Rabbit’s Foot
Jason Giambi, one of baseball's best sluggers in the last 20 years, would wear a gold thong to try and bust out of a batting slump. Tim Lincecum always wore the same cap when he was pitching, for five years. Jockey Jake Noonan never let his helmet touch the ground before a horse race, ever. Another jockey, Emily Finnegan, swears by a certain perfume, Hugo Boss Deep Red, for race days. Chimney sweeps are thought to bring good luck; often in British weddings, a sweep is hired to come by in a top hat with his brush and give the bride a smooch. Shamrocks. Winged phalluses in ancient Rome. Wind chimes. Horseshoes.
A few years back I was pooped on by a bird. Not so happy about bird doo in my hair, I was stunned to be shat upon again in the same week. In hashing over my sense of ignominy, I decided to spin it. It must be a good sign, a sign that I was outdoors a lot, a sign that I was living a life with hours and hours of fresh air. I later read that in parts of the world, like Russia and Turkey, getting pooped on by a bird is good luck. Well, there ya go. I'm super double lucky. Luckier by far than the story my friend Chris used to tell of being out in a fishing boat off Chatham on Cape Cod. He was working with an older captain and the business of fishing involved flocks of wheeling gulls and quite a stench of old bait for much of the time. His buddy, the captain, smoked cigars constantly to manage the stink. Just as he raised the cigar to his face a wheeling gull let fly right into his open mouth. In horror, Chris stammered, "Oh god, what's THAT taste like?!" The captain spit and smiled, "Hot."
But I digress. Lucky charms. Do they work? They must or why would their use continue over the millennia? In the 16th Century, a British Parliamentarian, Reginald Scot carried a rabbit's foot around in his pocket for good luck. Rabbit's feet are used in Europe, Africa, China, and North and South America as a talisman to bring good luck, which begs the question of why rabbits? Wouldn't it make sense for each culture to have its own paw? What's wrong with weasels or foxes? Or a chicken foot? The fact that this is a global belief system could be taken as a refutation to its inefficacy. It must work. EVERYBODY knows that. My brother had one on a keychain when I was a kid. Totally grossed me out; but you know, it's my older brother's so it must be cool. Did it work? Probably. He's still around and having fun. Might even still have it somewhere in a box. Old dead animal paw with a little ball chain through it. Yuck.
So what's all this about fortuosity anyway? (If anyone can glean the referential aspect of that word, let me know). Seems like a good time in our lives to lean into a little bon chance. The title of the above piece is "Amulet." Will it bring you good luck if you hang it in your home? Yes. I guarantee it. Abso-posi-lutely. Never fail. Starting immediately. Life will get better. For sure. There's a backstory to the name of this panel and if you buy it, I'll share it.
On the other hand, where is Tim Lincecum now? Didn't Jason Giambi get busted for steroids? That jockey with the helmet thing, crashed hard twice. Max Scherzer, one of the all-time most bad-ass pitchers to ever throw a baseball is very superstitious. He believes that to talk about luck and superstitions is bad luck. So. Nothing. Nope. No talking about that. (By the way, look up his stats. Ridiculous. That is, if you believe in baseball).
But, I believe that if you believe, luck is real. Ruby slippers will take us home. Pooped on recently? Good. Better times are on the way.
Reread the above line, especially the last part.
We got this my friends. I think you could use a little fresh art to liven up the palace after all we have been going through. "Amulet", or "Disc", which is an amulet like the one I wore around my neck for a few years. How about "Looking Out"? "On With It" is still available. As is "Bridget". Can you feel the theme here?
Looking forward to our next missive. yes indeed.
Meantime,
Peace
