind of easy today, being, after all, that it was Super Sunday.

Also, we had to give ourselves a "head-slap", for missing, earlier this past week, noting our 5th Anniversary of writing The Garlic, as well as hitting our 3,400th post.

Ahhh, but that be nothin'.

The big news today (aside from Wannabe Teabagger Den Mother, Sarah Palin, and her magical set of hands), is that the New Orleans Saints beat (whipped - outscoring the Colts 31-7 over the last three quarters) the Indianapolis Colts tonight, 31-17, ending a 42-year drought for the historically beleaguered franchise.

They can leave the "Aint's" behind, and shuffle up into Payton Manning's face, bellowing, joyously "Who Dat!".

As we posted earlier, to Facebook and Twitter, "A lot of Super Bowl workers getting big OT Pay tonight - Having to pack away all those "Peyton Manning Best Ever" crates ..."

Dave Weigal ReTweeted that "Haitians about to get a shipment of Colts Super Bowl Champion T-Shirts."

Manning, heh, heh, threw the game-killing interception, trailing, at the time, by only 7-points, and on a march downfield, as Tracy Porter returned the pic 75-yards for a touchdown, sealing the deal.

And, Saints QB Drew Brees was named MVP of the game.

The most clutch play ever, perhaps, in a Super Bowl, however, goes to Saints Coach Sean Payton, for making the call to go with an On-Side kick, for the Second Half kick-off, recovered by the Saints, and they just stole, from that point on, all the momentum away from the Colts.

A little partying, maybe, huh?

Barry Crimmins announced that "FEMA commences emergency airlift of crucial beer, wine and liquor supplies to French Quarter."

So with that, we will reprise something we used, just a few weeks ago, to celebrate the Saints ...

Louis Armstrong - When The Saints Go Marching In