IT’S A WONDERFUL VACCINE!

Each Saturday in December, we will share a Beers at the Nifty ‘Christmas classic’. Today’s post originally ran 2/21/2021, as the Covid-19 vaccine was becoming widely available. Enjoy – see you tomorrow with “Offer It Up”. Take this as a reminder that it truly is A Wonderful Life…

A light snow is falling on Bedford Falls…

We enter on a conversation between George and Mary:

(George) Was the doctor here?

(Mary) Yes, Zuzu had a bit of a fever, so I called the doctor. He said it was just a reaction to the COVID vaccine – injection site pain, fatigue and a headache – she’ll be fine with a bit of rest. But she’s driving me crazy, she keeps ringing the bell on her nightstand and shouting “Atta boy, Clarence!”

(G) How are the other kids? Did school reopen?

(M) No, not yet. Classes are still virtual, but I think the radio doesn’t hold their attention. Pete spent most of class drawing a picture of Hitler being killed by an angry Twitter mob. It should help his grade in ROTC, though.

(G) You call this a happy family – why do we have to have all these kids? When are schools reopening?

(M) Up to the teacher’s union, apparently. They are demanding vaccines, as well as sugar, flour and nylons. You’ll have to head up another scrap drive if we want the kids out of the house.

(G) Any other news?

(M) Well, your old friend Sam Wainwright is in some legal trouble. Not only did he jump the line to get his vaccine early, he conspired with the Governor to let COVID patients be re-admitted to his chain of nursing homes. Remember, he bought those after he made a fortune in tupperware. I spoke to his wife and asked her to tell him “Happy New Year to you, in jail!”

(G) Poor Sam. Hopefully they let him watch Hee Haw in prison. I’m going to Gower’s Pharmacy for my second shot. There are finally enough doses – FDR has been blaming Hoover for the lack of supply, but he’s also blaming Hoover for his polio.  

(Cut to Gower’s Pharmacy)

(G) Mr. Gower! I’m here for my 2^nd shot – I want to live again. How are the vaccinations going?

(Mr G) Fine George, but I’m having trouble with Violet Bick. She doesn’t want to get the Vaccine – she said President Roosevelt and the state of New York said it wasn’t safe!

(G) Let me talk to her.

(G to Violet) Hey brainless, don’t you know where vaccines come from? They’re totally safe – Hoover had nothing to do with the vaccine! And while you’re here Violet, have him give you a shot for that nasty STD you got in New York City. But the vaccine is safe -take it from George Bailey!

(Bystander) George Bailey? The George Bailey who bawled out my wife for not returning to live teaching? It’s not safe! She cried for an hour – you ruined our trip to Florida!

(G) Well, I’m sorry about that. I was upset by all the teacher facebook posts from monster truck jams, arm wrestling competitions, and poetry slams… please forgive me.

(Mr G) Enough of that, George, time for your shot…

(G) Mr. Gower – is that the Moderna vaccine? My first was Pfizer – you could have killed me!

(Mr G) Oh George, George, George – you’ve saved me again! I wish you’d gotten here a couple of hours ago, though… Maybe they’ll make Sam my cell mate.

(Shot administered) (G) My arms bleeding! Hey, what do you know – my arms bleeding!

(The pharmacy door opens and bell chimes) (Crowd, in unison) Atta boy, Clarence!

(Mr. Potter enters) Out of my way, I need my shot, it’s time for my 2^nd dose of the Pfizer vaccine!

(Bystander whispers to George) That’s Mr. Potter! He’s just using that wheelchair so he can qualify for the medically fragile exemption! He heard that no man is a failure who has friends, so he rented a bowling team. He thinks he’s the richest man in town, but Harry said you were.

(G replies) Harry only said that because he moved away to do ‘research’ (makes air quotes). But that Potter guy has been under my skin for years, and I’m tired of it.

