Friday, May 09, 2008
I may not be Batman, but I'm still famous
| Early on when I was teaching at Mercer, I happened to be sitting outside with Penny on a smoke break with Connie, who was the Math Department's Admin Assistant. I really have no idea how we got onto the topic but I related the following story: When my brother and I were little (I have no idea HOW little) we of course liked to pretend to be super heroes. Since there were two of us, options were limited. Of course we went with Batman and Robin. My brother, being older, got to be Batman, and thus I was Robin. Via my father, we had our utility belts (military surplus belts) with canteens, pouches and various other neat stuff. My mother, being ever helpful and a whiz with the sewing machine, decided to make super hero capes for my brother and I. Nicely hemmed, Velcro neck closures. I mean top quality stuff that kids today simply can't imagine. Have you ever looked closely at Batman and Robin's capes. The REAL Batman and Robin, not that new age garbage in the movies with the full leather outfits.  Take a close look.
Penny immediately decided that the entire course of my life was determined by that cape. I had some sort of cape inferiority complex. I coveted Batman's cape. Apparently, I am who I am because I never got to be Batman. In those times when I was especially whiny, Penny would simply "comfort" me by saying "Aww, poor Robin." This was said in the same way that southerners (Penny was VERY southern) recite the phrase "bless your little heart." It's comforting at first but then you realize they we're NOT being comforting. Well it took quite a few years, and a lot of work, but I eventually got my very own black cape. It's really quite cool. While I would never question my mother's sewing ability, this one may be a bit tough to tackle. And I get to don my super hero costume this evening at CFCC's Graduation. You see my "cape" is often referred to as a "hood." It's my master degree hood. Due to a unique situation, mine is a really neat black and orange, while most other hoods are 3 or 4 colors. They all have a black body, then a velvet strip with the color determined by the degree field (mine is orange for engineering). Then the lining is usually two colors determined by the school that awarded the degree. Mercer's colors are black and orange. Thus my hood is completely black and orange. It's kind of manly, dark, and tough. It sure isn't sissy yellow! I also have a black "tam" to wear. Sadly, it doesn't have bat ears, but it'll do. I haven't yet figured out if I can get the utility belt on under the robe or not, but I am working on it. You just never know when the Joker or the Riddler will attack your community college graduation ceremony (bless their little hearts). Pictures will certainly follow at some point. I just have to be careful to protect my secret identity, so y'all don't tell anyone now, ok? |
Labels: Mercer, Warner Robins
