Easter... (Mascots)

So, with Easter being right around the corner, I wanted to stay on theme. This story isn't just about the Easter bunny, I disliked Santa Claus too, but mascots in general and my undying love for them. (A little sarcasm spice for ya!) To start off, when the Easter bunny would come visit our school, after our easter egg hunt, our teachers would ask each student to stand by him individually. I would have healthy distance between me and "weirdly happy bunny." So much distance, that they would ask me to get closer and closer, but I made sure there was still room enough to run if I needed to.

Now, my family enjoyed going to basketball/football games. Perfect for screaming and wondering whether who's going to win! If in fact, the screaming is an internal scream, and the "winning" involves a frightening, colorful mascot putting its arm around you to pose for a picture. Even if the mascot was across the court, I would be locked in on them while asking my mom, "Are they coming over here?" over and over again. She would reassure me, they weren't, the game would start, and I could relax.

The funniest and most illogical of these stories (and the one my mom loves to tell) is surrounding The Wiggles. Raise your hand if you remember The Wiggles. (Fruit salad, yummy, yummy.) Well like many early 2000's kids, I loved The Wiggles! I was excited to go to their concert in Arkansas in maybe 2005. I don't remember this as vividly as my mom but Jeff, purple shirt Wiggle, scared me for some reason. So much so, that when he came close enough to where we were sitting, I physically climbed over my mom and poor strangers to get away from him. My mom was in utter shock as she grabbed hold of me and sat me back down. To this day she says, "I was afraid of a man in a purple shirt." (Anyone else? No....just me......well that's embarrassing) :(

You'll be happy to know I have since gotten over my fear of mascots (still have a problem with purple shirts though.) I've had my picture with numerous mascots now form Mickey and Minnie, to Sully and Mike, to Darth Vader and Boba Fett. Though Darth Vader did make me nervous, especially when he breathed his iconic breath. I was very intimidated. Happy Easter! Until next time! Bye!

Fun Fact: The first contemporary mascot is thought to be a real bear cub in 1894.