It’s the Commissioner…

“I never touch spirits. Have you some milk?” – Batman

Holy Heck, people.

Batman died today.

I started out writing about something completely different this evening. I had to look a fact up online, only to read the headline, ‘Batman’ actor, Adam West dies at 88. I was slammed.

Granted, I did not know Adam West one bit. I have never met him, not a day in my life. But from the things I have read about him, he seemed like a pretty great guy. A good sport. An even-Steven.

But Batman. I KNEW Batman. I grew up with this show. Adam West was the coolest of all the Batmans in history. The movies wane in comparison to the distinction of the TV Series starring Adam West and Burt Ward, as Robin. Oh my goodness. The cast was stellar, with the likes of Burgess Meridith (Penguin), Julie Newmar (Catwoman), Caesar Romero (Joker), and holy crap… Alan Napier as Alfred.

They were all like Magic together.

But beyond the story lines of the series, the jokes, the campiness, and the schtick… …. for a little kid… enamored with Super Heroes… THIS was the big thing I looked forward to. That….. and ice cold Nestle Quik chocolate milk. But not at the same time as watching Batman. That would have been sensory overload for a little ruffian like me.

Anyway, my sister and I used to play Batman and Robin for hours and hours. We would put on our tights (Julie in blue…she always got to be Batman. And me in red… as Robin. I didn’t have any yellow tights.) We would take off our shirts…. heaven only knows why. Then, we would pin bath towels around our necks as our capes. We would use those really huge safety-pins… the kind that would seriously pierce our necks if they ever sprung open as we dove to the floor. Superb. Higher-level-child-think.

Julie and I had bunk beds, and shared our room with one other sister. But we transformed our room into the Bat Cave before ever play session. We paid close attention to detail, even putting a toy phone under a large glass bowl from the kitchen. The Bat Phone. Hours. Upon Hours. And we would quote the show, verbatim.

Holy demolition, Batman!
Careful, Robin. Both hands on the Bat-rope.
Holy heart failure, Batman!
Remember Robin, always look both ways.
Holy Long John Silver, Batman!

Robin…. Better three hours too soon than a minute too late.
Holy costume party, Batman!

I’m sad beyond words. Holy Departure Batman.

I am grateful for amazing life experiences. Even the small child memories, which feel surprisingly close to the front of things, at certain times.
I am grateful for my time in this very minute, with the ones I love.
And.
I wish peace and high energy, for old Adam West in his passing.
But I only wish I could say….
Same Bat Time, Same Bat Channel.

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“Imperfection is beauty, madness is genius and it’s better to be absolutely ridiculous than absolutely boring.”
― Marilyn Monroe

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“It is our choices, Harry, that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities.”
― J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

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“I am enough of an artist to draw freely upon my imagination. Imagination is more important than knowledge. Knowledge is limited. Imagination encircles the world.”
― Albert Einstein

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