And so we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past

Dick, Don, Dick, Don, Dick, Don.

"So, who is Don Draper? ", asked the one legged reporter for Ad Age, and for maybe the first time since Don Draper died, he did not care.

" Who cares what I think", said the living Don, " Let my work speak for me". Cast off the chains, bust down those closet doors, Don Draper is free. Secrets only have power over you when they are secret, and with Betty knowing, Bert Cooper and Roger Sterling knowing... even Pete Campbell knowing, the past is just that. The truth has set him free. All artifice gone, take me or leave me... " Who is Don Draper? ".. he is the wuderkind of Madison who has put Day Glo or Stay Glo or May Glo , on the map.

He captured that green light and had the perfect wife and house in Westchester, and for what ever reason, who's ever fault it was, it is gone. Out with the old.. off with the mask. When given the opportunity to regain a little bit of the facade, Thanksgiving at the Sterling's with Betty, Jr. he opts for rough sex with his prostitute. I don't need the mask anymore. He does so with the full knowledge that Thanksgiving would lead to that New Years Eve night of - non slapping - passion, and with stupid ease, a Memorial Day announcement of The new Don Draper's and right back up the Saw Mill River parkway to green light two. Or not.

Or not.

Masks can come in handy, a false front is not always a bad thing. The one legged reporter from Ad week, saw what he wanted to see, there for surely Mr. Day Glo is married, Don was not in control of the story, something that was so damn hard for so long and something he was so relived to NOT have to do anymore. But, there in 1964, you have to put up a front, ( like 2010 is any different ) . Post bikini explosion, he knew what he had to do. So, with the , I am guessing two legged Wall Street Journal man, it's Day Glo Don. All piss, vinegar and bravado. The Jai Alai people wanted a cowboy, here he is, guns blazing. " Who is Don Draper ?" again, and now, I guess for ever, he is who he says he is, not who you think he is. Unseen second floor, and all. Draper as Gatsby, seems a little obvious even for us here at the k+b, but really.... we won't know till the game is all played out.

I think you can tell I loved the season opener of MAD MEN. Thanksgiving 1964 - stripped down, all glass - transparent! - not the deep rich dark woods of Sterling Cooper. ( sometimes a cigar is well, a big ole penis...), that said:

Estrogen in the water supply.

It is 1964 people. " oh my god, Roger was horrible, joking about the man losing his leg". Hello! They already fired poor Guy, for losing a foot, and there for not being able to play golf. Guys were still unapologetic guys, much for the worse of society, but it was what it was. " Betty is a horrible mother !! " 1964 kiddies... many, many years from Child protective services! Beat them, all you want... you know you will only make more. And why would she care? She is at the red hot center of the universe, her husband works for Nelson Rockefeller, ( with his HAPPY new blond second wife! )

At first I was a little taken aback by the whole " scrappy upstart " of SCDP. It is very 2010 - but not very Man in the Grey Flannel Suit. The world had not been turned upside down yet, sure the ball is rolling in that Rube Goldburg, but conformity ruled the day. Standing out was bad... tow the line. But I was wrong, I love the new stripped down work place.

Not enough Joan, but we can't really ever get enough Joan. Not exactly sure of what her new roll is there at SCDP, and don't know at all if the rapist is off in Viet Nam. She did say that she would LOVE a vacation. NEW AND IMPROVED! Peggy is a hoot. Loved her new confidence and her new post Jackie hair. Loved Mrs. Francis the elder, love that Sally is growing up!

I would all but kill for Rogers Eero Saarinen desk!

And it was only the first show! Much more to come.

Tons of cyber ink on Mad Men.

• you can not go wrong with TLo! ( a daily must read )
• the WSJ has just gone gaga for the mad mens, guess that plug worked, that and most of Sterling Cooper voted for Nixon! ( no word last night of any Goldwater supporters! ) This is going to be a weekly thing.
• Basket of Kisses.. sort of all things Mad Men blog
• and just for the fun of it : Mitchell Gold+Bob Williams , Unicahome, and MRF, drop enough cash, and you too can be living the mid century dream.

And then , pretty much just because I LOVE this map:

The 1964 Presidential Election