When I was a little kid, I was obsessed with all things Muppet. I loved them all, really...Gonzo, Fozzie, the Swedish chef, and Beaker. Even those old guys in the balcony. But, I especially loved Kermit.
On my 8th birthday, I remember my entire party centered around Kermit. I got a Kermit puppet doll, I had a Kermit cake, and me and my four best girlfriends ventured out to see the Muppet Movie. I was a buck-toothed, skinny, awkward little girl with a bad haircut and I clearly remember wearing rainbow suspenders. And, yet, I was so cool. Very Mork from Ork. It's my most memorable birthday to date.
My sudden flashback to all things Kermit was jogged by my sister's Valentine's Day gift yesterday. A book called, It's not Easy Being Green, and Other Things to Consider. I read it from cover to cover last night, and I felt obliged to share my two favorite quotes from the book today. So, here goes.
The words say, "It's not easy being green," but the song is about knowing who you are. And in it you hear Jim's (Henson) message most clearly. He believed that people are good and that they want to do their best and that no matter how or why we might be different from anybody else, we should learn to love who we are and be proud of it."
~Ray Charles
Preach on, Ray.
Looking back, I think I liked Kermit because he was the unassuming leader of the bunch; he was just a good, quietly confident, sincere little green dude. Plain and simple. Kermit was the sound of reason in a world of chaotic whimsy and fun. He had fun, but kept it all in perspective. He soaked in the crazies around him, and he loved someone who was completely opposite of him. Because some things defy explanation. He loved the simple things in life. And, as a kid I adored him, but as an adult, I just plain get him and his little Zen-like philosophies. It's amazing how perceptive we are in our youth. It's amazing the things we latch onto without really knowing what we're latching onto, but we do it because it just feels good. Something all "grown-ups" should take heed of.
"Life's like a movie, write your own ending
Keep believing, keep pretending
We've done just what we set out to do
Thanks to the lovers, the dreamers, and you."
~Kermit
