“I remembered the Cargo Cults of the South Seas. The islanders had been sorry to see the airplanes go after World War II ended. Native magicians made mockups of airplanes and landing fields. It was sympathetic magic intended to bring back the real airplanes and the great days of cargo and trade.”
----Larry Niven, Jerry Pournelle, “Inferno”
Thanksgiving Day At The Vets’ Shelter
Happy Thanksgiving! I had one. Hope you did, too. We had a special shindig here at the vets’ shelter. They put tablecloths on the tables and everything!! Today we even got to use REAL plates and silverware instead of the usual paper and plastic!
I think it was because civilians from the outside were coming in to entertain and serve us and L.A. Vets management figured to use some Cargo Cultism, some sympathetic magic on us unhousebroken vets.
They figured: if we turn the chow hall into a regular-looking dinning facility with REAL plates and silverware, maybe the vets’ manners, the ones they lost a long time ago on the street, will come back.
It seems to have worked. For the first time in a long time, I didn’t hear the word “muutherfucker” screamed while I was eating! It was weird.
A couple of the Laker Girls, cheerleaders from some famous basketball team (I don’t follow sports ) were on hand for an hour to sign their photographs and some cute church girls were there to serve us punch. The food was even good AND they allowed us seconds. I never thought I’d see THAT day. Good food AND seconds! It was weird.
My buddy Gordon The Hollywood Anarchist and the black-uniformed legionnaires started off the festivities by carrying in the colors and marching ‘round the food servers. Hot diggety damn. I’m in the nut hatch and the head loonies are marching ‘round my waitresses.
Tags: Department of Veteran Affairs, U.S. Vets, L.A. Vets, veterans shelter, homeless veterans, homeless, Cargo Cult, South Seas, Thanksgiving at the shelter, Inferno, Larry Niven, sympathetic magic, unhousebroken, dining facility, chow hall, Laker cheerleaders, church girls, Gordon The Hollywood Anarchist, American Legion, legionaires, nut hatch, jarvis, marquisdejolie
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