Happy Furry Monsters

...I may not have much time. Monsters. There are monsters in my home. I’ve been observing them for some time now, and I think I’ve discovered their leader. Although small and outwardly cuddly, he carries a fiendish smile and sinister laugh...

...I think I’m safe for now, but I….wait a second…

…oh no…he’s found my son…..he’s…he’s singing to him.…..

….Max's eyes are transfixed on the furry red monster! He’s not moving! Oh my God, the singing has paralyzed my s… I must save…

….the music…it won’t stop! It’s echoing in my head now!

...Sing….sing a song….sing it loud….sing it strong……


I pictured all that as either scrawled out in a worn paper journal, or some static voice recording.

Clearly I watch way too many movies and video games.

Sesame Street has invaded my home. And the furry red monster in question is none other than ‘he who shall not be named’. I simply can’t get that squeaky high pitched voice out of my head. In fact, all the residence of Sesame Street have seeped into my mind. They hypnotize me with their catchy songs and linger in my head. All. Day. Long. Sometimes I wake up to “Sing a Song”.

Worse than annoying songs, is that my conversations with Jeremy usually involve some reference or random thought about the show.

Me: “I bet Gaby has a crush on Miles, although he looks completely disinterested in her”.
Jer: “I think Bob and Allen are secretly a couple”
Me: “Oh totally. Hey, that voice sounds like the girl from Avenue Q”
Jer: ”I was thinking the same thing”
Me: “I bet it is, let’s google it”
Jer: “Way ahead of you…yep, it is”
Me: “I knew it”

And if that wasn’t disturbing enough, these facts and questions spill over to conversations with other people.

Me: “Did you know the main girl from Avenue Q used to do lots of work on Sesame Street?”
Amber: “Really? Oh yeah, you can totally hear it in this song”
Kevin: “What?”
Me: “You know, Big Bird’s right hand is a gimpy hand since the puppeteer has his own right hand raised high above his head to do the beak movements.”
Amber gives me a sad smile.
I sighs with agreement over my new pathetic life


This is so not normal.

I swore I wasn’t going to be one of those parents that used kid videos to lull their children into a relaxed stupor. But, I’ve discovered that Sesame Street is to Max as the Pied Piper is to mice. I’ve never seen him stand or sit still for anything, but when that red furry monster starts to sing, he’s instantly hooked. And those that know of the Crazy that is Max, this small quiet down time is pure bliss. Needless to say, we’ve rented just about every dvd they have to offer.

As much as I hate the effects on myself, I have to admit there’s a small sense of excitement and nostalgia to see my son love a show that I grew up on as a kid. A few of the old skits they still play now are ones I actually remember, like when Cookie Monster wished the moon was a cookie.

Oh, and Grover is obviously the brains of the opporation. As are the sheep and pinguins, his minions. They rock.