Date: Wed, 8 Jan 1997 02:34:59 -0500 (EST)
From: Popeyerock@aol.com
To: ghite@pasty.net
I am happy to see that I've not been forgotten! I was very pleased when those kind people repainted my face. But I want everyone to know that the face I have today is not the one I've always had. And as much as I like it, I'd love to get my old face back. Enjoy 1997, and be careful as you drive down the icy roads. I'll be watching you all as you speed by. Please honk at me now and then to let me know you care.
Sincerely, Your Rock"
I found a note from Popeye Rock tacked to my door upon my return yesterday (Jan 21st).
Anyway, I've gone to all this trouble because I've been watching your Web site to see what people might be saying about me. You know how sensitive celebrities are to their press. I will admit to being a little disappointed that no one has offered an explanation for the fact that a big rock named Popeye is parked along the road to Eagle Harbor. I told you in my e-mail how happy I was to be mentioned on your Web page -- perhaps the publicity has gone to my head. I have, however, heard a lot more friendly honking as people drive by, so some good has come of this. Now for my story.
Back in the mid 1960's, a fellow by the name of Ralph Medlyn was entertaining the Eagle Harbor kids with stories of my namesake, "Popeye the Sailor Man", and teaching them that crazy song, 'I'm Popeye the sailor man; I live in a garbage can ....' Your old enough to remember the rest of it! I can't remember all the kid's names but the Marshall's, Boggio's, Johnson's, Smith's and even your kids were part of Medlyn's pied pipers.
While spinach never seemed to catch on with these kids, everything else about Popeye, including stories of his big muscles, did. That's when the kid's first really noticed me - at that time just your ordinary everyday lonely kind of rock, minding my own business at the side of the road. I suppose how big I was, the fact that I had a big ugly crack down my middle, and how close to the road I was, is what got their attention. The word got around that only their hero, Popeye, would have been strong enough to push me down from the nearby cliff, which was my home since glacier days, and split me in half. Nonsense, of course, but when the kids started singing that crazy Popeye song, smiling and waveing, and having their folks honk the car horn as they drove past - well,, I thought it was pretty cool!
Not long after this all got started, one of the kid's dad showed up in the dark of night and painted a picture of Popeye's head on my shoulder. I couldn't see who it was, it being so dark, but there was a lot of un-Popeye like language as my constant summer companions, the no-see-ums, tried to fend off this intruder. (The bugs like to hang around me at night because the heat I store up during the day keeps them warm through the cool night.) At first I was a little upset to have this profile, of what is really an ugly looking guy, marring my natural look. But I soon noticed there was even more friendly waving and car honking, so decided what the heck, might as well enjoy it. In time, I really got to like it. I hear that some of my old buddies, still up on the cliff, are a bit envious.
The adults really got into this, like they do everything else at Eagle Harbor. First thing you know they are all treking up the hill to "freshen me up". Some of the older kids even got into the act. It got to the point where someone even made a stencil so the job could be done faster and with a little more consistency in Popeye's look. (Admittedly, some of my Popeye looks were, well -- Popeye would not have been happy.) My current look, as I told you in my e-mail, is fairly new. It's pretty spectacular, probably appropriate for this age of video games, etc., but, like most rocks, I'm kind of old fashioned.
So that's the story. If anyone wants to add to it, why don't you just have them send you a note which you can either e-mail or bring to me. I don't think I'll try this 'roll-down-to-the-Harbor-bit' again. Too tough! After all the years of just sitting around, I'm not in good shape. (No pun intended.)
Sincerely,
Your Rock"
Well, that got the attention of the Medlyn family. Is there some sort of a conspiracy going on here?
Date: Thu, 30 Jan 97 13:29:32 EST
From: Bill Medlyn
To: ghite@pasty.net, Popeyerock@aol.com
As always I am following my older sisters advise and am enclosing a copy of my letter to her identifying your conspiracy and her response concurring with my theory and providing sagely advise. Just remember that the Medlyn kids are watching you.
My letter
I have just finished getting my daily fix from George's Eagle Harbor Web and
read the explanation of the naming of Popeye Rock. I was appalled at the
attempt to slander dad's reputation by saying that he sat around telling
stories to kids. I have many memories of him sitting around:
- At the dinning room table, a drink in one hand and a cigarette in the other, playing cards until the wee hours with mom, Aunt Evelyn and Uncle Charlie (see Burda), Wally and Anna Jane Been, Dorothy and Pete Boggio, Bill and Helen Hole, Jim and Elisabeth Morgan, Claire Smith, the Beyers, Murphys, Milfords, Ryans, Roaches, and anyone else willing to wager a quarter on a round of Ah Hell or SOB. Stories there were more in the form of singing - and I use the term loosely - In the Good Old Summer Time.
- At the bar, on the porch, while serving gin fizzes and telling golf stories or talking about the 1921 Calumet High School football team.
- At the piano with Aunt Evelyn tickling the ivories with their feet (with drink in one hand and a cigarette in the other they pretty much had to rely on their feet) while the rest of the crowd sang In the Good Old Summer Time.
But I do not remeber him ever sitting around telling stories to kids.
Initially I upset with Mr. Rock for fabricating such a demeaning story. On further consideration I believe that there may be a conspiracy attempting to attack that generation's character and reputation. Would Mr. Rock, one of the Harbor's most solid citizens, really roll the 6 miles down to the Harbor to deliver a note as George would have us believe? Undoubtedly, Mr. Rock could accomplish this with ease despite his shape, but as someone of his intellect knows, it would be against the law (Physics) for him to roll back up. Therefore, he could only return by hitching a ride. While a tourist might pick him up and fail to recognize him if he were wearing a disguise, it is highly unlikely a local would not have detected him. My conclusion is that it wasn't Mr. Rock at all, but someone else masquerading as Mr. Rock spreading these half truths and innuendoes. I am tempted to expose that individual, however, I have seen him in the sauna and to expose him would be cruel and unusual punishment to the good people of Eagle Harbor. I am concerned that that individual, with George's help, may be mounting a campaign to slander our parents generation.
What's next? Will they have us believing:
- That crowd's longevity was due to good dietary and exercise habits or that they would even recognize good dietary and exercise habits
- That, after their trips to Mexico, Aunt Evelyn's and Beth's loaded down trunk was really filled with toys for the Harbor kids
- That they were more concerned with the safety of their children than the tame deer. That the addition of "and children" to the sign Drive Carefully - Tame Deer was not an afterthought but rather an effort to highlight the children.
Need I go on? What should we do? Freedom of the Press and Freedom of the Speech are important but should we just stand by and let this conspiracy continue? In the spirit of fairness should I will provide a copy of this to the co-conspirators. It's times like this that I really appreciate having an older sister to turn to for advise. Please let me know what action you think I/we should take.
Her response
>"I have just finished getting my daily fix from George's Eagle Harbor Web and read the explanation of the naming of Popeye Rock. I was appalled at the attempt to slander dad's reputation by saying that he sat around telling stories to kids.
Had not checked the Web Page for over a week (some of us actually spend time at work working) and was unfamiliar with the alleged slander. Therefore, in the tradition of accuracy in historical research to which I have always been bound, I had to check the reference before I could respond. My thoughts are:
I believe that the era is in error. In the 1960's, Dad was primarily concerned with telling stories about (not to) the younger generation. I suspect that many of his stories and philosophical tenets were the basis for "All in the Family" and that the data he based them on came from the same source as the data on which he based his assertion that women's restrooms are much dirtier and messier than men's.
I suspect that Mr. Rock (aka Jim Boggio) should have adjusted the dates from the 60's to the 30's. And that there is good and sufficient reason for not repeating all the lyrics to the song referred to (obscenity laws,etc.). There's no reason for Irving Berlin to worry about his place in American history when compared with the lyricist in question, either.
>"I have many memories of him sitting around:
- At the dinning room table, a drink in one hand and a cigarette
in the other, playing cards until the wee hours with mom, Aunt Evelyn and Uncle Charlie (see Burda), Wally and Anna Jane Been, Dorothy and Pete Boggio, Bill and Helen Hole, Jim and Elisabeth Morgan, Claire Smith, the Beyers, Murphys, Milfords, Ryans, Roaches, and anyone else willing to wager a quarter on a round of Ah Hell or SOB. Stories there were more in the form of singing - and I use the term loosely - In the Good Old Summer Time.
- At the bar, on the porch, while serving gin fizzes and telling golf
stories or talking about the 1921 Calumet High School football team.
- At the piano with Aunt Evelyn tickling the ivories with their feet (with
a drink in one hand and a cigarette in the other they pretty much had to
rely on their feet) while the rest of the crowd sang In the Good Old Summer
Time.
But I do not remeber him ever sitting around telling stories to kids.
Initially I upset with Mr. Rock for fabricating such a demeaning story. On further consideration I believe that there may be a conspiracy attempting to attack that generation's character and reputation. Would Mr. Rock, one of the Harbor's most solid citizens, really roll the 6 miles down to the Harbor to deliver a note as George would have us believe? Undoubtedly, Mr. Rock could accomplish this with ease despite his shape, but as someone of his intellect knows, it would be against the law (Physics) for him to roll back up. Therefore, he could only return by hitching a ride. While a tourist might pick him up and fail to recognize him if he were wearing a disguise, it is highly unlikely a local would not have detected him. My conclusion is that it wasn't Mr. Rock at all, but someone else masquerading as Mr. Rock spreading these half truths and innuendoes. I am tempted to expose that individual, however, I have seen him in the sauna and to expose him would be cruel and unusual punishment to the good people of Eagle Harbor."
