Photo by Sara B. Healy
This is a photo of a flower in my garden. I took it after we had a rainstorm. I kept looking at the picture and wondering who is she? I saw the flower as a “she” and knew she reminded of someone, but it took awhile to figure out who it was.
Puppet Sock
Then one day, I realized she sort of reminded me of nature’s version of the puppet sock, Lamb Chop. Those of you old enough might remember the ventriloquist, Shari Lewis who created Lamb Chop. I used to love watching the interaction between Shari and Lamb Chop.
Lamb Chop and Shari Lewis had a major influence on me. Perhaps because I tended to be kind of shy and enjoyed the fact Lamb Chop would often appear to speak her mind, even, at times, shocking Shari with her comments.
In refreshing my memory of Lamb Chop and Shari, I came across an old interview with Shari Lewis about her career and in it she talked about her relationship with Lamb Chop. It also explained why I enjoyed their interaction so much. Here’s one of the questions from the interview:
Q: What was your most unusual experience with Lamb Chop?
A: Lamb Chop is so much my alter ego that she sometimes gets out of hand and says things I wouldn’t even dare think to myself. When she first met Desi Arnaz, he was sitting with his feet up on the table and was rather rude. She told him so in no uncertain terms. And that was the first time I really had to stay aware of what she was going to say, because she speaks for herself.
Actually, now I think about it. Lamb Chop sort of reminds me of Izzy, my muse. She has that same spunky quality and definitely speaks her mind.
Story Picture Challenge
Let’s get down it – the story picture challenge. As I often like to do, I’m giving you choices for this challenge today; some simple and others a bit more complex. You get to pick. You can:
1) Pick a name for this flower and explain why you picked it.
2) Tell a few things about her personality.
3) Pick her partner. Lamb Chop had Shari Lewis. Who would partner with this little flower? It doesn’t have to be a ventriloquist. In pretend time, they could talk to each without ventriloquism.
4) Last, but not least, you can answer all of the above. I like over-achievers:~)
If you want to play, leave your thoughts in the comment box. Have fun with this flower and the challenge.
Happy Week to All:~)
{ 14 comments… read them below or add one }
Oh my! The first thing I thought of is the fish “Dory” from Finding Nemo. Come to find out, Dory the Fish has her own Facebook page – what’s the world coming to??? I’ll make this one her confident alter-ego, just for fun! Love the Shari Lewis memories – that takes me back!
.-= Carol´s last blog ..Stress Eating’s Evil Cousin =-.
@ Carol — I didn’t think of Dory. It is strange about the “take over” of social media. Even the weather channel is on Twitter. I’m a bit behind the times as I’m still trying to learn to text message on my phone — it takes me forever!! My daughter on the hand, if a whiz at it and likes to challenge me. I like writing, but not particularly on the phone:~)
Now that is a flower with personality! This post had me smiling – I remember Lamb Chop and her sassy ways! I think we all need to have that outlet for the sassy parts of ourselves that don’t edit everything we say. For some it’s a muse, for other’s it’s a puppet, but I think there’s great value in it.
.-= Talon´s last blog ..Hallowe’en… =-.
@ Talon — I agree totally with your comment. I like the idea of having something that serves as our alter egos. Some might say they were the adult version of imaginary friends:~)
Her name is Amanda because she is the light of somebody’s life.
Her partner is a soggy origami gekko named Louis Richard Florenstein.
They are both opera singers who love butter pecan ice cream, which sadly gives them too much phlegm to perform as often as they used to, so they own and operate a ballet slipper shop in Hoboken, doing quite well in gross sales but not so well in net as they have not yet learned how to cut their overhead. But they will.
.-= Jannie Funster´s last blog ..Baby’s First Halloween =-.
@ Jannie — You are so creative. I love the gekko idea and his name is wonderful. This is a great write-up:~)
Her name is Twila. She is a very quiet, sometimes pensive, keeper of great wisdom. She only shares if you stop by to breathe the scent she sends out – a jasmine/lavendar beauty.
I remember Lamb Chops – and I’ve read Shari Lewis’ story about how the two personalities were really her – I love that!!! We could all use a sock puppet! Maybe we would be more authentic? Maybe we’d fear less what others think and be less concerned about exposing our real thoughts? Interesting to think about!
@ suzen — What a nice story. I think I would like Twila. Oddly, I don’t remember smelling this flower…perhaps if I had she might have shared her wisdom with me.
I also liked Shari Lewis’ story and how Lamb Chop expressed another part of her personality. I agree about the sock puppet. I may not have one of those, but what I have is a troll doll dressed up as wizard wearing biker clothes. Because of Izzy, I can sort of relate to Shari. Izzy is very different than how I usually see myself, but I love her all the more for letting me express the more spunky side of myself.
It’s fun to imagine what the different sides of our personalities would look like — to give them faces and names. I’m not recommending multiple personalities, but just the use of imagination for those sides of us that don’t get expressed as often as others. Thanks for stopping by and sharing your thoughts:~)
Well how cool is Funster’s! I love your imagination. I remember Shari and Lamb Chops but I never would of thought of this yet you are spot on. I would find her email and send it to her.
I think it also looks like a pink fish and could use to change my header and switch over my blog to women only. Ya think?
.-= Tess The Bold Life´s last blog ..Inner Productivity by Chris Edgar =-.
@ Tess — I think you keep your goldfish:~) I don’t see this flower doing the wonderful “leap of faith!”
Sara,
I saw Lamb Chop right away and that made me think of my gratitude post to Lambie I did last year just about this time. We had the Lamb Chop puppet to put on my youngest’s arms so she could rub her face or head after cleft palate surgery but not get her fingers or hands in her mouth because of infection.
Her Lambie even went to college with her…I was so grateful for that puppet and one night it got locked in the church after a potluck and we had to call and call around to get the door unlocked…
This flower is just wonderful as was Sheri Lewis who is now gone from us…she was so thoughtful and caring…and inventive and lovely and and and…
Just wonderful to think about…
Okay Jannie you have me laughing again…
Nice idea – nice garden to produce such a gem
.-= Patricia´s last blog ..Grace =-.
@ Patricia — Isn’t it amazing the connections we make each other? It is a wonderful thing that “Lambie” was there for your daughter after her surgery and beyond. Thank you for sharing that story:~)
I’m actually familiar with Shari Lewis and Lamb Chop. Oh my goodness!
Hmmm… names. Well, I think I’d call this flower “Mabel” because it’s a name that wifey lists as one of her favourites. Seriously, I love what it means: “My beautiful one”… which is what Cassy is.
.-= Tony Single´s last blog ..Infertile, Not Dead =-.
@ Tony — I would think you’d be too young to remember Lamb Chop, but I’m glad you do…she and Shari Lewis were quite a pair!
I didn’t know that Mable meant “my beautiful one.” What a nice thing to say about Cassy. You are a very special pair of people:~)