A Husband Wanting to Get His Wife to Tape Her Mouth Shut 2023. Acrylic on canvas, 24 x 18"
Wait, wait. Before you turn on your 21st century trope assessor® and cancel me out, please note that the title to the painting is literal—no double entendre here. I want to tape her mouth shut, in three places. A long horizontal strip across the lips, and two ends stuck vertically to hold the longer one in place all night long. It’s the only affordable way to insure a night of zero mouth-breathing. She won’t snore through her nose, and onset sleep apnea, along with most of its 6 billion dollar “treat the symptoms” industry, goes bye-bye like tooth decay from a daily flossing, brushing and cocaine regimen.
In 1875, Native American portrait painter George Catlin wrote a book titled, Shut Your Mouth and Save Your Life. His last written words were:
If I were to endeavor to bequeath to posterity the most important Motto which human language can convey, it should be in three words—Shut your mouth.
You can read it for free. No co-pay necessary.
Good health is so sick of the profit motive. I learned about Catlin’s research from the journalist James Nestor in his 2020 publication Breath. What I read changed my physical life for the better. Breathing techniques that make a tremendous impact on day-to-day health. Check it out of your local library.
Here is Mr. Nestor showing how to tape the mouth and make the CPAP profiteers angry mad:
