The Fright Fest Kitty

A while back, I worked at Six Flags Great America in Gurnee, Illinois. I was employed there for six weeks or so, during Fright Fest; a Halloween festivity that the park has put on for many years. When I first auditioned for the job, I fully expected to be cast as an un-dead version of myself. I thought I would be creepy and scary, and maybe even part of the infamous haunted house attraction. I would frighten countless poor souls that Halloween season!

But instead of being cast as a ghost, a ghoul, or some kind of eerie monster, the directors chose me to be a cute orange cat in the children’s section of the park.

Meh…

I was disappointed. I knew I was good with kids (having babysat and taught dance lessons, among other things), but I was fresh out of college and I wanted to do Something Big. Something Bold. Something Unexpected. A cute orange kitty in a children’s play area hardly lived up to the dream!

I spent countless hours each weekend that season crawling through the obstacle course, collecting balls, “licking” my fur, and saying “meow”. It was fun, but from my perspective at the time, not special.

On the last Sunday of Fright Fest, however, things changed. A little girl walked in with her mother; a big smile on her face. She had a picture of herself with me – the friendly orange cat – and she had come to give it to me so I could remember the fun times we had that October. Suddenly it became clear. When I looked at that picture, I knew that I had, in fact, done Something Big, Bold, and Unexpected. As a cute little orange cat, I touched a child’s life. Perhaps she still looks at the pictures from that year’s Fright Fest and thinks of me. Clearly, I still think of her. And it’s all because of a little photograph. How cool is that?

Birthday Girl

Yesterday was a big day in our house – Molly’s 6th birthday! It’s amazing how fast they grow, the things they can learn, and the wit that abounds at such a young age! We’ve been through Elmo, Dora, princesses, and now Pokemon. We’ve been to many museums, beaches, parks, field trips, and parties. The adventure will continue and we look forward to many joys and challenges to come. I have loved watching her grow, and it’s through pictures that I am able to savor the memories.

You might recognize this cute face; I used to get a whole lot of personality from her, but things have changed. I love this expression – it’s very natural, and what I see in her. But it’s not so easy to get the variety and the exuberance that exploded from her as a toddler. We’ve reached the frozen grin stage. I knew it would come – and it will come to your family if it hasn’t already! It wouldn’t bother me much, except that it means she’s a big kid now!!! NOOOO!!!! I think one of my challenges for April will be to get a big expression from her and post it for all to see.

What I love so much about my job is that I’m going through the stages of parenting myself. I really relate to my clients because I know what it’s all about. I understand the joy and the frustrations. Most of all, I understand what a precious thing it is to capture that beautiful essence that we see in our children every day.