When I moved to Philadelphia, I was nervous, as one always is when one moves to a new city, wondering if I’d made the right decision, etc etc etc. The very first day I was here, however, a portent occured which dispelled all of my angst. I was in the local CVS drugstore, at the checkout counter, when I turned my head and saw ole Ben Franklini himself, Philadelphia’s patron saint, coming through the door! To make sure I wasn’t hallucinating, I asked the checkout girl if she saw Ben too — and she did! Needless to say, it was quite a shock, especially after the rigors of moving already experienced that day. I think I was about to faint when the cashier told me that he was only an actor dressed-up as Ben Franklin, that he came in the store all the time. Of course, I knew different. After all, I lead an extraordinary life.
“No one say anything frivolous for the next few moments. I am having a significant experience.”
This was just like the movie “To Wong Fu” where Miss Julie Newmar watches over three drag queens and becomes, in effect their guardian angel. With location changed to Philadelphia however, it was Mr. Benjamin Franklin who appeared to watch over an opera queen recently moved to Ben’s beloved hometown.
“Look. Mr. Ben Franklin has been watching silently over this entire relocation. And look at his vintage Benjamin. He is the perfect, the ultimate — oh! Try to describe him and not use the word “hundred dollar bill”. Oh, Ben, you do look like 100 dollars, and you were the only Founding Father!”
Today, January 17th is Benjamin Franklin’s birthday!
So, in our best Marilyn Monroe voices, let us all sing a rousing chorus of “Happy Birthday Mr. Ambassador” in honor of Franklin’s 302nd birthday!
My favorite piece of Franklinalia is from the forgotten 1964 musical “Ben Franklin in Paris”. Listen, below, to the musical’s profound final moments, where Robert Preston as Franklin does in 4 minutes what the musical “1776″ couldn’t manage to do in an entire evening!
To Ben Franklin
Thanks For Everything!
Love NYC Philly Opera Fanatic
xoxoxo
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