Sponge

November 28, 2020

While I made good on my promise not to watch the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade on Thursday, Melissa did watch.  The three-hour parade is held in Manhattan, ending outside Macy’s Herald Square, and takes place from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time on Thanksgiving Day.  It has been nationally televised on NBC since 1953.  This year the parade only focused on the last section of the annual march.  While it did not feature the marching bands of the past, there were some floats and of course the balloons.  The finale was also intact, as Santa arrived in front of Macy’s famed flagship store on 34th Street to kick off the holiday season.

While I did not watch, Melissa called me in to see the giant SpongeBob balloon.  I have been a fan of the Sponge since it first aired on Nickelodeon in 1999, even watching the two SpongeBob movies released so far (a third is scheduled for American release in 2021).  I even started saving SpongeBob collectables and now have around 50 different items.  It is interesting that I did not buy most of my collection but instead they were given to me.  When my adult friends learned of my collection, they began to buy small SpongeBob items to give to me.  I think they must like the Sponge as well, but do not want to admit it.    

During the early 2000’s I went to a local Arts in the Park in my city.  The featured guest was SpongeBob SquarePants.  There was a long line to be able to have your picture taken with the Sponge.  I got in line and patiently waited my turn.  Just as I got to the front, the character’s front man declared a break and asked us to come back later.  I did not want to lose my spot in line, so I waited the twenty minutes until he returned.  When he opened again, I stepped forward and he asked where my child was.  I told him I wanted a picture of me and Sponge.  He just shook his head and took the picture.  Five minutes later I had another treasure.

Thoughts:  Some would call my affection for SpongeBob SquarePants a guilty pleasure, but I would disagree.  A guilty pleasure is an activity or piece of media that someone enjoys but would be embarrassed by if other people found out about it.  These might be books, movies, TV shows, foods, or most anything ese.  Generally, the guilty pleasure is something that might be viewed as shameful by some people, like trashy novels or overdone romantic comedies.  I am not embarrassed by my passion for the Sponge, nor do I feel guilty.  Too often we allow others to dictate what we do or how we should feel, and we hide our true thoughts.  You are only embarrassed if you allow another to embarrass you.  When you wear your feelings proudly, you may be surprised how many others feel the same.  Do the work.  Change is coming and it starts with you.