Saturday, June 18, 2005

SESAME STREET LIVE!

                               SESAME STREET LIVE!

                               (HOW MUCH IS ENOUGH?)

    When my first son Adam was born, my major concern was if I was doing enough for him. As his first months of life rolled along, my list of questions lengthened. "Am I spending enough time with him? Am I feeding him enough? Is he happy enough?" As he grew, the questions continued, "am I reading enough to him? Am I teaching him enough?" The questioning voice within never silenced.

    The year was 1982, Adam was two, and Sesame Street was the hottest show going! The characters faces were plastered everywhere. They were on cereal and cookie boxes. They appeared on clothes, bedding, wallpaper, and dishes. Sesame Street was on every street in America!

    News that a "Live" Sesame Street show would be coming to town quickly spread. The only tickets available were for a Saturday morning in October. October was the height of my busy season, I just could not see myself taking off for this event. I purchased two tickets for the show, one for my wife and the other for my son. My wife was pregnant at the time and was having a very difficult pregnancy. As the day of the show approached, it became apparent that I would be taking my son to the show.  With a certain sense of guilt I called in my absense, and resolved that I would make this day as best as possible.  I can still recall the excitement in the voice of my two year old son as I strapped him in the car seat. The entire ride to the theater he chirpped, "Bert!, Ernie!, Cookie Monster! Big Bird! The Count!". He advised me that he knew these "people" very well!

    We made it to our seats. He was so lost sitting in the auditorium seat. I lifted him up and perched him on my knee, which gave him a great view of the stage, and it gave me, a great view of him! Oh how I enjoyed watching the show through him! His eyes so wide, his joyous smile, his innocent laughter! His tiny nose fixed in the direction of the stage!

    Ninety minutes into the show, all the characters came out on the stage. He had no idea that this was the grand finale. The curtain came down, and the stage was now a scene of silence. No more song, no more laughter, just silence. My son called out for his friends, "Bert!......Ernie!.....Cookie Monster......come back!"  As I got up from my seat, he clung on to me, trembling he asked, "where is the Count?. A soft stream of tears began rolling down his precious cheeks. My heart ached, for there was nothing in my power that could make those characters appear on the stage again. I could feel the footsteps of panic walking through my heart. "They're at home" I blurted out. "All of your friends are waiting for you at home" I told him. He quickly quieted down, he believed me.."O.K. lets go home" he chimed.

    When we got to the house, I ushered him to his room and told him that he would have to wait for the characters to get ready. I ran into the garage and fashioned a large box into a stage. I removed all his Sesame Street Puppets and toys from his toy chest, and I loaded the turntable with Sesame Street records. I called for my son to come into the family room, where I put on my own Sesame Street production just for him! It was worth it, just to see him smile and laugh once again!

    And so it was on that day that I learned one of lifes most valuable lessons, and I was able to stop asking myself that question "am I doing enough?"...because I learned a parents love will have them go to any extreme for their child...when it comes to love...there is no such thing as "enough".

HAPPY FATHERS DAY!

13 comments:

Anonymous said...

What a great entry!
Jennifer

Anonymous said...

Happy fathers day!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Anonymous said...

Beautiful! Happy Father's Day!
Jodi

Anonymous said...

That is such a wonderful story mark. I dont think i ever met a man in my entire life that is as wonderful as you as a father. Your sons are truly blessed.

Anonymous said...

Happy Father's Day, Marc.  A truly heart warming story of a time your heart must treasure.  Enjoy today, wrapped in memories, wrapped in love.

Thank you for sharing this...
~Dona

Anonymous said...

I wanted to stop by and wish you a Happy Fathers day. I hope it was a great one!
Rebecca

Anonymous said...

Hello Marc :)

I hope you had a wonderful Father's Day. This was a wonderful heartwarming story...I am a big fan! Keep writing hon...I look forward to you!

Always, Carly :)

Anonymous said...

When you see the excitement in your childs eyes, hear the happiness, and joy in their voice, and feel the energy of wonder in their body, you know that love you have for them is like nothing else ever experienced. It is indescribable.

Hope your Fathers Day was as special and precious as you are to your family.
Blessings always to you and your family.

Anonymous said...

this is the sweetest story.
It made me remember my Sesame street days with my daughters...can you tell me how to get to Sesame Street?
Marti

Anonymous said...

:)))))))))) made me smile all the way to my toes :) and also made me think of the budget cuts threatening PBS and NPR........................:( sorry to be a downer but I want my daughters children to watch Sesame Street and feel the joy and acceptance the charachters are allowed to impart because they are not sponsored by corperate america who seems to cow to the whims of angry conservatives........OMG I have gone off on a tangent Im sorry

Happy Fathers Day Marc you seem to truly be one of the good ones :)

Cristy

Anonymous said...

Oh my gosh, what a wonderful entry. Gotta love Sesame Street! It's one of my personal favs, to this very day. ~ Lori

Anonymous said...

That was beautiful, and it brought tears to my eyes...thank you so much for sharing...    My two angels are my grandchildren....  as I'm sure you've figured out by now....and one more angel has been added as of Thursday.    Again...thank you for sharing this.  I'm going to send it to my daughter.
~Meg

Anonymous said...

You sound like a perfect dad.  I never had one of those.  I dedicate my whole life to my children.  17 and 16 now.  They know they are blessed because of it.  Thanks to parents like us, our children will become strong, compassionate adults that will be able to conquer anything knowing they have the love and support of their parents.  Great entry.  :)
http://journals.aol.com/mrsm711/LatteDah/     Tracy