Monday, July 27, 2015

It's Time to Lighten Things Up and Forget Political Correctness - Me and Porky Pig



Between the economy and the world being in a state of angst, just for this week I’d like to forget about those things. So silly is in.

If you could be any cartoon character you’ve ever seen, which one would it be? I have to admit I’d like to be Porky Pig, even though I’m a girl. After all, I write mysteries that are light reading with a little humor. Can you imagine Porky Pig trying to solve a mystery?


One of my favorite memories is of the aforementioned pig and Daffy Duck visiting a haunted house. As I recall, it was a dark and stormy night, and I have remember them standing on a dock watching a spooky old house. My memory may be faulty, but that’s how I recall the beginning of the story.

Imagine writing a human character with Porky’s characteristics. Not believable, huh? People stutter, and people become frustrated just like Porky. There are plenty of loud mouths like Daffy. If you think about it, maybe cartoon characters aren’t all that outrageous.

Bud Abbott and Lou Costello could have been human cartoon characters. Some of the whacky things they did in the movies could rival Porky and Daffy.

Think of Bugs Bunny, Mickey Mouse or Goofy. In all honesty, haven’t you known someone in your lifetime with similar characteristics? I have.

I remember once when I worked in law enforcement, I turned away from the counter to answer the phone, stepped in to a wastebasket and dragged it across the room with me. The people at the counter were feeling a little annoyed because I happened to be the only one in the office during the lunch hour and they wanted to finish their business and leave. After seeing my little incident, everyone calmed down, had a good laugh and waited their turn with good humor. That sounds like a Porky Pig moment to me.

People need to be able to laugh at themselves like I did that day. Characters in books need to laugh at themselves from time to time, too. I’m a big believer in looking for humor whenever and wherever possible.

In the Sandi Webster series there’s a character named Stanley Hawks. Stanley is a klutz. When Sandi and her partner, Pete, first met him they had two different reactions. Pete initially thought he was a loser. Sandi, on the other hand, found him to be endearing as he tripped over nothing when he entered the office. Initial reactions to someone can be so unfair. As Pete came to know Stanley, he found him to be a good and loyal friend, and the two men could laugh together over some of Stanley’s antics. I find it quite interesting to see how fictional characters grow and change, just like real people.

Stanley wasn’t based on a cartoon character, but a cartoon character could have been based on him. (Honestly, this klutzy guy is based a little on myself.)

Elmer Fudd has a speech impediment. If he hadn’t, he wouldn’t have been quite as loveable and funny when he referred to that “wascally wabbit”. Yosemite Sam was in a class by himself. How about Foghorn Leghorn and Henry Hawk?

So back to my original question. What cartoon character would you like to be? Send real life on a well-deserved break and spend a few minutes thinking about my question. You can even choose to be Snow White or one of the dwarves. Prince Charming? How  about Tweety Bird or Sylvester?

Could you write your choice as a fictional character in one of your books? Or do you think you most resemble your choice?

Hopefully, this silly post took you away from your day-to-day cares for at least a few minutes.

Until next week, Th-Th-That’s All Folks!

CLICK HERE to visit Marja McGraw's website
CLICK HERE for a quick trip to Amazon.com

In Bubba's Ghost - A Sandi Webster Mystery, Bubba the dog thinks the house might be haunted. You might want to check it out.

23 comments:

  1. Thanks, Marja. I needed that! I sometimes pictured myself as that loud-mouth southern rooster - Claghorn Leghorn. ("Are you listenin' to me, son?").

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    1. LOL Glad I could give you a chuckle, Dac. Your choice tells me a bit more about you. Those chickens just crack me up. Thank you so much for commenting!

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  2. Marja,
    When I was a little girl, I had a Little Golden Book that featured Mickey and Minnie Mouse on a picnic.
    "It's a wonderful day for a picnic, a wonderful day for a lark.
    "We will frolic all day in the happiest way and we won't go back home until dark."
    The fact that I remembered those lines, although they may not be exactly right, shows what an impression the story made on me. So, in answer to your question, I'd like to be Minnie on that day.