(G) Hey, Mr. Gower, I think you should give Mr. Potter the Moderna vaccine…

TO ENHANCE YOUR ENJOYMENT OF THIS POST, PAIR IT WITH THE FOLLOWING SONGS:

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TO ENHANCE YOUR ENJOYMENT OF THIS POST, PAIR IT WITH THE FOLLOWING SONGS:

Moonlight Serenade  Glenn Miller  Covered by a lot of folks, from Frank to Ella; one of the most beautiful songs ever written

I stand at your gate and the song that I sing is of moonlight
I stand and I wait for the touch of your hand in the June night
The roses are sighing a moonlight serenade
The stars are a glow and tonight how their light sets me dreaming
My love, do you know that your eyes are like stars brightly beaming?
I bring you and sing you a moonlight serenade
Let us stray till break of day in love’s valley of dreams
Just you and I a summer sky, a heavenly breeze kissing the trees
So don’t let me wait come to me tenderly in the June night
I stand at your gate and I sing you a song in the moonlight
A love song, my darling, a moonlight serenade
We can stay, till break of day

Stardust  Nat King Cole

Written by Hoagy Carmichael and Mitchell Parrish. Parrish also co-wrote Moonlight Serenade

And now the purple dusk of twilight time
Steals across the meadows of my heart
High up in the sky the little stars climb
Always reminding me that we’re apart

You wandered down the lane and far away
Leaving me a song that will not die
Love is now the stardust of yesterday
The music of the years gone by

Sometimes I wonder how I spend
The lonely night
Dreaming of a song
The melody haunts my reverie
And I am once again with you

When our love was new
And each kiss an inspiration
But that was long ago
And now my consolation
Is in the stardust of a song

Besides the garden wall
When stars are bright
You are in my arms
The nightingale tells his fairytale
Of paradise where roses grew

Though I dream in vain
In my heart it will remain
My stardust melody
A memory of love’s refrain

Sentimental Journey  Les Brown

Gonna take a sentimental journey
Gonna set my heart at ease
Gonna make a sentimental journey
To renew old memories

Got my bag, got my reservation
Spent each dime I could afford
Like a child in wild anticipation
I long to hear that all aboard

Seven, that’s the time we leave, at seven
I’ll be waitin’ up for heaven
Countin’ every mile of railroad track
That takes me back

Never thought my heart could be so yearning
Why did I decide to roam?
I gotta take this sentimental journey
Sentimental journey home

Seven, that’s the time we leave, at seven
I’ll be waitin’ up for heaven
Countin’ every mile of railroad track
That takes me back

Never thought my heart could be so yearning
Why did I decide to roam?
I gotta take this sentimental journey
Sentimental journey home

I’ll be home for Christmas  Bing Crosby

I’m dreaming tonight of a place I love
Even more than I usually do
And although I know it’s a long road back
I promise you

I’ll be home for Christmas
You can count on me
Please have snow and mistletoe
And presents on the tree

Christmas Eve will find me
Where the love light gleams
I’ll be home for Christmas
If only in my dreams

Please have snow and mistletoe
And presents on the tree

Christmas Eve will find me
Where the love light gleams
I’ll be home for Christmas
If only in my dreams

Buffalo Gals  Pete Seeger

As I was walking down the street
Down the street, down the street
A pretty girl I chanced to meet
And we danced by the light of the moon

Buffalo gals won’t you come out tonight
Come out tonight come out tonight
Buffalo gals won’t you come out tonight
And we’ll dance by the light of the moon

I danced with a gal with a hole in her stocking
And he knees was a-knockin’ and her shoes was a’rockin’
I danced with a gal with a hole in her stocking
And we danced by the light of the moon

I danced with a gal with a hole in her stocking
And her knees was a-knockin’ and her shoes was a-rockin’
I danced with a gal with a hole in her stocking
And we danced by the light of the moon

Buffalo gals won’t you come out tonight
Come out tonight come out tonight
Buffalo gals won’t you come out tonight
And we’ll dance by the light of the moon