Prune Belly Syndrome

Prune Belly Syndrome is a real medical condition as classified in the International Classicfication of Diseases, 9th Edition, Code Manual (ICD-9-CM for those in the medical coding trade). Whalehead King was reminded of this twice today.

The first time was while perusing the ICD-9-CM. The second time was while walking down Eugene O'Neill Avenue. America's only Noble Prize-winning playwright didn't have a prune belly, but many of the people who stroll the street named after him do. Always alert to details, Mr. King noticed a person, who should be old enough to know better, wearing a short shirt over low-cut pants. We will not go into details here, but some fashions are not meant for everyone. Midriff exposure is one of them. Hopefully, this fad will pass soon.

Of course, it is the New London way to make choices and damn the consequences. It is the New London way not to care what other people think about what they see. It is the New London way to show off one's best and worst attributes at the same time. In a New London state of mind, everything is fine.

It takes real courage to wear whatever you feel like wearing. It takes a New London kind of courage. In a city, you are given a chance to invent and re-invent yourself. Sometimes you make a mistake, but there are so many opportunities, you can redeem yourself tomorrow. If one day you are a mess, the next you can be a dandy. If one night you are a stumblebum, the next you can be the toast of the town. You needn't be ashamed of your prune belly, you just have to know how to use it to your advantage.

Remember to visit the Whalehead Library by clicking on the title of this essay to learn more about New London's brand of courage.

Things are not what they seem

In a city where nothing is as it appears, you never know what you will find. Be careful where you look and when you see something you shouldn't, avert your gaze. Sometimes two plus two equals a conga line in New London. They teach this in the fourth grade at Edgerton school.

What look like abandoned buildings on Bank Street are really pleasure palaces behind the boarded up windows on the third stories. Bachannals take place every night with no one suspecting. New London is home to some saucy and naughty entertainment for those who know where to find it. New London's secret floorshows are secret because this city was founded by Puritans and home to the first American Episicopalian diocese. It has a reputation for morality.  It has a reputation as pure and undriven as the unplowed streets in December.

Seek and you will find. This is a city of pleasure-seekers and lovers of the flesh. Scratch a New Londoner and you will find a hedonist under his or her facade. As the nights wear on, New Londoners live on little sleep and plenty of exercise. They are busy chasing their dreams and distractions. They are enjoying the pleasures offered to their senses.

Glitterati

Once upon a time, a dandy moved to New London, Conn. His profession was too look good. It was a trade which he studied and practiced in every spare moment. The world needs beautiful people. A small city needs all the beautiful people it can attract.

Sometimes, the smallest city can be the most handsome. Napoleon had charisma. New London is the second smallest city in the third smallest state. A good city is full of good people. It is what is on the insde that counts. New London is full of dandies and demimondes, of rakes and coquettes, of fops and of divas. Stroll New London's boulevards and you will find yourself amidst a cast of characters.

Hygienic Belly

The streets of New London overflowed with overripe fruit and fermented grain. Hygienic Night ushered in 2007. The year has officially begun in the Whaling City. Remember the spirit of this weekend and spread the cheer all year long.

New London's only winter tourist attraction attracted a throng. Downtown was busy after dark and the weather was surpisingly mild. People lined up around the block to see the Hygienic Art Show. They crowded Golden Street Gallery to see the work of the official Hygienic artists. The Oasis was packed with people shoulder to shoulder. The El 'n' Gee overflowed with fun. This is the best weekend to be an eccentric New Londoner.

There was a belly dancer at the cabaret. She was great. She was easily the best thing on stage last night. She was festooned with chains of coins and when she shimmied she sounded like a tamborine. She was New London Perfect. The crowd responded with enthusiasm. She was mesmerizing, weaving a spell with her belly. That's the kind of entertainment we need in a whaling city. She will become a celebrity.