Snuggles, the Story

[mlerules]

So, someone else has asked about Snuggles (and why I have a Snuggles icon). Snuggles represents Mindless/Boundless Optimism and Pure Uncluttered Living in the Moment. This ain't judgmental, just the facts (ma'am). Snuggles is also an inveterate shopper, a huge fan of the *shiny*, and doesn't let anything get him down for more than a second. He's bouncy and joyful. All this arose from long-time myth-making w/my ex-hubby and I, solidified by the reaction of his bro (my b-in-law), w/whom we lived when this all began.

Back when some Snuggles ad campaign got started big-time (mid-late '80s, I believe), you'd see his inanely smiling face on TV commercials all the freakin' time. Then he started popping up on billboards all over town. So, since ignoring Snuggles was NOT a viable option, what remained was either to jeer, feel self-righteous, and let his frequent appearances grate on you (as my bro-in-law did), or, as my ex- and I did, revel in the wonder that is Snuggles, letting him become a part of your life, referring to Snuggles Moments as those when you do or say something w/out any thought whatsoever. It had the extra-added benefit of helping ease difficulties from such times (when someone did something w/out thinking it through) by using humor to relieve tension and acknowledge an "oops."

Later on (early '90s) he even landed a spot in a movie! (Look Who's Talking II?) Mikey cringed while Davey & I squee'd. There was more big-time squee'ing when, during the time we lived apart for a semester (I lived w/Mom & J. while externing full-time for the State Bar Court in SF and taking a class at SFU while he taught school and lived in SoCal), I found a small-sized Snuggles bear and presented it to him to help ease the apartness. (He still has Snuggles the Small and I got to visit w/him when in SoCal recently.) One day we found Jumbo-Dumbo Snuggs in an antique shop. His expression of mindless optimism was particularly priceless. Were the price not exorbitant, he'd've become one of the fambily that day. As it is, I visit him in my mind now and again...smiling all the while.

This is all back-story for a recent post where I referenced channeling Snuggles. When, directly after Labor Day the Halloween decorations and displays appeared at the grocery store, I chose to revel in the ridiculousness (Following Snuggles) rather than grump 'bout it and/or be disgusted. Life's too short to let things over which one has no/little control bug you that much. Yeah, I could choose not to frequent this store, but it's convenient and I like it, so I'll channel Snuggles, be amused, even as I'm astonished and wide-eyed w/wonder. I'm finding that this helps the BAPAMAP along quite nicely, too. (BAMAP = Being At Peace As Much As Possible = a worthwhile goal o' mine)

Hmm, somewhere I've got some good photos, and Davey has the slide-set of Snuggles flying off the St Louis arch from our x-country Toad Rip of 1988 or 1992...

Comments

[quetz.livejournal.com]

Snuggles seems to be the Pillsbury Doughboy of the Reagan generation. Go ahead! Poke him in the tummy! He won't mind! Why? DO NOT QUESTION, CONSUMER! JUST POKE THE LITTLE SMILING MAN OR WE WILL MAKE YOU VERY, VERY SORRY.

(Am I the only one who wonders why anyone would see a little man made of dough with a chef's hat running around their kitchen and decide it would be fun to run him through with their finger?)

QUIZ:
A little man made of dough with a chef's hat is running around your kitchen. You:
1. Flee in terror.
2. Call an exterminator.
3. Call an exorcist.
4. Put on steel-toed boots and stomp that sucker flat.
5. Yell "Hey Kool-Aid" and, when Kool-Aid Man bursts through the wall, he will stomp that sucker flat.
6. Decide it might be fun to poke him in the belly.

[cheerfulolygirl.livejournal.com]

Well said :-D *rotfl*

[vismaya-viewer.livejournal.com]

Your myth-making is indeed mighty. ;o)

[wildwoosi.livejournal.com]

I love it :)