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    1. I have a light purple sweatshirt with Minnie on it. You'd love it. : ) Minnie, it is. Thank you so much for commenting! I used to read Mickey Mouse Golden Books, too.

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  3. I guess I'd be Bugs Bunny because he's always so cheerful despite whatever bad things come his way (like Elmer with a shotgun) and Bugs always eats his veggies!

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    1. LOL Good one, Lesley. I don't know how I failed to mention Bugs in the post. I love his attitude, too. Not sure about the veggie angle though. Thank you so much for commenting!

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  4. Veronica in the Archie comics always intrigued me. she was so pretty and the boys loved her. Poor Betty didnt' have a chance, and yet, she was the blonde. How odd.
    I'll be Veronica, though I don't need all the attention, just my hubby, kids, good friends and few thousand people to buy my books would be nice.

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    1. LOL Good answer, Elaine. Blondes don't always have more fun. : ) And I love your outlook. Thank you so much for commenting!

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  5. Wonder Woman was my favorate comic book character when I was a youngstser. I loved her invisible plane and magic lasso. Just think of all the things I could get done if I had her energy. I also loved Porcky and Petunia pigs and their friends.

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  6. Oh, if we could all have Wonder Woman's energy! I liked her magic lasso, too. Thank you so much for commenting, Jean.

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  7. Loved this. Needed a chuckle today and you provided it.

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    1. Glad I could oblige, Marilyn. : ) Thank you so much for commenting!

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  8. Right now, I'm feel like Mr. Magoo. Can't see very well without my glasses.

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    1. Uh oh. I can relate to that one. I hope you didn't break your glasses. Thank you so much for commenting!

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  9. Another great blog, Marja. Mr. Magoo for sure. And Jean Henry Mead's remembrance of Wonder Woman reminded me of how much I loved Superman!

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    1. Thank you, Madeline! Another Mr. Magoo and, ah, yes, Superman. What a wonder he was. Thank you so much for commenting!

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  10. A fun and interesting post, Marja. I've never thought about comparing characters with cartoons, but I will now. As for me, on bad days, when nothing goes right, I feel like Wiley Coyote.

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    1. Thank you, Earl! I'm kind of glad someone chose Wiley. Loved that character, and living here in the desert, I have roadrunners in my yard every day. : ) Thank you so much for commenting!

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  11. Fun post, Marja! I read the Archie comics when I was young. I'd be more like Betty. :)

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    1. Thank you, Susan! I always liked Betty, so good choice. : ) Thank you so much for commenting!

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  12. Hi Marja, thanks for such a fun post :-) I have been busy lately but I am so glad that I managed to catch this one. Growing up, I was always more interested in reading books than watching cartoons so it's difficult for me to answer your question but I do remember that I enjoyed Winnie-the-Pooh stories and since I also like honey and have a sweet tooth so I guess if I have to choose then that's the cartoon character I would like to be. I also enjoyed Scooby-Doo cartoon mysteries. Guess I wouldn't have minded being the clever Velma, though most probably I would have ended up being the not-so-brave Scooby-Doo or Shaggy who are more interested in eating than solving mysteries! 

    You know, your post reminds me of another one that I read few months back:

    7 Motivational Cartoon Quotes Which Will Make You Learn Many New Facts.

    http://www.googloop.com/2015/06/7-motivational-cartoon-quotes-which.html?m=0

    All the quotes were wonderful but here are three that I especially loved:

    "The things that make me different are the things that make me"- Winnie The Pooh

    "A little consideration, a little thought for others, makes all the difference"-Eeyore

    "Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the judgement that something else is more important than fear"-Courage

    Before I end, I would just like to mention that my daughter loves Mickey Mouse and sleeps with it's stuffed-toy version! :-)

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    1. I enjoyed your comment as much as you enjoyed my post, Ramla Zareen. And you chose a cartoon character (Velma) who became involved in mysteries, which I find quite appropriate. Thank you so much for commenting!

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