FIRST IMPRESSION ON THE FIRST...

my FIRST IMPRESSION OF ELMO

in the last 25 years, the sesame street neighborhood must have enlarged its population. some of the old familiar faces are still residing where they belong, but new friends have moved in. friends such as abby cadabby, zoe, rosita, and of course elmo. the character of elmo has actually been around since before i was even born, but until 1985 he was simply known as "baby monster" and obviously didn't have the same fame he does today.

i had long forgotten my preschool passion for sesame street. we had never watched the show with adelaide. i prided myself that not a single item of character merchandise could be found inside the walls of our house. or so i thought, until the day my daughter delightfully pointed to her diaper and said, "MEL-MO!" from that day forward, she has spotted elmo everywhere. there is something positively addictive about that red body and those giant eyes. as soon as adelaide's aunt mel heard about her love for elmo, she surprised her niece with a giant stuffed elmo. adelaide loved him immediately but could barely lift him on her own so he spent much of his time sitting nearby watching her.

just a few short weeks later, we went to visit witt at the hospital. while we were eating lunch in the waiting room mel took adelaide for a little walk, just the two of them. when they returned it was evident they had stopped by the gift shop and adelaide had received another sesame street friend, or rather two. mel told me she took her to get a smaller elmo, but adelaide fell in love with abby that day too, and mel thought they made a nice pair. adelaide proudly carried one of her pint-sized friends in each hand as we said good-bye to the family and went to physical therapy. that day at therapy she would hesitantly take steps, all the while never loosening her grip on abby and elmo. later that night was when adelaide took her first steps. and of course, elmo and abby were nearby cheering.


just as the neighborhood of sesame street's population has grown over the years, our family's population of stuffed puppets has grown too. what started out with elmo and abby has now expanded to quite the collection. thanks to adelaide's grandparents, aunts, and uncles she is now the proud owner of so many of her "friends." adelaide has even inherited an additional elmo from her loyal cousin carson, who couldn't bear to keep an elmo of her own. each time she saw it she insisted it belonged to adelaide, so now it does.





adelaide takes them for walks, she carries them in her backpack, she watches her shows with them, she pats their backs and puts them down for naps, she calls each one by name and tells them they are "good girls." her days are quite busy caring for so many little friends, and she loves it that way.





as for you elmo,
i must admit my first impression of you wasn't great. honestly i found you rather annoying. i despised how you talk in third-person. i really could not fathom how you have such a following,
or why there are so many that are eager to be a part of your world. and don't even get me started about all the paraphernalia with your face slapped on it.



but while i still can't bear to dress my daughter in a shirt, or shoes, or mask, or dress displaying you, i have come a long way in my love for you. i now see you for what you truly are, a lovable monster that others can't help but fall in love with. and as for all those friends of yours, they are pretty great too. we've decided to keep you around for quite awhile (as if we even have a choice).