We can now all share some comfort in knowing that the “Ides of March” have passed and we are more secure. As you are aware the “Ides” can be pretty bad. Look at poor Julius Caesar who was stabbed in the back by his best friend I always thought that he took it uncommonly well as he just said “You too Brutus!” (in Latin of course). I do not know about you, but if my best friend had stabbed me in the back, and I could say something, it would be a lot more descriptive than that.
Getting beyond the Ides of March
As it is, the name Brutus is not used very much. Apparently most parents feel that it would make people look funny at their kid. If you read the best literature, you will have noted that Popeye’s enemy is named Brutus (although sometimes it is Bluto). This Brutus is obviously not the smartest guy around as he is always trying to swipe Olive Oyl from Popeye – without any luck I might add.
However, the point here is that Olive Oyl is not the best looking heroine that I have ever seen. If I were Popeye, I would let Brutus have her. It may be that Popeye feels obliged as the comic strip originally did not have Popeye in it. Rather, it was Olive and her brother Castor Oyl. Can you imagine a comic strip today getting away with using those names?
Another reason that I would be suspicious of Olive is the baby, Sweetpea. Nobody seems to know from where Sweetpea came. He just seems to have suddenly appeared. Luckily. Popeye seems to be oblivious of this and likes young Sweetpea. In fact, he carries Sweetpea around in his hand even though the kid must be eligible for living in The Villages by now. He would most likely need to get rid of that long nightshirt he wears, if he wants to enjoy the amenities here.
The point of the above is that if you are involved with the Ides of March, there is going to be trouble somewhere. The cartoonist mentioned above probably created Popeye on a March 15 without realizing the long term effect from the “Ides.” You never know what can happen during that period. It is said in business circles that Montgomery Ward was established during the middle of March and look what happened to that firm!
What is even worse according to the Romans every month had an “Ides” to honor their chief god, Jupiter. The “Ides” were religious in tone when started. Then people started big drunken celebrations around that part of the month. Before you knew it, Rome was overrun by Visigoths, plain Goths and numerous other barbarians. As I said the “Ides” are not to be messed with.
Now when we come to our great country what do you think our government has done with the “Ides of April”? Certainly nothing to celebrate, unless you are one to clap when you finish your income tax forms. Thus, you need to excuse me while I get cracking on mine.
If you want to join me in giving a great big “Boo” to the Ides, it is understandable.
Barry Evans writes about Life in The Villages for Villages-News.com