Monkey Do
I observed young Thor doing something out of character the other day. He was standing still. Transfixed it seemed by the digital photo frame that is all Sarcasmo, all the time. His reverie broken by my presence, he asked a question. Had I wanted a boy ? I assured him that Sarcasdad and I had been most happy with our gaggle of chicks, and that now we had our boy. Why then, he asked, was Sarcasmo dressed as a boy in one of the photos? One that had just gone by. He insisted I wait for it to come around again. There are a lot of photos folks. He didn't say much. There is a picture of Sarcasmo as a little girl opening a Christmas gift and he wanted to know what was in the box. We finally cycled back to the "dressed like a boy" frame. There was Sarcasmo, perhaps 10 or 11 years old, all arms and legs which were adorned with knee and elbow pads, her short hair hidden by a helmet, standing on a skateboard. Still looking very much a girl to me, but, in the eye of the beholder I guess. What really struck me was that he didn't comment at all about Sarcasmo dressed as; a ghoul ; in knee britches and a tri- cornered hat , toting a musket; wrapped in a white towel with cold cream on her face the Halloween she and her friends re-created a Bangles album cover; the Queen of England. Once through the slide show , young Thor said that he had been awfully little when he knew his Aunt Sarcasmo, and that he was starting to forget.
Little Sparkle never had the pleasure of Aunt Sarcasmo's acquaintance. She knows her picture on the wall over the fireplace mantle , and names her right along with Mommy & Aunt Sarcasmo Jr. I have no doubt they would get on famously.
A recent family outing found us aboard the Sea Dragon, a pirate ship that sails the bay in Ocean City New Jersey. Young Thor, as expected, took to the life of a pirate with gusto, sporting an eye patch and brandishing his sword. We knew he could swashbuckle with the best of them. Little Sparkle was an unknown element. Would she like being on the water? Would the pirates scare her? Would we be trapped on a boat with a seasick, unhappy nearly 2 year old.?
She owned it.
She wore the skulldanna with panache. Sported the (painted on) "tattoo" with pride (even went back for a second one), plundered the treasure chest and steered the ship. I could not help but think that her Aunt Sarcasmo would be proud, and wondered if maybe there is something that was somehow passed along from one to the other. Of course I am well aware that there are many influences on little Sparkle and her opinion of the world around her. The most prominent being her brother, who has never met a sword or a pirate he didn't like.
Not too many days later , back at home, young Thor and I were playing a game called Jumpin' Monkeys. It involves using little plastic springboards to launch little two dimensional plastic monkeys through the air and onto a three dimensional plastic tree. Young Sparkle reached into the box and pulled out one of the plastic primates, a flat figure attached to a plastic stand. They look a little muscle bound. She held it up.
"Monkey Robot" she said.
Now where did she get that from?
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All Hail Sarcasmo
Today is her birthday. She would have been 38. She accomplished so much, and connected with so many people in her 33 years, that I have to wonder what impressions she would have left on the world these last five years. Those of us she left behind do our best to keep her presence out here, on the internet, where she was a SuperStar, as well as in the community where she was much loved. We do it for ourselves , for sure. But also because she said a lot in those 33 years. And everybody hasn't heard it yet.
I was looking up the address for the Central High School Alumni to send a check to the Star C. Foster Writers Prize, in honor of her birthday. On the webpage, I found an opportunity to leave her mark on the everyday life, at her alma mater. Due to a fire in October, the school is renovating the auditorium. For a certain sum you can dedicate a new seat, in the new auditorium, in honor or in memory of someone. One of those seats will bear a plaque that reads:
In Memory of Star C. Foster
Writer - Geek -Gadabout
Class of 250
Writer - Geek -Gadabout
Class of 250
We do it to keep her out there. Perhaps students, born after she had graduated, looking for diversion during long assemblies will note her name and wonder what made her plaque worthy. Maybe they will feel a kinship with a her as a writer, or as a geek, or , if they know what it is, a gadabout. If they look her up in the yearbook they will find she was Editor of the school's award winning literary publication. And if they Google her, well, who knows. For as long as Sarcasmo's Corner is an address on the internet,they will be able to read all about her. Posts that chronicled what she was doing, what she was thinking, and what she was passionate about. She was passionate about lots of things.
But , I fear that blogs are not forever. They only last as long as someone watches over them. As we go about our lives, imprinting ourselves on others and creating memories of ourselves, we look for ways to make memories of her as well. Ones that will last more than a lifetime.
It's her birthday.
Kiss the frog.
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Sarcasmo in the Cemetery with a Flashlight
Anyone one who knew Sarcasmo personally, or read this blog in her lifetime, knows that Halloween was her holiday. And, that planning for the next Halloween began the day after the last one. So when I saw this in her inbox, I knew that she would have somehow fit this into her already packed holiday schedule.
Do I need to point out that this is a link Sarcasmo would have posted ?
