It’s a good thing Bert & Ernie weren’t there.
Every year around Christmastime, I sit down by myself with a glass of wine and watch Christmas Eve on Sesame Street. I pretty much cry the whole way through it. But that’s okay…it’s a good cry. It’s the kind of cry that comes from way, deep down inside.
You see, I grew up in the age of Sesame Street. I had learned all of my letters and numbers and could write my name before I headed to kindergarten, and I truly believe I owe some of that to Sesame Street. My Dad was one of those dads who was all over “doing voices” for us kids. He could (and still does) do a mean Cookie Monster, Oscar the Grouch, Bert, Ernie and Grover. I can’t wait for him to do these voices for my own kids…it really is magical at times.
Last week at the BlogHer Conference I had a few minutes to kill in between lunch and the session I had to attend as part of my scheduled bloghership duties. I had seen some of the posts that had gone up during the conference about the Sesame Street Suite, and decided it would be a cold day in hell when I’d knowingly miss the opportunity to meet one of the icons of my childhood. I’m talking about Grover himself. I headed up to the room where Grover was reportedly hanging out.
I was honestly struck by how utterly BEAUTIFUL he was. I believe I gasped audibly, and was immediately four years old inside. I know how ridiculously sappy I sound here, and I’m okay with that. Because the Sesame Street gang strikes such a chord in my heart that I refuse to make excuses for my tone.
I stood by and watched fellow bloggers make their DVDs of themselves with Grover, and as I watched, tears filled my eyes. My mind was flooded with memories of being “Little Ame”, sitting on a suitcase in the living room window, watching the kids go by the window to board the school bus while Sesame Street played in the background. Then, lying on the basement rec room floor, listening to Christmas Eve on Sesame Street on the record player while I pored over the brightly illustrated record cover, hearing Grover ask the kids how Santa Claus gets down that skinny little chimney. It was intense.
The longer I stayed and watched, the less I was able to contain my emotions, and the tears that had welled up began to spill down my cheeks. I gave up trying to wipe them away, and let them flow.
I didn’t have time to stay and make my own DVD…I don’t know what the heck I’d say, anyway, except thank you and could I have a hug, please, Grover?
Eventually it all got to be too much, and I fled the room to collect myself, to get my act together. I ran into my roomie in the hallway. “You have to go and see Grover,” I said to her, and promptly lost my shit. She ushered me into the nearest bathroom where I cried it out before cleaning myself up and heading off to the next session.
Isn’t it amazing the way sights and smells can trigger memories like this? I think in many ways I’m mourning my childhood. It was a happy childhood, but it was too brief. I was a little adult by the time I was 12 years old. Every now and then it just feels good to let the trappings of adulthood fall to the wayside while I embrace my inner kid.
First, I have to say it’s good to know someone else has these emotional moments besides me. I hate to tell you, but you’ll be what I call a “weeper” when you are a parent. I can tell. First school program you’ll be sniffing and weepy. My kids tease me about it. I was a Captain Kangaroo kid myself. I STILL love Puff the Magic Dragon because of that show. I sing a short version of it to my daughter (for 8 years now) but hearing it can reduce me to tears, especially the Peter, Paul and Mary version. I’m sorry your childhood was brief, but happy that your memories are so strong:)
Brenda’s last blog post..Show and Tell Friday: Tea and Whimsy
every time i hear puff the magic dragon (from the peter, paul, and mommy (mary) album), i cry.
for the same reasons.
my childhood was too short, too.
i was a little adult by ten years old. had to be.
slouching mom’s last blog post..Deception
My kids are getting past the Sesame Street age, so I skipped the DVD recording, but now I kind of regret not getting one of me with Grover. When I was little, my favorite book was “The Monster at the End of This Book,” and I nearly peed myself with excitement when I found a copy for my daughter a few years ago. Yeah, I’m still a Grover gal, even at 42.
Velma’s last blog post..Putting Up A Warning Sign
SS is one of the things that would bring me right back to the age of 4 too. I’d be sobbing alongside you. The other thing? Old school Holly Hobbie. I had one my entire girlhood.
Your post was really touching, Amy.
Karen Sugarpants’s last blog post..Sugar and Spice and Everything Nice
Oh, I cried too. I wish I would have had the camera on the moosh’s face when Grover looked in the camera and said “HELLO THE MOOSH” It’s burned into my memory forever, that look of pure innocent glee.
That was THE Grover saying hello to MY kid.
That was ME with THE Grover.
And I’ll have it forever.
And now I’m crying again…
moosh in indy.’s last blog post..Dropping eggs and shoving fat kids.
