I wonder if there’s a room for rent in the pineapple?
My father-in-law stared at the television set and shook his head with a tinge of — dare I say — disgust.
“I just don’t get it,” he mumbled under his breath.
My younger brother-in-law agreed.
“It will never last.”
At the beach the summer of 1999, SpongeBob’s merry tune had just come on the telly.
That trip, I had just gone on and on to all my husband’s family about this new creative riot cartoon, SpongeBob SquarePants.
And they were not getting it. Not one bit.
I didn’t get how anyone couldn’t understand it.
Of course, the whole world now gets SpongeBob and his undersea Bikini Bottom universe.
My relatives are no exception. Now they love SpongeBob. They probably don’t remember that little tableau in front of the television that summer at the beach.
But I do — for I just couldn’t understand who couldn’t fall under that square yellow fellow’s charm.
I was already madly in love with him. And will be till the day I die.
Who can’t love a guy who is:
* Brave and never lets evil get him down. SpongeBob never, ever lets the evil Plankton get the secret formula for the Krabby Patty.
* Kind.
* Yellow.
* Blindly optimistic. He is relentless in his pursuit of Squidward’s friendship though Squidward is quite mean towards the yellow fellow. And SpongeBob keeps trying to get that driver’s license. Has he ever gotten it?
* A tireless worker as a fry chef at the Krusty Krab.
* Can weather the toughest, greediest of bosses. Mr. Krabs. This is a quality I stand in quiet awe of the Spongeman. This is one I wished I possessed in my younger Bikini Bottom days.
* Friend for life. He would do anything for Patrick or Sandy — or Squidward.
* His innocence. This is the quality I admire most. He sees everyone in the most positive of lights.
I don’t watch him much these days. He’s more the background soundtrack to my quiet, scattered whirling around the house.
Some people refuse to never believe in Santa Clause.
I feel that way toward the yellow sponge.
May he always stay fully hydrated. May his pineapple never rot. May Gary never get run over by a speeding Snailways bus — so Bob doesn’t have to experience the loss of a pet.
I just wish him a forever of animated happiness.
For that is what he gives to me.
What show would you not run over and turn off the minute your children left the room?
Linking up with MamaKat with the prompt: 1.) Tell us about a kids TV show that you would be happy watching…without your kids.