Sarcasmo's Corner invites you to participate on this blog. If you have any stories to share, or links you think Sarcasmo would post, please send them to; slf1954@verizon.net . Or leave them in a comment. We thank you all for keeping Sarcasmo's Corner a place for her friends to gather.
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Free Comic Book Day !!!
A little late to the party, I know. But today, was , Free Comic Book Day !!! WooooHooo !
This was one of those things I depended on Sarcasmo to alert me to. Not that I was going to participate, but still good to know. This year I found out on KYW (news radio 1060 for those of you not in the tri-state area) How main stream is that?
So, did you score any free comic books today?
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Better than a Milk Carton
The lovely and talented Sarcas-sis is needs your help, Friends of the Corner. Here is her plea:
Fans of SarcasmosCorner: I am working on a project for school, compiling a selection of her blog posts and turning them into a book. If anyone has a favorite post of hers, let me know. Thanks.
Such a simple request. Surely you can help. Here is what it doesn't say. Sarcas-sis is one class away from her Masters Degree in Graphic Design. One that she has worked diligently towards while working full time, having a baby and raising 2 kids . I think she has an A average, So for heaven's sake, HELP THE WOMAN OUT !. She hasn't slept in 2 years.
And the book will be awesome.
Thanks.
Suggestions can be left in the comment section or emailed to me, Slf1954@verizon.net or Sarcas-sis, debrabfoster@gmail.com
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Philly Famous
It takes me a while, but eventually I get there.
A while back, Friend of the Corner ptbvisiongrrl sent me a link. A link to something that Sarcasmo would have liked. A link she may have posted.( ptbvisiongrrl reads the small print.) It is an interview with guitarist Reggie Wu . That name rang no bells for me, but the name of his band, Heavens Edge, certainly did. The 80's. The Empire Rock Club. Rock, sorry, Metal bands with tons of hair and edgy attitudes. And the teenage girls who worshiped them. As ptb mentioned in her email, she and Sarcasmo were fans. I vaguely recall once when they went to an afternoon show and found themselves locked out in the parking lot, along with the bands. Sarcasmo came home with Britny Fox autographs on her shirt.
Even farther back, Friend of the Corner Peccable let us know about a movie called Get Lamp. If you are not already aware, it is a documentary about text adventure games. One in which our own Peccable was interviewed! You most likely, unlike myself who required an explanation where Peccable kindly stated the obvious and I had one of those well, duh, of course moments, get the title reference. I should have gotten it on my own as I actually played those games. It was when the Mario Brothers came on the scene that I gave up trying to rescue princesses and collect treasures. Anyway, Sarcasmo was unable to make the interview in which Peccable talks about Slouching Towards Bedlam, and , working with Sarcasmo on it. The director, Jason Scott, was kind enough to send us a copy of the film, which includes Sarcasmo in the credits. He noted in an email that the film has played to thousands, and that many more people now know Sarcasmo.
As I was looking at the Reggie Wu interview, I remembered something else I wanted to post about. The end of The Phillyist, as we know it. It is all summed up here by editor Jillian Ashley Blair Ivey, who gives a tip of the pen to Sarcasmo. As well she should. In his interview Reggie Wu said his band was "Philly famous". I would say Sarcasmo was "Philly(ist) famous.
Sarcasmo's Corner invites you to participate on this blog. If you have any stories to share, or links you think Sarcasmo would post, please send them to; slf1954@verizon.net . Or leave them in a comment. We thank you all for keeping Sarcasmo's Corner a place for her friends to gather.
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What Was I Waiting For
I can't believe it took me seven years to get around to it. Go ahead. I'll wait while you roll your eyes and mumble about how long it takes me to post here. Ever since Sarcasmo let us in on her love of Panto, I have been meaning to take in a performance. Not that there is a lot of opportunity to do so, but there has been some in seven years. Even still, it was a very last minute decision that found myself and Thor sitting in the audience at the People's Light and Theater for The Three Musketeers (the later years).
The best description of Panto I could find, was one Sarcasmo blogged.
.......... it was a delightful combination of stock characters, improv, audience participation, hammy acting, terrible puns, and wonderful, wicked laughter.
And the actors threw peppermints at us. We hadn't even gotten to intermission when young Thor delivered his review. And I quote.:
"Best play ever"
End quote. And Thor, though young as stated, has seen his fair share of plays. He is a subscription ticket holder at the Arden Theater and has himself performed on stage at the Devon Theater, in an original one act play, where he portrayed a blood sucking but friendly vampire with a propensity for tickling. So I would stack his up turned thumb against any.
From what I gather, Peoples Light & Theater has done a panto over the holiday season for the last seven years ! (who knew?) . Assuming they will continue to do so, Thor and I are planning on making it part of our traditions.
Think about joining us. I'll let you know when tickets go on sale. For more about Panto, go back and read Sarcasmo's post. It is dated July 07, 2003. One of these days I'll see about getting those links to be more direct. Don't hold your breath though. I am apparently distracted by the internet, and anything shiny.
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