Happy Birthday Burt Ward!

I couldn't resist the opportunity to wish a childhood idol a happy birthday. When I was a boy, I was obsessed with the TV show, Batman! I even collected Batman Cards like there was no tomorrow. Those were times, when instead of blood and guts in fight scenes, you got "POW," "BAM," and "BIFF" in balloon lettering across the TV screen--only on Batman!

My best friend and I watched Batman! every Wednesday and Thursday nights. There were always two episodes per week with the first one on Wednesday, which was always "to be continued..." the following Thursday night on the "Same Bat Channel!" and "Same Bat Time!"

I even wrote several pages into one of my short stories, "Bicycles, Heroes, and Poets in Suburbia," describing my adventures with my pal as we rode our bikes every weekend to a distant market on our quests for more Batman Cards.

I also make a ribald reference, in my story, to my older sister's seamy obsession with a certain aspect of Robin's anatomy (the "Burt Ward Bulge'). Yep, it's in the story. It is part of the lore as anyone who was there can attest to. Harmless and still funny as holy heck.

If you're interested in reading that story, it's in my first book, "Travelers' Shorts: Stories That Move..." (See below.) There's a lot more to it than just that, though. It's a story about a golden California and heroes, and transition.

Many happy returns to you, Burt Ward, and thank you for that over-the-top enthusiasm you infused in one of my favorite characters.

Continued success with your current endeavors!

Sincerely,

Robert George Reoch