It Has Been Said; When in Rome......

So I have traveled around some in my life. Not as much as many, but more than most I guess. I have yet to travel Europe, Africa, The Eastern Block, Australia much of Central and South America.... as well as most of Canada, the Arctic and Antarctica. Most of the rest of my family has traveled and lived in many of these places as my father was in the Airforce ofr over twenty years.

I have traveled much of the U.S., some of Canada and a very small amount of Asia... being parts of Japan and a layover in Korea.

I have done much of the traveling of the U.S. with my father in my younger years.... and the rest of it myself and mostly back packing.... which has found me now in Boston, Ma.

Something I appreciate about packing around the country is that the perspective is rather unique in comparison to what the average traveler get's to see. You really get more of the experience of places when you travel in this manner.

Something I just can't help but to notice about people in Boston, is that the act of talking to one's own self is rather far spread here. It seems to be very common. I have always associated such an activity with older people.... having had a Great Aunt that seemed to enjoy her own company quite a bit in that manner.

It is quite odd, when I look at it from my experience..... it isn't uncommon to happen upon someone strolling down the street in very near a full blown conversation with themselves.

Another commonality that I have noticed here, is the overbearing fanaticism pertaining to the Marx Bros. It isn't overbearing in the way of propagation in the media, or art work or even any over bearing social elements such as impersonators and the like.... only that one of the most common statements you will find from any given example of "self conversationalists" here in Boston, is the "catch phrase" that was used quite often by the Marx Bros.; "So now you know."

It seems to be what "heeeey!" was to the Fonz..... What "Well, I'll be!" could be seen as in the southern regions of the U.S. What "Isn't that special!" is to SNL Church Lady fans.

What I find wonderfully interesting about this, is that the Marx Bros. aren't necissarilly the most popular cultural icon of our modern day. In fact, you would be hard pressed to find any reference to them in the modern media in any form.

Something else I would like to note, is that the cab drivers here... though most being from some other, obscure country.... love to honk their horns. What this does is provides a rather sureal and very subtle social element in the public environment..... it really does almost create the illusion of an attempt to mimic the Marx Bros. in even a more thorough way than does your average "Church Lady" or "Fonzi" fan in what ever may be their most common element. This mostly because EVERYONE in the city is a participant in the production of it.

"So now you know...." everywhere you turn.... with a guaranteed honk or two somewhere near by... no matter where you are in the city. It's almost as if there is a perpetual Marx Bros. punch line that just happened.....


"NEXT!"
(to themselves) " ....so now you know.. "

"I'd like cream and sugar in that please...."

"Honk... Honk... Honk..." (as a cabby drives past in the background)

"That's a buck seventy five..."


"...so now you know."


It's kind of a shame that Harpo got relagated to the cabbies, though.... there's no way they can handle a Horn as good as Harpo. Just no freakin' way.