Every now and then I like to report
on the latest weird trends. Two that I’ve noticed lately seem geared toward
helping folks deal with anger and stress. The first is the growth of an offbeat
physical hobby—axe throwing.
My first exposure to this was small
signs along the roadside when I was running errands. The signs looked temporary,
like the ones that advertise local blood drives or craft shows at the middle
school. They included an address nearby. At first I thought it was for a pop-up
event. Then I saw signs on a different route, for a different address. Still
not what looked like a permanent sign, but it had me questioning how a
relatively small area of Connecticut could support more than one place for axe
throwing.
This led me to wonder if you need
to bring your own gear—protective equipment, weaponry, etc. Or is it more like
bowling, where you show up, and the fee to use the lane includes the shoes and
ball? Does one even throw an axe in a lane? I wasn’t curious enough to research
this. As stressed as I am about the political scene, I’ve yet to reach the
point where I’m ready to toss lethal weapons around. Of course, November is a
long way off.
Then I saw an axe-throwing
commercial on a local TV station. Those ads are a lot more expensive than
makeshift roadside signs. A quick online search turned up several places in my
area where I can partake in this anger-releasing activity. The nearest site to
me—Axe-it!—encourages you to book a party. Corporate Team Building, Birthday
and Bachelor/ette. One FAQ suggests wearing closed-toed shoes (surprise,
surprise). And yes, shoes are available for rent. They encourage you to sign
their waiver on-line to save time at check-in. And no, I didn’t read the
waiver, but I can easily imagine what’s in it.
I’ll be curious to hear if any of
my readers have thrown an axe—legally or otherwise. Meanwhile, I’m moving on to the second weird trend: Elderberry Syrup. This age-old elixir is an anti-inflammatory,
rich in antioxidants. It’s purported to fight colds, the flu and viruses. With
the Coronavirus consuming much of the media bandwidth, can anyone be surprised
that elderberry is growing in popularity? It also seems inevitable that this
juice will soon be in competition with CBDs to relieve stress.
Before you become too enamored of
this miracle drink, let’s take a look back into movie history and revisit Cary
Grant’s 1944 classic Arsenic and Old Lace.
For those unfamiliar with it, here’s a recap. Grant’s two eccentric elderly
aunts rent rooms to lonely old bachelors. They
serve them poison-laden elderberry wine to liberate them from their
“suffering.” They initially hide the bodies in their window seat, which is
where their nephew finds one on a visit. Grant’s disturbed uncle Teddy thinks
these corpses are yellow fever victims who got the disease while building the
Panama Canal, so he buries them in the basement of his sisters’ house.
Grant assumes that the delusional
Teddy is behind the window seat murder, until his aunts cheerfully explain what
they’ve done. They spiked their elderberry wine with arsenic, strychnine and
cyanide, and then offered it as a welcoming drink to each elderly bachelor who
responds to their “Room for Rent” sign. The comedy just keeps getting sillier. I’m
sure it was the inspiration for a classic episode of Fawlty Towers. Suffice it to say that Arsenic and Old Lace is an apt title for this film. But it really
should have been Arsenic, Old Lace and
Elderberry Wine. Rent it, buy it, download it, but however you get it, watch
it, even if you’ve seen it before.
My husband brought home some
elderberry syrup for us. It’s actually quite pleasant. I’m not sure how much of
a virus shield it provides, but I’ll keep drinking it now and then.
Axe-throwing, on the other hand, will never be a hobby I take up. I’m way too clumsy
for that. Even with close-toed shoes, I’d be likely to come home missing at
least one of my little piggies.
Copyright 2020 Business Theatre
Unlimited
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