Weren’t you the cutest little baby?!
The thing that always chokes me up is sharing something I love with my kids. I cried when I took BubTar to see Speed Racer a few months ago. I CRIED AT SPEED RACER. Sheesh. But it was mostly about feeling happy about sharing it with him, watching him having a good time.
Kyla’s last blog post..Handwritten
I bought The Jungle Book for Oliver for Christmas – actually, Santa did *ahem* – and I was more excited about it than he was. That movie takes me back…
mamatulip’s last blog post..Of lost voices and Poison Control
Girl, I am 45 years old, but the minute I walked into the Sesame Street Suite, I was 4 years old! I swear. I couldn’t stop staring at Grover! I was taken aback by my emotions! I still LOVE Sesame Street! Yeah, Sunny Day Everthing is A OK on my way…can you tell me how to get, how to get to Sesame Street!
Yeah Baby!
Lovebabz’s last blog post..BLOGHER 08…HANGING WITH THE PRINCESS
i was a sesame street kid. ah, the memories.
but my kids? don’t watch it at all! how sad is that?
I watched sesame street on a black and white tv… “touch the red square”… its amazing that im remotely smart…
but sesame street brings back the same emotions….
Heather @ Desperately Seeking Sanity’s last blog post..Am I Crazy?
Oh my god, you should see my DVD with Grover…i am grinning like an incredible idiot, and I can. not. stop. I don’t even remember being that hooked on SS and Grover, but I was seriously thrilled to make that video.
I remember Sesame Street as one of the few shows I was allowed to watch growing up. I think I was a little scared to go into the Sesame Street suite just because I didn’t want to spoil my memories. Now I’m sad I didn’t go.
mandy’s last blog post..Don’t You Wish You Were in My Shoes?
That was MY FAVORITE Christmas album. We used to play it (yes, on a record player) every year. Love it!
Kimberly’s last blog post..35
Aww, I fully would have cried too. That Sesame Street Suite I’ve heard so much about is something I really would have loved to see (that is if I’d gotten to go to the conference at all) I’m seriously emotional too.
Kathy’s last blog post..Camp (maybe) Incompetent Yet Remorseful
it’s as if those moments live deeply inside us and a sight or smell unlocks them and it comes tumbling out – quite lovely.
jen’s last blog post..the finality and the finiteness
Ditto what Slouching Mom said, except for me it’s “Operator,”the song,not the game.
amanda’s last blog post..Tutu for you.
I loved Grover too! I totally forgot about the Christmas Eve special. I used to love that!! I’ll have to get it and watch it with my son this year.
Loved this post, and I think I had those same pyjamas.
Helen’s last blog post..Thursday Thirteen #1
I get exactly the same way when I hear “These are a few of my favourite things” from the Sound of Music. I remember so many good things about my childhood. It was happy and like you said too brief.
Gabriella’s last blog post..It just doesn’t seem the same
I so would have loved to have seen that!
flutter’s last blog post..adventures in interviewing
Damn you were cute!
And I might have gasped when I saw Grover too. But it might have been out of disappointment that I didn’t get to make a video with him.
Maria’s last blog post..Tenderhearted.
It was Big Bird for me, and my dog’s nickname is Snuffleupagus. But for my kids I suspect it will be Grover, which is cool, and probably because of that Sesame St. Suite. When they sent me a thanks for coming by note, I sent an overexuberant YOU MADE MY KIDS HAPPY AND FOR THAT I WILL LOVE YOU FOREVER AND EVER no thank *you* note back.
Did you get a photo of you with him or Abby?
beautiful post, by the way, and adorable you…in footie PJs. Now THOSE make me sniffle because my oldest is the—WAS—the footie PJ queen.
Julie Pippert’s last blog post..The Office: The one about gender politics and complex communication around the coffee pot
I know exactly how you feel because I was starstruck when I met Grover. It was awesome. And Abby Cadaby was pretty darn cool, too. But she’s more Dawson’s type. I’m all about Grover!
dana’s last blog post..Grandpa Loved the Cubs
Sesame Street was born the same year I was. I’m so darn fond of that show.
@slouching mom
I still sing “Puff the Magic Dragon” in the shower from time to time. My husband loves to rib me about it.
[...] goal accomplished. Though my business partner, Elisa, our marketing head, shared that the most memorable, moving post she read about the exhibit was from a childless woman who related the experience of seeing Grover to happy [...]
[...] goal accomplished. Though my business partner, Elisa, our marketing head, shared that the most memorable, moving post she read about the exhibit was from a childless woman who related the experience of seeing Grover to happy [...]