ONE ART by Elizabeth Bishop
The art of losing isn't hard to master;
so many things seem filled with the intent
to be lost that their loss is no disaster.
Lose something every day. Accept the fluster
of lost door keys, the hour badly spent.
The art of losing isn't hard to master.
THIS YEAR's CAST:
Ultimate Philly Loser SMARTY JONES portrayed by Traditional Ambos Hobby Horse
For a while this Spring, it looked as if
Philadelphia might finally be home to a Great Champion (all be it a four legged
one).
Our entire region went collectively crazy over "Smarty" when we watched
the three year old easily win the Kentucky Derby and Preakness. Just one more
race and all of us would get to vicariously taste the thrill of Tremendous
Victory. EXCEPT: it obviously wasn't meant to be, as Smarty faded in the stretch
at the Belmont, despite being a 1-5 favorite. Following our family's (and region's) Great Tradition of
Losing we chose our long time garage resident hobby horse, a gift from the Ambos
Family some years back. He's already a proven Parade Loser, anchoring our
float in 2001, our only entry to finish COMPLETELY out of the money on
Independence Day.
Duel Loser ALEXANDER HAMILTON portrayed by Continual Parade Loser Robert C. Morbeck
Yeah, I know he was our first Secretary of theo Treasury and his face is on the ten dollar bill. But still, he's mostly remembered for being the loser of History's most famous duel, a square off with Aaron Burr in Weehawken, NJ on July 11, 1804. I bought a new white shirt and brown vest from the Goodwill store over in Swarthmore and smothered ketchup on myself near my rather ample midsection. I'm sure that most people who saw the "wound" thought that I was just a messy eater that day.
2nd Place 1964 PHILLIES (6 games ahead with 12 to play) portrayed by Very Nice Six Year Old Gabe Morbeck
I didn't live here then, but the emotional scars left by probably the "biggest choke in history" run deep in my adopted homeland. Gene Mauch's Phillies comfortably led the National League for almost the entire summer of '64. Disaster beset them in late September when Mauch panicked after a few losses and over threw the tandem of Jim Bunning and Chris Short with disastrous consequences. I vividly remember seeing the Cardinals clinch the Pennant that year on television, as they did it on the last day of the season against the Mets on friendly old Channel 9.
NERO Roman Emperor 54-68 A.D portrayed by Rutledge's Fastest 8 year old Brad Morbeck
He reputedly fiddled while Rome burned. His biography reads as a veritable smorgasbord of losing. He had his Mother murdered, he set fire to Rome so he could rebuild it, and the best part is that he's still remembered as a despicable despot almost 2000 years later.
2004 PENNSYLVANIA ROAD WARRIORS portrayed by Sally Morbeck
These guys are LOSING personified! And we LOVE them for it! No Stadium, No home games (ever!), no FANS (except us!). A few years ago I was over watching the Camden Riversharks at Campbell's Field and noticed that they had a eerily high number of home games on their schedule. How could that be? Aha! Due to a few little economic difficulties with the franchise up in Easton (namely Bankruptcy Court), the Atlantic League has been forced to own and operate a club solely designed each night to lose and let all the hometown fans return home with a nice rosy glow. Their record this year: 13 wins, 50 losses for a winning (losing?) percentage of .206. Last I checked the 1962 Mets stormed to a record of 40 wins and 120 defeats for a percentage of .250- and are still considered to be the worst team ever. Click here to go to my PA Road Warrior tribute page.........
NAPOLEON BONAPARTE portrayed by Adorable half Bunny/half Boy Ben Morbeck
What more can be said? At one point he had ALL of Europe Really, Really mad at him. "Meeting One's Waterloo" has become a phrase synonymous with the very act of Losing.
Click HERE to see more Parade Action!
http://www.morbeckorama.net/IndependenceDay2004/ParadeC04.htm
"He who fears being conquered is sure of defeat.