It sounds as if we are talking about the same individual. However, the good people of Eagle Harbor (are there some?) have been subjected to that experience more than a few times and have managed to survive. (And there are, in fact, those who would attribute sudden blindness to having sat too long on the beach or to global warming. We know the truth--and it hasn't set us free.)
> "I am concerned that that individual, with George's help, may be
mounting a campaign to slander our parents generation. What's next? Will
they have us believing:
- That crowd's longevity was due to good dietary and exercise
habits or that they would even recognize good dietary and exercise habits."
Please! This crowd had advance information about the effect of alcohol on blood cholesterol. And not a one of them ever needed corrective surgery on their elbows!
>" - That, after their trips to Mexico, Aunt Evelyn's and Beth's loaded down trunk was really filled with toys for the Harbor kids."
I believe that this may be fact. What seems to be a problem is your definition of toys or of kids. Is there some slander going on here? Both Evelyn and Beth were vitally concerned with entertainment/toys. They directed their concern to all ages, being at heart inclusive in their efforts.
>" - That they were more concerned with the safety of their children than the tame deer. That the addition of "and children" to the sign Drive Carefully - Tame Deer was not an afterthought but rather an effort to highlight the children."
Well--wouldn't you rather have Tame Deer than children?
>"Need I go on? What should we do? Freedom of the Press and Freedom of the Speech are important but should we just stand by and let this conspiracy continue? In the spirit of fairness should I will provide a copy of this to the co-conspirators. It's times like this that I really appreciate having an older sister to turn to for advise. Please let me know what action you think I/we should take."
In the tradition of the females of the family, I believe that the first
action you should take is to run a spell checker on your message. After
that, I suspect that you should
1. Sing a chorus or two that refers to the Good Ole Summertime
2. Eschew (look it up) spinach for a day or two.
3. Reduce your blood cholesterol with the appropriate (see above)
time tested remedy.
4. Send the copy to the co-conspirators--I love it."
Finally (?) the Sailor Man himself chimes in with his version of the story of the Popeye Rock.
Date: Mon, 10 Feb 1997 22:35:16 -0500 (EST)
From: Popeye@aol.com
To: ghite@pasty.net
"I yam what I yam what I yam--I'm Popeye da sailor man!" I'm 5'6" tall and weighs 158 pounds. I yam not a rock!! Da Popeye rock is named for me because it took great strength to roll it down from da cliffs and then break it in half. I have been involved with da rock since da 1930's and know many, many Eagle Harbor stories--dey belong to da rock and me. Dat "Wholesome George" has made some mistakes in his stories about da rock. We need to clear up a few things: conspiracy, slander, fabrication; des ideas don't fit in me make-up!
First off, dese people who refer to conspiracy are of an ethnic group dat think it's a conspiracy to put carrots instead of rutabagas in pasties. Them is over-reactionary landlubbers. "Oats" (aka Ralph Medlyn), me old friend, was a singer of songs and teller of many tales (tails?)--none were fit for young ears. He did tend to sit on his open front porch in da late hours and sing and relate dese stories. On calm nights dese echoed over the Harbor and around the neighborhood, so dey were heard by many people maybe who weren't supposed to hear dem. In the mid 1960's dese stories and songs were edited and told to young folks, along with stories of my other close Eagle Harbor friends Paul Bunyan, Charley-Two-Fingers, Susie-One-Finger, Chief Sitinapuddle, Jake, and Curtis. The '60's generation grew up one by one and left the Harbor, and the Popeye rock was kind of forgotten.
Well then, along comes Bill Smith and Bucky Houston, and dey start dis here "Popeye Run" (between a rock and a great place), and new interest sprung up. Now e-mail nuts are chinking and causing new cracks in a great rock. Me won't respond to further comments. You shall not hear from me on dis e-mail thing.
I'm going to sail one of dese days with Wholesome George and I may relate some history for his ears.
Just remember, "I yam what I yam what I yam--I'm Popeye da sailor man!"
Eat your spinach!!
Whoops! That caught the eye of the always vigilant Cornish pasty aficionados. This from Jean (Medlyn) Ellis.
Take heed, Popeye. You may be able to throw rocks around but you cannot mess with pasties. Cornish piskies and knackers know how to deal with rocks and sailors. Haven't you heard of the Pirates of Penzance?
Resident historian Bob Carlton offers an even earlier, and less zany, story about our favorite rock.
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