Double Dog Darling

Here, a photograph of some of my favorite people: Sophie & Pam Kohn, grandmere Manijeh Kalantari, and my own Papa, Saeid Roushanzamir. Missing from this photo are my many Iranian relatives and (few) American relatives, Lily Kohn, and obviously my Maman who took the picture. I, of course, am at the Center.

People are frail and flawed creatures. Tender of heart, strict of practice (exercise, discipline, affection). And through it all, sanguine creatures who view optimisim as a virtue.

Perhaps because of these characteristics, Maman has created a new "pet name" for me: double dog darling.

It references a 1950s childhood practice: the double dog dare. The double dog dare is issued in an attempt to up the ante; it's not as commanding as the triple dog dare which (perhaps) exceeds the limits of polite behaviour.

In any case, calling me the double dog darling is Maman's meek attempt at humor. Yes, I'm a darling. Yes, I'm double the darlingness of most doggies. So I accept the nick-name even as I mock its origin. After all, does a dog with the name of Mercury Murphy Roushanzamir really need a pet name?

BTW, apologies to those of you await my entries eagerly and with baited breath. Writers block has held me within its viscious grip. But my thoughts are always with you (each & every one of you) as are my hopes that you're celebrating life and loving it.

Mama facebooks

In the past, Mama and I spent our days together pleasantly, watching Law & Order (the original is the best) or Maigret, Perry Mason or Inspector Morse DVDs, reading, walking outdoors, or just puttering around the house.

Ah, for the good old days.

In fact, my dear friend Lucy was the inadvertant cause of the demise of our long lovely days together. Lucy's Mama, Melinda, invited mine to be her facebook friend. Many had previously invited Mama; she steadfastly refused to reply. Until Melinda's invitation. And such is Mama's respect for Melinda, that she was unable to resist returning a resounding Yes.

Now Mama is facebook addicted. She turned facebook into a verb [i.e. facebooking, facebooked...]

She has spent hours creating her profile, joining groups, contacting long lost friends, opening photo albums. Granted, as far as the last is concerned, mine was the first album and has, as I recall, the greatest number of pictures. Her albums include those dedicated to: family, former graduate students, colleague-friends, other friends, my friends, Grady at Oxford 2004, Grady at Oxford 2005, etc. If the list isn't yet endless, there's every indication that her collection of albums will continue to grow at an alarming rate. She proceeds more gingerly with groups; but one established group had no wall entries (wall! what?) nor any pictures until Mama joined.

Furthermore, as a result of Mama's direct and indirect instigation, many more friends have accepted invitations and they in turn are connecting with their long lost friends. Even Papa has (reluctantly) succumbed. Even, Grandpere!

I seem to have been relegated to 2nd class status. I watch from my computer room bed (one of my 3 beds in our home) and wait, hoping for some slight recognition, even a mere glimmer of remembrance.

I find it ironic that Mama is reading an Agatha Christie novel just now that centers around a dead character: Rosemary, for remembrance.

Loyal fans and friends, please send your special messages across time & space in your hopes that Mama's sanity and my pleasurable days will return soon. [you may notice how plaintive I look in the photo above.

Ready for Our Close Up

Taking a break from the marker called in [i.e., Mama's insistence that I fulfill my promise to write about her accomplished friends & former students in a timely way--read previous entry], allow me to introduce the Best of the Best in dog closeups.

First, my own [see photo above]. Sadly, Mama's photographic ability varies. Still, this shot displays my long eyelashes, splendid nose and thick head of lustrous hair to, if not perfection, advantage.

[Observe: left is Mama's slightly better photographic effort added on February 7, 2007]. She hasn't heard the last of the Close up readiness issue. In the meantime, I recommend watching Sunset Boulevard for a first-class close up-- & refer you to [Re]noir entry, January 21, 2007 & Noir, January 26 for more information about film noir. ]

Next, Mary Catherine. Named for the most famous & powerful Russian Emperor[ess], Mary Catherine's Papas treat her with deference only fitting & adamantly insist that others behave similarly. With her regal & commanding demeanor & inherent sense of nobless oblige, prompting is unnecessary; Mary Catherine inspires suitable treatment simply by her aura of authority, her charisma. Adorned with satin and gold--she wears a golden name tag on a Louis Vuitton collar--[see 1/30/07 entry], she is royally coifed and perfumed, and petted by all she encounters.

Finally, the pin-up girl. Miss February, chosen to grace the home and business walls & lockers of men and women alike for the entire month of Februrary [therefore hanging, as I write, in a strategic place selected for most frequent viewing in the Roushanzamir home], stands out from the other 11 celebrity dogs chosen to represent the height of beauty [and the It factor] for this, the most famous edition of the poodle calander. The reason seems obvious. [but for the visually challenged, note her close resemblance to me]

Accomplished Friends

You may remember the Gang of 10, Tribute [see: 12/01/06] in which, at Mama's request, I promised exciting profiles of of various VIPs. I have been sadly [wholly] remiss.

The commitment shall be fulfilled beginning with this tribute to a well-known professor & Mama's friend and colleague. Her photo has been slightly retouched [and her name and actual circumstances altered] so that she may avoid the insatiable media attention accorded to highly accomplished intellectuals.

Meet Rose Cleveland, Ph.D. Her research findings are published in "grade A" scholarly journals & she is widely credited with the highest achievements in undergraduate and graduate teaching at a well-known Southern university. She makes herself available for service to benefit that university, her discipline, and indeed to the professional world, all of which eagerly accept her offers with gratitude.

Equally, if not more important, her commitments to the local community and to her friends single her out as a particularly warm, empathetic and loving human being.

Of course, I count myself as one of Mama's [& Papa's] greatest pals. I'd be honored if I can similarly number Professor Rose Cleveland as a personal friend.

She's already one of the few human beings admitted to my house with minimal aggressive barking. So Dr. Cleveland, if you do wish to be my pal, please post your comment[s] in the Comment Section below.

Mercury's futon

For you, loyal readers, who worry that I'm relegated to Dog Status [i.e. dog-in-the-manger] in the Roushanzamir household, I've provided this [minor] evidence to the contrary.

True, I could wish for better things: a fine china bowl for my food and Waterford crystal stem-ware for water [in lieu of the green plastic cat dish & water in an absurdly large blue container]; three meals per day [instead of two] with a greater variety of menus [it could hardly be less since I eat the same--premium--dog food day after day]; a couture gem studded collar [the jewels wouldn't have to be diamonds]; an 18- or 22-carat gold or platinum name tag, and so forth. I could also hope [and do] that Mama would stop dressing me in sweaters, hats, raincoats and t-shirts [but she hasn't-- as yet-- sunk so low as to insist upon frilly dresses or frou frou hair styles].

Dear fans, do not despair or worry unduly [your steadfast concern is appreciated]. Here, pictured, a green futon, Mercury's futon, which is [however slight] concrete proof that Mama et Papa contrive to construct a proper environment, maximizing what resources [admitedly scant] they possess to ensure [a measure of] my comfort & pleasure .

***Forthcoming: my entry about the friends, both dogs & humans, with whom Mama et Papa permit me to associate.***