The Old Man’s Fortune

The Old Man considers his fortune. Good? Bad? Is there really any percentage in a distinction? It is what it is, as theysay, because they need to something to say. White Noise -- this novel by Don DeLillo is still on his reading list. Bookstore today?

What about Archie Bunker’s fortune? Not the worst thing in the world. His name is on the window of a bonified establishment. Archie Bunker’s Place. A real friendly joint. Who hasn’t dreamed of owning a bar. Hanging about all day and night, while people come and go, sit and drink, talk and laugh. Take it in the other room, if you’re going to cry about it. Or go sit in the corner with that sad old man over there.

Every night, for an hour, in back-to-back episodes, The Old Man is an extra at Archie Bunker’s Place, although you probably haven’t noticed. Why would you? He ain’t Murray or Veronica or Stephanie. He’s just another schmo in a chair, hugging his drink, like the Norman Lear TV verartion of a Eugene O’Neill play. He doesn’t require any lines. Content just to be there. Among people. Allowed to observe and listen. To laugh quietly to himself. To love Archie for all his ignorant bigotry cluttered around his big heart.

If you had seen Archie cry when Edith died, you’d understand. Holding her slipper. Weeping. One of the saddest days of The Old Man’s 70s childhood. What was Arch going to do without Edith? What would The Old Man do? After all, he was just a boy. What would the world do? How does one manage in a world without Edith Bunker? Arhchie has. The Old Man, as a boy, couldn’t imagine. And then his mother died when he was neither and old man nor a boy. Just a man. And he had not choice but manage. Still. It has made him The Old Man.

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