I know I’m going to be dating some (many?) of you. Alas … it
bothers me not a whit. So … here goes. How many of you recognize
this song?
I’m Chiquita Banana and I’ve come to say, Bananas have to ripen in a
certain way … Bananas like the climate of the very very tropical
equator, So you should never put bananas in the refrigerator.
Who? By a show of hands … who out there said Carmen Miranda? Heh
heh. Nobody’s raising their hands? C’mon. Who’s kidding who? Remember
her bonnets … her fruit laden chapeaux? Remember the tonnage of
bananas and other tropical fruits piled high upon her Keppy? (Keppy
… for those who don’t know … is an endearing Yiddish term for
head).
Who out there ever heard–I wonder–of a Fruit Salad made of rubies
and sapphires and emeralds and diamonds? Who out there I wonder in
fact … has ever heard of a Fruit Salad Choker? Nary a one of ya’s
is wot I yam willin’ ta bet.
I bring in the lady in the Tutti-Fruiti hat because one can not say
Fruit Salad as it relates to the world of fashion and not think of
that flamboyant Brazilian lady who charmed America through the sheer
dynamism of her personality. I’m Chiquita Banana and I’ve come to
say … The song rings without end in my mind.
A quick Tidbit about those hats. Did you know their origins hark back
to the slums of Brazil? Ms. Miranda–unfortunately-- created enmity
with her own people as she gained popularity in this country. She was
accused of “selling out” and becoming “Americanized” because it was
thought she was caricaturing her people for money. She was not. And
then … one day … she collapsed on stage during a live Jimmy
Durante show (another blast from the past) … and at the age of 46
… died.
And so … as the sun sets in the eastern galaxies and we ponder the
likelihood of water once having dotted the landscape of Mars … and
wonder if Osama will ever get caught–did you know Apples originated
in Afghanistan?–we return with relish to the Fruit Salad Choker and
the melange of colored stones that make up this $80,000 doo-dad. A
sight to see folks.
For those of you who are new to this thing called Tidbits…may I
direct you to my home page at www.tyler-adam.com where you will
scroll down the left side menu till you get to the area that says
Tidbits Graphics … and then click on the link that says: Fruit
Salad … where you’ll see an image of a Fruit Salad Choker
Necklace.
And there ya have it.
That’s it for this week folks.
Catch you all next week.
Benjamin Mark