America The Beautiful, God grant His grace on Thee! Monday the 47th President of the United States took the oath of office and began serving this country. Though I’m sure I’ve watched other president inaugurations, it seems maybe this is the only one I was able to watch on television all the way through, from the beginning to end. Before the inauguration, a pianist played one of my favorite hymns, “Great Is Thy Faithfulness.” Later one of my favorite singers, Carrie Underwood, sang “America The Beautiful.” All the speeches were meaningful, prayers were offered, former presidents and former first ladies that were present were introduced, other American leaders were presented and the President’s band played stirring songs. An opera star sang the National Anthem. The oaths were taken by the Vice-President and President. God was called upon for leadership, guidance and direction. The cannons went off in the new President’s honor signaling the oaths had been taken and a new President of the United States was in office.
An interesting side line noted in the inauguration fashion statements, was that the first lady, as elegant as always, wore a beautiful hat. Also noted was a hat worn by one of the president’s daughters. Always an enthusiast of ladies’ hats, maybe this will start a renewed fashion statement and interest.
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Popeye just became 96 years old! It seems hard to believe this huge forearmed, gruff sounding, sailor man would be that old. Popeye’s history began in January 1929, when Frank “Rocky” Fiegel’s created a newspaper cartoon that first appeared in the Daily King Comic Strip. Fiegel was born in Poland and came to America with his parents, and settled in Illinois. It is thought he was a boxer who had gone to sea as a young man. Those two happenings in Fiegel’s life must have influenced his cartoon creation.
Popeye The Sailor Man, would gain his incredible strength when he’d eat his spinach. I never could figure out why spinach but maybe Fiegel’s had a love of the not too popular vegetable. Eating the healthy spinach somehow didn’t fit. Popeye always had a corn cob pipe in his mouth. It seems the only time the pipe was called for was when his strength grew and smoke came out or when a sound was made like a ship’s horn. His spinach strength was often called for when he had to confront his enemy, Bluto, and a fight would often occur with Popeye coming out the winner. It was learned that Popeye lost the sight of his right eye on his first voyage to sea at the age of 12. The love of his life was a string bean built lady, Olive Oyl. Popeye and Olive Oyl’s interest was in a baby boy name Sweet Pea that, though he was not their son, he was an important interest to them and they looked after him. Popeye’s father was also a sailor man named Poopdeck Pappy! Fiegel seemed to make Popeye send out a message that Popeye was always himself and he managed to never give up no matter what situation he found himself in.
In 1933, Popeye would become a featured cartoon character before the movie was shown in theaters. His cartoon strip in newspapers continued until 1957. A Popeye television cartoon series was shown in the 1960s and continued until the 1990s. In 1980, a Popeye musical movie, starring Robin Williams, made its debut.
As Popeye often said, “I y’am what I y’am...I’m Popeye the sailor man”...and his corn cob pipe would sound off.
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