Take Polkaroo, for example.
Polkaroo was a character who appeared on the long-running TVO television series for children called Polka Dot Door which was broadcast from 1971 until 1993 (Just ask almost any person my age about the show and they can almost immediately start singing the show's theme song) Apparently the show was also syndicated on PBS, becoming the first Canadian television show to be syndicated in the USA.
The show had two human hosts, rotated through a series of theme days and each episode would feature an appearance by Polkaroo, a giant Kangaroo-like creature that said a single thing: "Polkaroo!" A convention of the show (likely due to budgetary constraints) was that, whenever Polkaroo was around, the male host would have disappeared. (Yes, it's the old you never see Peter Parker and Spider-Man at the same time sort of thing going on here) What was really cute about it was that, when Polkaroo took off, the male host would return and inevitable mutter: "Polkaroo was here? I missed him AGAIN!"
In any case, having grown up watching this show, it was a real treat for me to actually meet Polkaroo in person at last year's Word on the Street in Toronto. Yes, a 41 year old man became all giddy at the thought of meeting him. I had wished my son could be there to meet Polkaroo, although Alexander, of course, would have had no idea who this character is. (And let's be honest, I was the fan-boy here, likely just looking for an excuse to get closer and chat up this iconic figure from my childhood)
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| Polkaroo meeting fans at WOTS Toronto, Sept 2010 |
And, of course, Polkaroo is someone I am "friends" with on FourSquare - yes, just for the sheer novelty of it.
And why? Because, whenever Polkaroo checks in anyplace on FourSquare, he leaves the following comment: "Polkaroo!"
Yes, it's the little things that keep me amused.
Of course, if I ever check into a place that Polkaroo has been, you'll be sure to hear me say: "Polkaroo was here? And I missed him AGAIN!"
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