Gumshoe wants to make one thing perfectly clear gentle readers, he is NOT an opera buff. However, it was four o’clock in the morning when an earworm awoke Gumshoe. ???
It was a funny song verse from “The Pirates of Penzance” playing on a repeating soundtrack loop between the synapses of Gumshoe’s brain cells: “When constabulary duties to be done, to be done, a policeman’s lot is not a happy one, happy one . . .”
This comic opera was written by Arthur Sullivan and William S. Gilbert and it premiered in New York City in December of 1879. Gumshoe was NOT there folks.
Gumshoe attributed this 0-dark thirty dream manifestation to Gumshoe‘s consumption of some very tasty and crispy left-over deep dish pepperoni pizza as the suspect catalyst culprit to this dreamscape soundtrack.
Okay then, begone and goodnight earworm!
Back to slumber for sleep-deprived Gumshoe as his personal earworm softly echoed, “ A policeman’s lot is not a happy one, not a happy one . . .” Zzzzzzzzz
Much later on that very same morning, Gumshoe’s earworm finally gave up the ghost but left its imprint on Gumshoe’s thoughts. Mr. Gilbert and Mr. Sullivan were right! A policeman’s (or a policewoman’s) lot is NOT a happy one.
In over four decades of police service, Gumshoe never responded to a radio call or was ever assigned to a case investigation that was a happy one.
Misanthropes abounded who committed evil and grievous deeds to be sure. Heart-rendering and soul-killing guaranteed for the uninitiated and naive young police recruit.
Picking up the pieces (sometimes literally) of victims’ bodies and dealing with their families’ shattered lives. The innocent as well as the most vulnerable were always the targets by the street predators.
That “Thin blue line” between predator and prey is REAL folks.
Grizzled veteran coppers would instruct us newbie rookies that if you wanted to be loved, become a “nozzle head” (fireman). NOT a street cop!
They were right just like Gilbert & Sullivan, a policeman’s lot is NOT and never will be a happy one.
However dear readers, real up-close and personal street cop work was never advertised to be fun and games. Police work beckoned in the past as it does today to still make that clarion call to exceptional guys and gals (who are truly altruistic) to “protect and serve”.
It’s like that Marine Corps recruiting call that summoned young Gumshoe: “The few, the proud, and the brave”. God bless the blue and keep’em all!
That’s the gospel for now folks. Always remember to love the ones who love you and try to love those who don’t.
Coram Deo!
PS: Gumshoe loves “Phantom of the Opera”.
As always a thought provoking article that reminds those who have worn the uniform and those that support the men and women in blue, black, brown, green, white, how great and full-filing it was to work at time where you knew it mattered. Although today there may be a few proud and brave cops who want to do the right thing, I am sure there are more than a few, and the average citizen just has no clue the making of a well trained cop.
Amen Nightingale! We who have served in that Thin Blue Line can always be proud to haves earned that real badge of courage.
Another thought provoking article Gum Shoe. Although I have been gone from the job almost 25 years you brought back some good and not so good memories.
I guess what bothers me the most is the average citizen has no understanding what the street cop (police men and women) go through day after day, year after year. We had to see the worst of what society had to offer In my opinion the average citizen has no idea of what men and woman like you and me had to give up in order to uphold the protect and serve oath we took the day we were sworn in. There was times when due to work we had to give up celebrating our children’s birthday, going to their football games, baseball games, other sporting events, Christmas and or New Year’s Day and wedding anniversaries. Things that the the average citizen who is not in law enforcement take for granted. They don’t understand that we respond to the shootings, domestic violence, rapes, robberies and murders while they are at home celebrating life. Crimes that my have never affected them. I know you have heard the saying “My day begins when your day ends”.
This Sunday is Easter Sunday and I am always reminded that there was only one person that was perfect and they nailed him to a cross.
I keep praying that some day we as a country will find our way and get back to what is important. The belief in our lord and savior Jesus Christ.
Wishing you and your family a very Happy Easter.
Thanks again Danny,
Semper Fi
My good friend Tom. Your response said it all for all of us who were behind the badge pinned to our chests. Regular folks just saw the uniform but never really recognized that there was just another fellow human working a “thankless” job because they valued life and justice.
I’m with you my fellow Christian during this Holy Easter Week while we all gather to worship our Lord and Savior who gave up His life so that we are could have fellowship with Him in His kingdom. Hosanna in the highest!
Easter blessings to you and your Tom.
Semper Fi!
Thanks Ken for your comment. You really caused me to laugh out loud (lol) when you wrote about your opera MIS-adventure.
I know, and have known quite a few cops of various ranks from rooky to chief. I doubt that any one of them would say that a cop’s life (career) is a happy one. Not filled with fun and games nor even accolades. Too few people today understand the price that law enforcement people make.
P.S. I’m not an opera fan either, nor a ballet fan. The last performance I got drug to I went to sleep and fell out of my seat into the aisle.