Sunny Days

Sesame Street is celebrating its 40th birthday this week. 40 YEARS...wow! Sesame Street is the longest running and, in my opinion, the best children's show ever conceived.

I remember feeling stunned 10 years ago upon hearing of the sudden death of Jim Henson. Over the course of his career he touched so many lives, and his dedication to children was inspiring. I would consider my own life a success if I were to have even a fraction of the impact on the world that Jim Henson and Sesame Street have had on inner city (and all) children. Here's a video from his memorial service. The singing puppeteers get to me every time. No Ernie or Kermit, though. Some empty shoes just can't ever be filled.




I still love Sesame Street after all these years. Love with a capital L! My earliest memories are of watching Sesame Street. When I was a kid, we played outside, read books, invented games, and didn't really watch a lot of TV...and my dad was a cable guy. There was always time for Sesame, though. When I was old enough to babysit, my little charges always ended up watching Big Bird and Oscar the Grouch.

I think this is probably the reason my girls adore Elmo and his friends. They don't get a lot of TV either, so what were the chances that they'd both fall hard for a furry 6-year-old muppet without a little push from mom? I think kids end up loving what their parents love. And let me tell you, when Jaden and I went to see Sesame Street live this year, I needed no prodding to dance in the aisles!

A few weeks ago, I was looking up some Elmo videos for the girls and I happened upon the "vintage" Sesame clips on YouTube. I'd forgotten all about some of these...and yet, once I began watching, I remembered everything!

Here are my all-time, top 5 favorite clips from my childhood. I hope they bring a smile to your face. I hope you watch them and feel the shag carpeting underneath your toes and taste the Kool-Aid on your lips. I hope they bring tears of nostalgia to your eyes. They did me.

My FAVORITE!!

I love this! It always made me smile :)

It's hard to choose between this and Put Down the Duckie.

Scallywags and Whippersnappers!

Because I believe in how big little things can be.

Jim Henson might be gone now, but the characters of Sesame Street live on, and will continue entertain and educate my children, and their children, and their children, for years to come.

Thank you Sesame, for always being there for me. Thanks for making my life richer. Thanks for teaching me about tolerance, and fairness, and friendship.

Happy Birthday!