Muppets and Accountability

Watching the Muppets movie recently brought back a wave of nostalgia and sentimental ideals that I never even realized I’d lost. It’s difficult to express the types of feelings that come with watching a movie that honors such a close memory as a show that you grew up with. A show that was more than just that; it was a teacher and a friend.

The Muppets wasn’t the only show like that to me. Mr. Rogers, Fraggle Rock, Looney Tunes, Wishbone, Bill Nye, and many other shows I grew up with made me who I am today. They all brought wonderful messages to my life. But lately the world has grown into a place that seems to suggest these old values are equivalent to non-existence.

Kermit started in on one of these ideas. It was a short speech that he never even got to finish the first sentence due to being interrupted. A friend of mine mentioned this scene in particular stuck with her because of what Kermit was starting to say. He mentioned something along the lines with how kids are smarter than what we give them credit for, and they deserve so much more respect. Think of many years ago. Kids used to work by the age of 7 or 8. Those growing up on farms were up at dawn and asleep by sunset every day. They found work, games, and ways to learn to fill their day. And in all honesty, these children were probably much healthier and balanced, and grew up feeling less entitled than recent generations. Today we coddle toddlers. They can’t go outside, hold anything sharp, or even learn how to get over falling down because their overbearing parents feel they must protect them from everything. By making a “child-safe” world, we’ve stripped away their childhood.

Respecting children is just a small part of what these shows displayed. They were also teachers for children. It was a “feel good” atmosphere, without being cheesy or thoughtless. These shows were clever, and enjoyable for adults (just like classic Disney movies) and not just for children. They never talked down to us when we were growing up. They encouraged learning, and being kind to others, and made us laugh.

They also instilled a sense of accountability. Part of a song in the new Muppets movie says ‎"You’ve got everything that you need – right in front of you. Nothing’s stopping you, nothing that you can’t do that the world can throw at you." People today have taken to blaming everything wrong in their life on anything they can that’s not themselves. I can’t count how many times I’ve had to remind family and friends that they are the only one responsible for making themselves happy. No other person, place or thing can give them the sort of happiness they deserve. You must allow yourself to be cheerful , and until you give yourself that permission, then you will remain in the sad, unfulfilled place you hate being in.

Seeing the Muppet movie reminded me of these old sentiments (and more). And I’ve been in a content way lately because of it. My problems haven’t disappeared, and I still have many hours of homework each night regardless, but I’m not drowning under a heavily growing weight of responsibilities. I’ve remembered what it feels like to be a kid. I’ll do my chores, but I don’t need to dwell on them all night and day. There are other, better things to do with my spare time.

I think sometimes we need a reminder of what used to be important to us. To me it was catching an episode of Barney, and then going out to our swing-set to work on sticking my landing when I jumped off from the highest height. It was listening to my Mickey Mouse cassette tapes and then seeing who could run down the hill the fastest. It was playing pretend with my stuffed animals, and then helping my Mom bake in the kitchen. And then riding my bike until I couldn’t stand up because my legs hurt.

My life never used to be about being so bored I wondered what was on TV, and then watched shows I didn’t care about for half the night. It wasn’t about living at a computer screen waiting for facebook to update. It wasn’t about reminding myself what I’m “supposed” to be eating. It wasn’t about lying awake at night for hours wondering if I’m doing the right thing with my life. And it wasn’t about being so frustrated at the end of every day that I need to blow steam with a walk around town just to be okay for another day. And your life shouldn’t be about your trivial problems either. It shouldn’t be a letdown, and we are the only one’s letting ourselves feel this way.

The Muppets movie wasn’t only great for its story, the acting, choreography, songs, cinematography, characters, or even for reviving a wonderful show. It was great for reminding us that when things get bad, like when Fozzy was working for a second rate casino in Reno, that we can take charge and make everything right. That when we don’t know who we are anymore (are you a man or a Muppet?), that only by looking inside can we find out. The Muppets movie was great because it reminded us of our youth and what once was important. And it reminded us of all those lessons we once learned and have forgotten over time. The movie was great because of what it brought with it.

And they brought it in a package that everyone can enjoy. 

Genius

Genius!

