Sunny Days, Sweeping the Clouds Away

For those of us counted as part of generation X, there are few television shows more beloved that that greatest of children’s programs, Sesame Street. As a preschool child in the late 70’s and early 80’s, the antics on that brownstone street were an integral part of life. We loved the characters and laughed along with them as we learned our alphabet, numbers, and other essential skills.

But there were other things we learned as well, some which we may not have even realized as small children. So, to commemorate Sesame Street’s 40th anniversary, here are five things we learned from watching Sesame Street.

5. Unattended children will turn to their goldfish for company. Elmo didn’t join the show until I was past the age of watching it, but I always found it disturbing that he was obviously a child living alone whose best friend was an unresponsive goldfish.

4. Two men can live together for 4 decades and sleep in the same room without being gay. Contrary to rumors, Bert and Ernie are asexual muppets.

3. You can subsist on a diet of nothing but cookies.

2. Vampires are obsessive compulsive. Seriously, do you have count everything you see?

1. Skin color doesn’t matter. How many places could you find in 1969 (or even in 2009, for that matter), where everyone: black, white, Hispanic, and Asian, could all live together in harmony? Although the setting was fictional, Sesame Street taught us that it was possible.

This blog entry has been brought to you by the letter M and the number 10.

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