The thing about "memories" is that you never know when one's going to come along and bite you in the butt. Especially when said bite comes from a frog named Kermit and the memories are of childhood vacations taken to Santa Barbara.
Santa Barbara is a coastal town dripping with Spanish influence situated a couple hours drive north of Los Angeles. It boasts one of the most beautiful beaches in Southern California, dubbed the American Riveriera, a pier and long windy boardwalk, the same boardwalk on which my sisters and I roller-skated and found a flawless Kermit doll, lounging on his side, as if waiting for us.
I look back on these vacations, now, with mixed feelings, due to learning in my early twenties that our father had a secret family living there and that I have four half brothers.
My green hero would become in later years a symbol of family secrets, sibling rivalry and wanting to grow up too-fast. This, here, is a picture I stumbled across on Pinterest this week. I love it for its casual irreverence. It pokes fun at this symbol that has stayed with me these last 30+ years.
Wow, Ezzy. This was really amazing - sounds like it could be the first page of a really good book.
ReplyDeleteIt's funny Kermit has such unexpected memories for you, because he has some for me too.
I was always kind of naughty at church (perhaps that part isn't so surprising), and when I'd get to giggling, it was really difficult to stop. There were times I even had to get up to leave, but usually my mother would simply pinch me really hard until I stopped. To avoid this, I tried to develop techniques to control myself.
One of my techniques was to focus on a word or phrase and just repeat it over and over - if I was focused on that, I couldn't laugh. Well, for some reason, the phrase that used to come to come to me most often was "Kermit the Frog" ... So I would sit in the pew, perhaps looking fervent in prayer, repeating in my head, "Kermit the Frog, Kermit the Frog, Kermit the Frog."
Now when I see our little green friend, I think about having to endure long Sundays at church on that hard wooden pew next to my mother, not being allowed to laugh.
Maybe we should create an anthology of unexpected Kermit stories? jajajaja :)
Hilarious Tracy!!!
DeleteTracey! Thank you for sharing that memory. How freaking funny is that? Although, I'm sure that at the time, it was nothing short of TORTURE to have to quench the giggles with super focus. *lol* Me encanta esa idea ... a Kermit Anthology! Maybe even a Kermit Blog Hop. Thank you for commenting. BESOS.
ReplyDeleteHere's another little something to pay homage to our green little friend:
http://youtu.be/BSsJtzPng5U
I love your Throwback Thursday post amiga! (and.... OMG, I love the blog re-do! It looks AWESOME!)
ReplyDeleteOk, speaking of Kermit.... I LOVE HIM! I'm a huge muppet fan. I use to have a Miss Piggy puppet and use to brush her hair religiously...all those long golden locks. I've always loved Kermy (miss piggy's sweet little name for him) too! If I was a muppet, I'd want him for a boyfriend. LOL
I agree with Tracy above, this does sound like it could be the 1st page of a book.
Great Kermit the frog picture. I hate it now may possibly stir up unpleasant memories for you. Sending you an abrazo!
Thank you, Tara! That's me at three in the header. :-) Kermy will always be suave and a gentleman. That's one of his personality traits that have always drawn me to his persona. He's an all around good "frog." *lol* Whatever happened to your Miss Piggy? I'll have to share with you, now, another picture I found that pokes fun at Kermy and Miss Piggy's offspring. You're gonna die! Besos <3
DeleteWow. I have to agree w/Tracy- wow. This really reads like the back cover of a novel; you should consider it. Really.
ReplyDeleteNow BB is more of a Ms.Piggy fan. Ok, si, JU SO FONII!!! I know you are visualizing this and laughing uncontrollably. You're right. There's no stage big enough that'll hold both Babushka and Ms. Piggy- oh, but if only!! ; )
Truly love your style; let me know when you finish the novel ok?
BB2U
BB, me da pena. Thank you for your sweet, sweet words, Amiga. It means a lot to me. Te mando un besote! <3 You'll be the first to know when I finish ... something! hahahahaha
Deleteyesssssssssss Sincerly Ezzy... the beginning of your book so agree with all the ladies above!
ReplyDeleteAmiga so much you have gone thru and still you seem to look back and find the funny parts of life.
I know you've come a long way and I look forward hearing more about Ezzy and what you have overcome to become the amazing sweet soul i know!
un abrazo!!!!
Ruby, thank you for all your support these last few months. If someone had told me I'd be connecting with a homie from Santa Ana on the West Coast, I would've told them they were crazy. I appreciate you and your friendship, Amiga. Gracias pro todo. <3
ReplyDeleteI could have sworn I left a comment for you here amiga pero no se a donde desaparecio.
ReplyDeleteAnyways what I wanted to tell you that this is one of my favorite pieces of writing from you. You conveyed emotion and created a mystery. Fantastic job.
Thank you, Letty. That means a lot to me. :-)
Deletewhat a freakin good post.. love it so much!
ReplyDeleteAbrazote, Adri! Gracias.
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