Did you know that today, November 10th, 1969 was the first time that Sesame Street was on television? It wasn’t something I was aware of, but now that I know, it is worth talking about.

It is funny, my nieces and my nephew (and so many other kids I know) are addicted to treehouse. Dora and friends, Toopy and Binoo, Max and Ruby, the Backyardagins and In the night Garden just to name a few. 

It is pretty amazing to me that Sesame Street has been on the air for 43 years. Even more amazing is that several members of the existing cast have been there since the start of the show. Bob McGrath (Bob) has been on the show since it started as well as Loretta Long (Susan). Emilio Delgado and Sonia Manzano (Luis and Maria) have been on the show since 1971. Roscoe Orman has played Gordon since 1974. Of course there was Mr. Hooper who was played by Will Lee from 1969 until he passed in 1982. The show chose to have Mr. Hooper (Mr. Looper as big bird called him) die on the show as well to teach children about death.

But those are the human characters – the real stars of the show (and there are hundreds) but the originals are: Big Bird and Oscar (played by Carroll Spinney since 1969), Cookie Monster (69), Bert and Ernie. Grover came in 1970 and many, many others followed. Snuffleupaguss came in 1971 as Big Bird’s imaginary friend and stayed that way until 1985 when he became visible to the adults on the show.

Of course we all know about Elmo and all that he has done for children around the world. Kevin Clash is the amazing man responsible for Elmo. Earlier this year I saw a documentary of his life (Being Elmo – a puppeteer’s journey)as a fundraiser for Zack’s Dream Room and it is truly amazing to see how one little Muppet can help children (and adults) deal with so of life’s hardest challenges.

The show has so many amazing messages that have taught children so many lessons over the years. They have introduced multi-cultural characters, differences and similarities, and historical events.
 
Special guest stars are always a hit when the come to 123 Sesame Street. The list is very long – just to touch on a few – Hillary Clinton, Michelle Obama, Buzz Aldrin, Tony Bennett, Ron Howard, Michael Jackson – and the list goes on and on! Some came on to sing with the Muppets, or be a character or to explain one of the lessons of the day.

It has stood the test of time for the last 43 years and I hope it continues to go on for years to come!

Through facebook re-connects, work friends, friends through different groups, I have had so many conversations about life, loves, loss, hardships. One thing I can say forsure, is that the saying of the “grass isn’t always greener” has never been so clear to me than after these conversations. I have always believed that, but it is clear as we are getting older and living our lives and different experiences.

I remember one year after I went on a med cruise with my aunt I was having dinner with a friend and showing her all the pictures. She was happy for me, and envious at the same time, commenting on how great it was that I could travel and see different parts of the world with no worries other than myself. I agreed, but commented, you are married, you are expecting a baby and you have just bought a house. I don’t have any of that. At that time, I wasn’t living in my condo at that time. She thought the grass was greener in my single yard, and I thought her grass was greener in her married with children yard. I am sure that either one of us was right or wrong. It all depends on what side of the fence you sit on.

I know I am very lucky in my life. I have good friends, I have a job, I have a great relationship with my parents and family, and being an aunt is truly the most rewarding part of my life. Not everyone I know has the chance to see their nieces and nephew on a weekly basis. I am lucky enough to have them close to me and now the girls are old enough to call me on their own and want to see me and their parents can drop them off. It is the great joy in my life.

I have had a job that has taken me around the world (literally) and back over the last 22 years. The industry hasn’t been as rewarding as it once was, but I am still fortunate to have been and seen as much as I have over the years, and will always have that. Wherever my life may take me, I will always have the trips that have I have taken, the memories from those trip and the knowledge of other places in the world other than the city/town I live in. What I have seen and learned over the years has been invaluable. I will never forget any of it. I consider myself very wealthy in the life experiences I have been able to have because of my job.

Never judge a book by its cover….we all learned that, didn’t we?

Life changing….every day life is a roller coaster – some days we want to get off the ride and other days, we scream with excitement and want more. Tomorrow is another day – get back in the line to ride the ride again!

I don’t know about you, but I know that when I have a trip planned there is always a trip to a drugstore or a Wal Mart run to the travel size aisle of products. I remember for years I used to always buy whatever shampoos, conditioners, body lotions they had in the travel sizes. I know I am not the only one.

Over the years, there has been a lot of changes in flying and travelling. More and more people want to travel with a carry on so that they don’t have to worry about their bags getting lost (a huge deal in the US) and they can arrive at their destination and go. Also, in a post 9/11 world, if you are travelling with a carry on, you have size restrictions to the liquids you can carry on board.

Everyone knows that in the marketing world that is very important to create a “brand” for your product. When you say to someone “swish” they will automatically think of Nike, or of course just see an “apple” and we all know what that is about.

Hotels are no exception. And when you have a brand hotel, you want to have brand partnerships. This holds true with the products that are offered in hotel rooms around the world. 

Just by looking at the bin of hotel shampoos and conditioners I have, I can tell you that there are amazing brands that the hotel chains have paired up with – Crabtree and Evelyn, Bath and Body works, Gilchrist and Soames, bvglari, Miller Harris (from London) and more.

Before we went to Israel, there was a question someone in the group had about ‘are you bringing full bottles of shampoo and conditioner’ to the hotel? Heck no, hotels provide all of that. Which they did.

We were two to a room on the Israel trip – and every day the maid left 2 of everything – shampoo, conditioner, body wash and lotion. We were there for 8 nights. We just kept putting the “leftovers” in our bags every day. Imagine how many bottles we 

had at the end of the trip?

The same just happened to me on my trip to Orlando. I should stress, I was in a three bedroom, three bathroom villa. That means 12 bottles each day. I didn’t take them all (used them while I was there). This hotel used Gilchrist and Soames as their provider. I don’t think I have ever used their products, but my hair doesn’t usually like going on vacation, but these products were good for my hair. I brought them home.

If you are going away for a few days, and want to bring some extras with you (in case you are not sure what you will get from the hotel you are staying at), send me a message, I am sure I can find something for you!

And don’t be afraid to put the products in your suitcase, they will be replaced when you come back to the room!