Bernie and his Mittens

With all of the awful news over the last few weeks, from the more than 400,000 people dead from the pandemic, to people out of work, to the insurrection attack on the U.S. Capitol, we’ve really needed something wonderful as a distraction online instead of the latest horror. The memes based on the mittens Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders wore to the Biden inauguration on Wednesday have provided that relief. When Bernie entered the congressional seating wearing his parka, paper mask, and an incredible pair of mittens, every eye instantly turned to him. And since then, there have been literally hundreds of meme images popping up everywhere we turn.

The best thing about these memes is that most of them are completely apolitical and kind spirited. They have nothing to do with what Bernie’s politics but everything about who he is.  Here’s the back story on Bernie and his mittens along with a number of my favorite images.

Hayat Miyazaki’s anime classic Spirited Away

Nope, Scene at the Signing of the Constitution is by Howard Chandler Christy, not John Trumble.

Several from Jeremy Littau, including Bernie at the Jedi Council.

And where would we be without Baby Yoda?

And we would be incomplete without Margaret Bourke-White’s classic photo.

The cover of Rosanne Cash’s classic King’s Record Shop

And Bernie was absolutely part of the fellowship.

I love that Bernie left his chair outside of the Nighthawk’s diner.

And Bernie did have to be in The Room Where it Happened.

My Dear Wife said that there had to be one with Bernie with Dogs Playing Poker. She was right, of course.

And finally, here’s Bernie and his mittens hanging out with University of Nebraska at Kearney’s very own poet Don Welch.