It’s Time To Play The Music

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“My hope still is to leave the place a bit better than when I got here.” – Jim Henson

Today’s good deed: LEAVE FLOWERS ON THE STATUE OF SOMEONE YOU ADMIRE

When I saw this deed I thought it was stupid. Why should I leave flowers for someone who is gone? Why not give them to someone who can enjoy them? Someone still living?

While futzing around on the computer I discover that today is Jim Henson’s birthday. I LOVE Jim Henson! Sesame Street, The Muppets … what’s not to love?

I decide to do it. I can leave flowers at a statue. I’ve done dumber before. Eating alcohol-soaked fruit on an empty stomach comes to mind.

Once I got to the site of Jim Henson Studios I realized it was a dumb idea all over again. The statue of Kermit the Frog is a full story off the ground. I could maybe throw a softball that high, but Gerber daisies? The only thing dumber than putting flowers at a frog’s feet is throwing flowers at a frog’s feet.

I spot a little security booth with a big man sitting in it. I explain that I want to leave flowers in honor of Jim Henson and he says, “Let me call my supervisor.” A SUPERVISOR?!?! I don’t want to make my being weird official!!! The only thing that would make this more ludicrous is if Big Bird stepped out and said, “Can I help you?!?”

A friendly man named Eric arrives. I tell him that it’s Jim Henson’s birthday and I just wanted to leave flowers. Eric said they got a memo saying today was Jim’s birthday and that he would be happy to give my flowers to Jim’s daughter or son!! How cool is that?!?

I told Eric thanks and that I loved Sesame Street and the Muppets as a kid. I told him how I watched them all the time and how they meant so much to me. They entertained me and helped me grow. And in the middle of my rambling, the most unexpected thing happened. My eyes started to water. It was so odd. I decided to stop talking. I said thanks, smiled and walked away.

I went back to my car and thought about writing a letter to go with the flowers but the only paper I could find was the back of a parking ticket I just got.

A member of Jim’s family was gonna get my flowers! I smiled all the way home. The feeling of dumbness completely disappeared.

I thought about Ray Charles and Kermit singing ‘It’s Not Easy Bein’ Green.’ I thought about Yoda in Star Wars and Emmet Otter Jug Band Christmas. And I thought of how shocked I was when I heard that Jim Henson had died. He was only 53 years old.

I wanted to give flowers to someone who was still alive. I realized that Jim’s characters were still around making us laugh, teaching our children, and helping people around the world. Miss Piggy, Gonzo and his Chickens, Statler & Waldorf, The Dark Crystal, the monsters from Where the Wild Things Are, Grover, Bert & Ernie, Oscar the Grouch, the whole Sesame Street gang …

Jim Henson left this place a little better alright. And his spirit is still very much alive.

Photo (Flickr CC) by Jeff Christiansen

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Holly Walker

Ms. Walker made her acting debut at the tender age of 8 in For Spring is the Season of Happiness. She almost turned down the role of Mother Nature (she wanted the role of "Spring") until she found out Mother Nature had the most lines. On that day, a diva was born. Holly has traveled the world performing comedy. She has been to more than 40 U.S. states and over 30 countries worldwide. She is an alum of the improvisational companies Boom Chicago and The Second City. Holly currently works on The Nightly Show with Larry Wilmore as a writer and performer. She has been a part of the Rebel Storytellers family since 2009 and hopes to be with them for many years to come.

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