“Who said every wish, would be heard and answered
When wished on the morning star?
Somebody thought of that, and someone believed it.
And look what it’s done, so far.” — Kermit the Frog
It seems easier at this time of year to put things into perspective. In our modern world, with things like smart phones, tweeting, Facebooking, Sponge Bob, Big Brother, and the Kardashians, it is almost impossible not to become jaded, or at least, a budding cynic. From the way we entertain ourselves, to our need to inform all of our friends/”Fans” about what we are doing at all times, modern life makes it easy to move closer to the pessimistic. I was very lucky recently, to get a familiar reminder that it wasn’t always this way.
My son is now almost 12 years old, has an iTouch, the Wii, no mobile phone (yet), and was, when younger, a big fan early on of Thomas the Tank Engine and more recently, Sponge Bob. He does not watch TV much, as he is all about being outside and is, thankfully, happiest there. He was only vaguely familiar with the Muppets, but had heard several of his friends say the new movie, currently playing, was funny and worth a watch. Since I am old enough to have watched the first season of Sesame Street, but young enough to have been 9 years old when the Muppet Show premiered on television, it did not take much to get me to take him to see the new Muppet movie. I am very glad I did.
First, the movie is indeed worth a see, is very funny and will pull at your heart if you’ve got one, but I won’t write a review here. What is really important is that in addition to having a great day with my boy, I was reminded about the pure and important message these puppet-characters of my youth still deliver. A sense of humor without being nasty. Being together, working toward a common goal, facing adversity and overcoming it. Taking the right path. Trust. The Muppets, from their first movie in 1979 to the one today, teach belief in the face of uncertainty and they teach about hope. And they do this all by singing, by letting us know each character well, and by making us laugh. Quite a gift when you think about it. I left that show feeling young again. I might be getting older, but the Muppets don’t.
My son, toward the end of the movie, put his head on my shoulder and thanked me for taking him to see it. My little boy, on the threshold of his teenage years and then onto adulthood. For a brief moment, the cruel joke of parenthood swept over me – that they are merely on loan to us. But for today, my son, my greatest gift, is still my little boy.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all in our Beach Ford Family,
Tom Barton