I was struck with a pretty novel idea tonight that may add a few years to a long-time pet's life. Lately our family has been discussing letting out 18 year old cat pass away due to poor health. She lived a legacy as an outdoor and indoor cat, and battled many foe's such as two german shepherds, three pugs, and many cats (and the chinchilla). She rules as Queen in our home for many years, and was a strong yet benevolent leader. She never struck first at the others, but always stood up for herself. We never feared for Rosie's health when it came to her versus any animal. She lived outdoors for many years until an unfortunate accident with my one cat, Doc Holiday. Rosie was moved inside, and lived the spoiled life as a fat house cat (and do I ever mean fat). But a few months ago, not long after her 18th birthday, Rosie became incontinent. She urinated in the most unwanted places (and let's face it, any where that is not her litter box is unwanted). We had one cat that consistently peed in our bathroom sinks, and was just a general menace, and so she was eventually given away. But Rosie has been with us for a lifetime, and is a year older than my younger brother. She was just as much one of us kids as anyone. So I took Rosie to the vet (the first time in many, many years) and had her examined. It was determined her problem was most likely psychological. Another cat, a terror of the household that with bite at anything within distance, was stressing our older cat and making her uncomfortable to use the litter box. We tried buying quite a few litter boxes (the logic was she would have more opportunity to make it to one, and could choose one not guarded by the half-feral cat in our home). When this didn't ease the problem, we moved a litter box to the upstairs bathroom and locked Rosie inside for a week. The knew plan of action was to have her own seperate box, in an area the other cat never came to (for at the time, the other cat would hardly even leave the basement) and give Rosie a private sanctuary. After the week in the bathroom, and accumulating her to the idea that she had a litter box in there, we let her out to wonder the household one more time. Not even a day passed and she was urinating and defacating in our living room. It became apparent that unless the litter box was at her side, she could not hold it and would use the restroom wherever she was at. Rosie has since been contained in our bathroom once again. And because I have been out of state for school, I was no longer able to actively work on the issue. Rosie has lived in the small bathroom for almost three months. I am visiting home for the holidays, and I saw the deterioration occuring. Rosie's muscles have completely atrophied from lack of use, the litter box is hardly cleaned, there is litter, puke and hairballs all over the floor, and a smell that may never go away. Rosie is living no life for a pet. And we have all come to this sad realization that her life is at it's end.
For days I've sat on this knowledge (and was dealt an even heavier blow when it was announced that our 12 year old pug, Bodi, may be at his as well). Bodi, I do not believe is near the problem. He cannot hold his waste for long, but will still make it outside if let out frequently. He has a head tilt (right ear down) that we've had the vet check probably four different time (more or less, I lost count). And when I came home I noticed his right eyelid drooping, and in further inspection I noticed the cataract growing, and dilated pupil. A quick test proved he can still see, but not well. He has lost most his hearing, which has been a gradual process for most his life. But Bodi still enjoys spending time with us and outside, and he will bark and chase things. He has trouble standing after sleeping, and gets clumsy at times, but he maintains a healthy weight and has regular movements. He's just an old dog that needs his rest, and still enjoys his life. I'm not willing to say he is at his end just yet. Rosie on the other hand once lived a fairly healthy lifestyle. She was a good weight, and would go up stairs and over baby gates until just a few months ago when we were forced to confine her. Now she is a shell of her former self. But I believe I've found the answer that does not involve ending her life. I make the suggestion we move her to the basement. Our basement is unfinished and is generally ruined from Rosie's progressive incontinence. We've cleaned it up, but the damage has been done. The smell is retained from years of keeping litter boxes down there, and piles of puke and hairballs still retain down there (what can I say, we don't go downstairs often). I suggest we section off a part of the basement that she can do the least amount of damage, and build an area that Rosie can actually move and exercise in. I also move we change her from a hard kibble to a soft canned-food diet. Perhaps ease her digestion, and provide her with something more rich in fat and protein to help her build up her muscles. She can hopefully recover, and live in a more expansive area, without ruining our bathroom (or making us listen to that awful wailing). Amissa, the half-feral cat that has wreaked havoc, can still use the basement with a seperate litter box (god knows that cat needs the basement to hide from the german shepherd after provoking her). We will see Rosie each day to feed her and change her water, and clean the litter box (we have to do the same for Amissa anyway). A heater may need to be placed in the basement to keep her warm, but as it is a fire risk, that idea will need to be scrutinized. I say we try this idea, at least for the two weeks of school I have left. If in the two weeks she does not improve, then I am out of ideas. But I want to give this one last try, for an old family friend.