When I moved to Albuquerque many years ago, friends and family were confused. They had no idea where this strange sounding place was--east of Alamut? west of Shambala?--and couldn't believe it actually existed outside the imagination of some crazed, inbred descendant of Zane Grey. But then the Albuquerque Police Department helped my friends and family by landing their brand new helicopter in the Krispy Kreme (TM) parking lot. Remember this was before twitter and memes, but the news rapidly spread around the world. The APD truly protected--their supply of donuts--and served--to give Albuquerque international fame. Or notoriety. But as the old Hollywood saying goes, there's no such thing as bad publicity. Finally my friends and family could honestly say they had heard of Albuquerque, usually while chuckling or guffawing and choking on their (green chile-less) food.
But fame is a fickle thing. Here today, gone tomorrow. And while we're at it, let's correct Marx and show that when history repeats itself it's farce first and tragedy the second time around. Like any sequel, APD's next valiant effort to push Albuquerque to the top of the international headlines had to be bloodier and gorier. I have to admit that it's really tasteless of me to ridicule APD following the tragic deaths of many people, most recently James Boyd at the bloody hands of an out-of-control, trigger-happy and ideologically deluded paramilitary terrorist force that mockingly masquerades wearing the uniforms of public servants.
Once again, friends and family around the world are hearing of Albuquerque, and while we could all chuckle at the Krispy Kreme fuelled ride of the Valkyries years ago, now all of them express outrage and sadness. And I can only feel the same outrage and sadness and try to vent it with some ink scratches and prayers for the poor souls murdered by APD and prayers that whatever God these butchers fear will have mercy on their souls and forgive them their heinous sins. But at least my friends and family, and many people around the world now know where Albuquerque is and the murderous injustice suffered at the bloody, callous hands of the APD and none of us will forget this for a long time.
(Photo credits: Krispy Kreme by Gregg Sloan; neon APD sign by jill, jellidonut… whatev…)
Responses to “International Superstars”