Don Haase, editor of Marvels and Tales, sent me the two covers (posted below) from The Economist and Der Spiegel, which he spotted in the airport last week. “Who Can Save the SPD?” is the caption in the image from Der Spiegel. Fascinating that fairy tales are invoked so often (to add a little color?) in stories addressing economic and political issues. The fantasy of a rescuer waiting in the wings endures into adult life even if the romance and magic are gone. Is there nothing left but parody?
In case you are wondering about the original of the Sleeping Beauty on the Economist cover, above is Edward Burne-Jones’s exquisite painting. I can’t help but worry about another myth that is being invoked: Sleeping Beauty cast as Europe (Europa), with Tony Blair as an (unlikely) Zeus?
Hi Maria ~
I had a funny dream about you last night. You were Paul McCartney’s young wife’s personal assistant, and I bumped into you at an Eddy Izzard (!?!) concert. (Not my real-life type of entertainment, but what the hell!) We recognized each other immediately. I woke up thinking, “Maria! I can’t imagine she’s gone from German prof to Stephanie McCartney’s (that’s who Paul was married to in my dream — go figure) personal assistant!” So I went online to get the truth, which makes considerably more sense than the dream. Still, I was thrilled to see you healthy and happy in my dreamscape, and now that I’ve seen your video (you are completely you, and so recognizable) your actual job makes a lot more sense, given the Maria I knew in high school. So this is just a brief note to say hi, across the many decades. I’ve often thought of us exchanging notes entirely in Latin, and making those Charlie Brown invitations for our joint Sweet 16. We were pretty good at both, or so I seem to remember. (Too bad all that Latin has been lost in my grey matter.) As for me, I am healthy and well. I grew up to become a psychotherapist — very satisfying — and live in Oakland, CA (and work in Berkeley.) My daughter is in radio news (the NPR affiliate in Pittsburgh, PA). I avoided the blood-curdling fairy tales when she was little, but she fell in love with Tolkin anyway. … Great to see you, Maria! Affectionately, Ricky