A Piper is Down

We lost one yesterday. A lady in her mid-fifties was diagnosed with cancer two weeks ago and passed away yesterday. Bad day for the Pelican.

Everyone is a little bummed so no jokes today.

Everyone should tip a 40 to the homies at the Pelican.

jb

Jessica Tandy

Bert Jacobs died this afternoon. I dedicate this pseudo factual essay to Ol' Bert.

Old People Communities are constructed of the following ratio: 90% evil and 10% death. The 55+ community, as an entity, is deceivingly energetic with singular, maniacal intentions. It slowly and patiently preys on the innocent, effervescent bodies that wander into its lethargic, feeble grasp. Individually, the old timer is a harmless non-force, barely noticeable to the naked eye, but when grouped en masse these innocuous octogenarians rip mountains asunder and part seas. The blue-haired, predatory force, which has been known since the Middle Ages as the White Hair Conundrum (WHC), is clearly responsible for bad things, like the weekly ambulance visits, one of which took away poor Ol' Bert Jacobs. Silly bastard. The WHC shares no allegiances and will therefore cannibalize itself without second thought. Bert is proof of this. The WHC is to be feared. There is good reason why the 55+ community has not existed until the last 50 years and America is at fault. I've constructed a loose thesis called 'The History and Nature of Old People', some of which I've outlined in the following paragraphs.

Old people are evil when left to cavort in groups. They are hate ridden monsters consumed with regret who are jealous of smooth flesh and active libido. They hug children to steal their energy (which is also known as Loving Them To Death). Have you ever heard an old lady say something like 'You are so cute I could eat you up!'. Unfortunately she's being quite literal so keep Granny at arms length.

My first experience with the idea of 'energy stealers' came about from repeated viewings of On Golden Pond. As I studied each scene, I realized this was a documentary about training of old earthlings how to steal energy. I'm sure you remember the plot: Jessica Tandy, nearly on her death bed, gains super human strength, saves a baby and multiplies herself. Where do you think her energy and vibrancy was derived? Yep, she ate the baby. Most of the Tandy multiples have left the planet to inhabit other parts of the universe but I wonder why Jessica Tandy is still living? She was 95 during the filming, right? That makes her 174 today which is suspicious.

Here's some more concrete evidence:

Have you ever seen the children with that so-called disease which makes them appear obscenely old? You know the little guys in the over-sized baseball hats walking around Disney world? Well it's not a disease, folks. They look that way because a deviant parent left the child at a 'community' with the grandparents for an extended period of time. The grandparents (and friends, like wolves) proceeded to hug the little kid for hours resulting in a shriveled and creepy mannish-boy thing. The poor kid is left devastated. But why do old people want, ney need, hugs? And what do the prune people gain from reducing the taut skin of a sweet 5 year old child into an ever lasting knuckle-faced freak?

2 minutes of 'doin' it like teenagers' time.

I've seen it go down first hand. The old couple hug the children, run back into their condo and pull the shades down. The 'swing and bebop' music soon follows humming from the stereo at 7 (the maximum daytime volume at a 55+ community) and it's on. Grandpa swaggers out 3 minutes later puffing a cigar with his belt still akimbo and cane swingin' by his side. Grandma sips some brandy and passes out on the rocker. Thankfully I have yet to witness the main event but I heard that you turn into stone if you gaze directly into it just like Medusa's head, the ancient Greek symbol for multiple old people in one place.

So the children suffer a life time of indignity for a few minutes of raisin humping.

Europeans understand the consequences and potential power of a geriatric army, which is why each family is responsible for keeping its elders captive, alne, within their home. The socially acceptable term for this unspoken rule in Italian is 'la cosa vecchia' or 'the old thing'. It translates roughly into English as 'keep your old people in the house'. It's why Europeans live with such a large, extended family. American's, being separated from their roots and European history, quickly forgot the Euro-tenants of social order and began construction of a brand new social order based on social efficiencies, not history. A few short years of intense study provided the impetus to segregate the old people from the masses. The Supreme Court determined that 'old people get in the way' in the landmark Smith Vs. Grandpa Smith case. In a letter to the cabinet Theodore Roosevelt stated that old people 'were the greatest threat to liberty that we will face as a nation and as a people'. He minimized the old people's middling efforts by moving them all into regional facilities known as 'homes'. Unknown to the US power players, this is exactly what the old people craved most in their wicked, sporadically beating hearts. Their time had been served to them in a tiny glass along with their vitamins.

Although, warnings had been issued to Americans in the past there was no effective response. Sufficient sign posts had been clearly marked within our history, language and art, such that we should never have come to this point. At the turn of the century, characteristic American artist Norman Rockwell integrated symbols and clearly dictated this forthcoming disaster in well known paintings and little known pieces like 'Beware: Old People Cometh' and 'Grandma Loves Not'. Looked upon as a story, his entire catalog teaches us how to minimize the threat of 'la cosa vecchia'. When Norman included an old person in a painting they were usually alone or occupied by some time-consuming, menial task. To put it plainly, Norman showed us how to kill our old people with a sugar coating. For example, in one painting, an old lady is sewing a flag. That's nice. It's like he's saying 'Shut up an sew until you're finished. And when you're done I've got more. I SAID SHUT UP!' In another, an old guy is playing banjo while his grandson threateningly points a roll of papers (or, more likely, a billy club) in his direction as if to say 'I know your deal, old man. Don't even try it.'

Today our country's youthful, people are occupied with their everyday lives. Jobs, bills, the stock market, housing, inflation... none of which matter. And in the background, out of sight, out of mind and gaining power, momentum and numbers a huge faction of hard candy chewing elders prepares to rise into power. First the US. Then the world. Then the universe. I've seen the plans, which were written in cursive latin so it took a few hours to translate. But when I was finished I read and wept aloud for all of humanity.

What does this mean for us today? It's too late. Don't even worry about it. In my opinion, we stand no chance. Having penetrated an active cell I can tell you that their power is far reaching and widespread. I suggest moving to a cold climate and staying away from the Game Show Network. Our parents have failed us and, as a result, we have to become Canadian.

For your reference, I've listed just some of the WHC achievements that I know about:

• The creation of paper money (jingly pockets sink sips)
  
• Orange juice concentrate (can't afford Florida? bring Florida to you!)
• Global Warming (can't afford Florida? bring Florida to you!)
• Oprah's death (trust me on this one)
  
• Every prune farm in the world
• The inexplicable resurgence of the K-car in the 90's
• Party of 5 cancellation (order without old people!)
• The cancellation of Arrested Development (????)

It wants only one thing: more life. Living here has taken it's toll on me. I'm slower than I was a few months ago. I plan my meals. I demand early bird prices and home-cooked quality.