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Saturday, August 15, 2009

The Best Laid Schemes of Mice and Men

People, people, people, am I wasting myself here? Is anybody listening? In Bunnies and Owls, I threw in an allusion to Lennie Small. "And we'll have bunnies won't we, George?" (quote from memory, not literal). Nobody rose to the bait, or maybe just blew it off. Christ, this was even in Bugs Bunny cartons. Is it just so ubiquitous, like Thomas Crapper and the flush toilet, that nobody bothered? Or too obscure, like "Since Hector was a pup", the allusion to Natty Bumpo's dog? Talk to me here, people. (In memory of MISS Hildred Tennehill.)

3 comments:

Old Nevermore said...

My oldest boy (by one minute) is named Silas George.

Yes, that George.

His brother, Cal Henry, after East of Eden's Cal Trask.

(And, Henry Chinaski, but that's a whole 'nother woeful story.)

I just figured everybody else knew who you were talking about.

Margadant said...

I'll confess to being at fault. Not only does your blog come early in my morning when my mental processes are still fighting to remain dormant, but when growing up I also took it as my duty to avoid reading as many of the literary classics that were assigned as I could get away with. Only occasionally would I slip up and pick up one to read during finals week so I wouldn't have to study for an exam. (That's how The Great Gatsby got read; pure mistake on my part.) Consequently, I operate at a deficit in detecting these literary puns. I tend to do a bit better at picking up on biblical references like "Absalom's ass" because my mother made me go to Sunday school each week. But, please, continue to fish us and/or tease us with the occasional obscure, odd reference.

And by the way, that's "Miss Hildred Tennihill."

Gunnar Berg said...

Abe, They are fine looking young lads.

James, Bullshit. You've read all of them, and we both know it. I'll give you the morning doldrums excuse though.