'Scuse me, while I bake a pie
by Tim Bete
The University of Dayton's Erma Bombeck Online Museum recently won a Golden Web Award from the International Association of Webmasters and Designers. More remarkable than the award was that the JimiHendrix.com Web site also won a Golden Web Award. What a coincidence that two of America's greatest domestic humorists should win at the same time.
Erma and Jimi have many things in common. For instance, both have four letters in their first name and seven in their last. Coincidence? I think not. Jimi played at Woodstock. Erma cooked with chicken stock. Hendrix was at Woodstock for three days of peace and music. All Erma wanted was three days of peace and quiet. Jimi set his guitar on fire. Erma set a few roasts on fire. The similarities are endless.
Most people don't realize that -- like Erma's writing -- Jimi Hendrix's music was targeted at suburban housewives. They both highlighted life in the suburbs and the trials and tribulations of parenting. For instance, what new parent can't relate to the Hendrix lyrics:
Purple haze all in my brain
Lately things just don't seem the same
Actin' funny, but I don't know why
'Scuse me while I kiss the sky
Late night feedings and diaper changings are enough to put any parent in a purple haze. Some would criticize my analysis by pointing out that the line, "Scuse me while I kiss the sky," doesn't seem to fit my domestic humor hypothesis. What they don't realize is that Jimi Hendrix was difficult to understand. After careful analysis, I've come to the conclusion that the line originally read, "Scuse me while I bake a pie." How much more domestic can you get?
Often, it's difficult to tell Erma's writing from Jimi's lyrics. Was it Erma or Jimi who said, "There must be some way out of here...There's too much confusion, I can't get no relief?" Are those words from the Hendrix song, "All Along the Watchtower" or did Erma shout them from behind the sanctuary of a locked bathroom door?
Even Jimi knew that you had to ask the same question of your kids a thousand times before you'd get an answer. Why else would he have sung:
Hey Joe, where you goin' with that gun in your hand?
Hey Joe, I said where you goin' with that gun in your hand?
Erma might have added that Joe shouldn't run with scissors in the hall and should clean up his room before dinner.
And was it Jimi or Erma who said, "No reason to get excited...There are many here among us who feel that life is but a joke?" Jimi sang it but it was Erma creed. It's clear that Erma and Jimi were soul mates.
The Erma Bombeck online museum was created by the UDRI Web Development Center in conjunction with the Office of Public Relations and University Archive Collection. Funding was provided by the UD National Alumni Association. More than 5,000 people have visited the online exhibit, which celebrates the life of UD's most-famous graduate, and has been featured in USA Today and the Paul Harvey Radio Show.
Tim Bete is co-director of the Erma Bombeck Writers' Workshop. His award-winning parenting humor column can be found at www.TimBete.com.
Copyright 2002 University of Dayton
