The Cinderella Gang

Never, if you really love something, lend it out to anybody but your most trusted friends. Several years ago--I think it was in the late 'eighties--we taped this show off of Canadian television. It was a pantomime called "The Cinderella Gang," and it was so funny, especially to little kids. Anyway, we watched it and watched it, and whenever we would have little kids over at the house who had to be entertained, we would pop it in. Well, one day, one family wanted to borrow it. They'd borrowed other movies in the past and always returned them, but this never got returned. They said they'd given it back, but we've never seen it since. The moral of the story? Don't lend anything you care about!

I'm not sure why I've been thinking about that today, but occasionally I'll hear something or see something that'll being to mind a line or two from the show--such as "Izzattt...." as muttered often by the worm (whose name, I think, was Willie the Worm), or something from the two Ugly Stepsisters, played by men, or the prince when he was wearing his false teeth, or Dandini, his mouthy chamberlain, or, of course, Buttons, Cinderella's lovable sidekick and the true star of the show. It was all crazy fun.

Isn't it odd how things from the past stay with you your whole life? I still remember things from when I was five or six. Of course, I can't always remember things from five or six days ago! Still, your childhood memories and impressions stay with you forever. I guess that's one reason why parents have such a huge responsibility to raise their children properly.

Enough randomness for one day! On to more serious matters, like seeing if I got a story acceptance in today's mail (not likely), or another rejection (I'm getting used to those)! Oh, the life of an author...

ETA 12/25/2010: The most recent comment on this post, offering copies for $25. apiece - I do not know who this is, or if it legitimate, so it is up to you, readers, to decide whether or not you want to contact him. This is my disclaimer - I bear no responsibility!