Cinder...whatever

Anyone who knows me - or has read this blog extensively - knows a few things about me. One of them is that I really dislike the Cinderella story. I think that 'Ever After' is pretty much the worst thing I have ever seen. And 'Ella Enchanted' wasn't that much better. And I wouldn't even watch that thing with Hilary Duff in it. I don't think anyone has that much sway with me. However, I sorta dig the Grimm version where one of the wicked step sisters cuts off her toes to fit her foot into the slipper and the other one cuts off her heel. And then they both get their eyes pecked out by birds. Good times, eh?

The other thing to know about me is that I love my daughter. She's a very little girl and like other little girls she thinks Elmo is cute - SO - 'CinderElmo' entered into our home and I have to say - HOLY CRAP! - This was really good. I was completely entertained all the way through. When Telly asks the princess to marry him and she responds by saying 'But do you want to marry me?' and he says 'I don't really want to do anything except ride my pogo stick' - I nearly lost it.

If there wasn't muppets to make fun of everything I don't know what I'd do. This is also a good time for me to put a plug in for my other favourite Cinderella story which was also a muppet creation (probably from sometime in the sixties) called 'Hey Cinderella'. That's good times too! There are so many good lines in that one - like when the Prince says, 'The only thing that'll grow in this mud are the geraniums ... and they were planted by the people we rented the castle from.'

I just find the comedy versions with puppets a lot funner. I can't stand it when they transform Cinderella into a political activist when the story itself makes it sound more like she was robbed of her birthright when her father passed away and she's been abused ever since. But she endured her trials patiently and with a sweet disposition, so she deserves to have the injustice corrected. Besides, feminine liberation wasn't exactly the thing when the fairy tale was written, so what women understood politics?

Lastly, I don't think I've ever posted this poem of mine on my blog, so for your entertainment and edification:

Cinderella

By Sapphirefly

Sitting in a chair

Wearing a thin dress

Thinking about a cigarette

Wondering if my bra strap is showing

Drink the water

Cool my heels

They were going to clack on the pavement anyway

Thinking about leaving

Thinking about the jeans on the chair back

By the mirror at home

“I remember when I was your age”

The woman beside me says

“I had a dress just like that”

I’m feeling tired

Maybe Cinderella didn’t want to be a princess

Maybe she just wanted to be herself