ATDDTA (6) 160 - 161

[David Morris]

On 4/2/07, bekah <bekah0176 at sbcglobal.net> wrote:
> ATDDTA (6)   160 - 161
> **********************************
> 161: 4
> Vaseline - Edwarda's maid
> Vaseline, the multipurpose gel,  is mentioned in Vineland (31:10) regarding cameras but I can't see how that's relevant.   Interesting name.
>
> Vaseline in   _Vineland_  31:10
> Hector to Zoyd:     "I used to worry about you, Zoyd, but I see I can rest easy now the Vaseline of youth has been cleared fromy our life's lens by the mild detergent solution of time in its passing... . "
>
>  Was Zoyd's  youth the reason for his blurred,  idealistic vision in the way that vaseline on the lens blurs the image in a photo ?

As I'm sure you know, vaseline was used on camera lenses to blur the
image (hide wrinkles) of aging film divas (Doris Day comes to mind).
When Hector says "the Vaseline of youth has been cleared from our
life's lens" I'd say he means the 60's in general, that dangerously
idealistic picture is no longer functioning for either of them (or
anyone, for the most part).

I guess the Diva Edwarda has a servant who acts as her vaseline,
protecting her image, or protecting her from bad images?

As for Edwarda's last name, Beef, I'd say it functions alot like
Reef's later female companion whose last name is a hyphenated word
(see how I avoid spoilers?).  Her beef aspect would probably be the
measure of her soul's relative worth (as in a meat market).

> Does this have anything to do with the Vibes?
>
> <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Petroleum_jelly>
>
> Edwarda  leaves Scarsdale and children to live in Greenwich Village townhouse next door to Scarsdale's brother R. Wilshire Vibe and become a diva.
>

This "wife leaves hubby to become a Diva" is recurrent in AtD, isn't it?

David Morris