Thursday, January 18, 2007

I Am the Doll



First, I'd like to say Hello, I'm back, and I did not run off to Barbados but am more than willing to when you all schedule the dates. Oh, and many apologies for my lack of contact. I will be posting on the Wingal blog later today and individual emails and phone calls will soon be made. I promise.

Okay, so I am the doll. I came to a realization recently and I'm going to share it. I AM on the Island of Misfit Toys, from "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer." My program here IS the Island of Misfit Toys. And almost all of the people that surround me have things that are really WRONG with them. I won't go into details here or name any names, but there are definitely spotted elephants, cowboys who ride ostriches, birds that swim, trains with square wheels, and a Charlie-in-the-Box. But I am the Doll. The general mystery about the Island of Misfit Toys has always been, "What was wrong with the doll?" I read somewhere that Rankin (of the famed Rankin/Bass Christmas-program-making duo) was asked this question and gave an answer that I will now paraphrase. When King Moonracer (perhaps my advisor...?) describes the Island, he says that he flies around the world and, whenever he finds a toy that no little boy or girl loves, he brings it to the Island of Misfit Toys. So Rankin indicated that the only thing wrong with the doll was that she was unwanted... unappreciated... unloved.

I am on the Island of Misfit Toys. And I am the Doll. There's nothing REALLY wrong with me, but I'm not fitting in with the other Misfits here as a result of there not being anything really wrong with me and, therefore, here on the Island, I am unappreciated, unwanted, and unloved. I always used to feel sorry for the doll. I mean, she must have known there was nothing really wrong with her... she probably looked around at misguided cowboy and defunct train and the not-terribly-ambiguously-gay Charlie-in-the-Box (hmm... it explains why he was "in a box", doesn't it?). And, vexed and frustrated, she probably secretly railed within herself, "I AM NOT LIKE YOU GUYS! I'm not screwed up! I'm not broken! I'm not weird or in denial! I'm not LIKE you! But I'm stuck here, surrounded by you! AAAARRRGGG!!!"

I know that's what she sat there and thought sometimes... because I am the Doll!! And, as Yukon Cornelius says of Rudolph and Hermie, "Even among Misfits you're misfits." I am a misfit among the Misfits. I'm the one who doesn't have anything wrong with me. I think they know it. And so I am unloved, unwanted, and unappreciated. I am the Doll!!

*SIGH*

9 comments:

Anonymous said...

And, incidentally, can you blame the Doll for staying away from the Island of Misfit Toys for as long as she could over break. Seriously, people... she's on an island, and it ain't Barbados.

theswain said...

Wasn't there a Twilight Zone episode that fits this scenario? C'mon you totally know which one I'm talking about!

Anonymous said...

uh you can hang out at *my island* wink wink nudge nudge...

Anonymous said...

Saw it. Living it. Can totally relate. However, I've always had a soft spot for the spotted elephant. He was cute! I wanted him when I was a kid and I still want him now!

Anonymous said...

Yes, I did like the spotted elphalant (as a much younger little boy I know would have said once) and I like the person I think of here as the spotted elphalant, too. I also always liked the flying bear.

Oh, and anyone should feel free to come visit my Island. I will actually let you leave. You won't be held prisoner.... long...

Anonymous said...

okay, I was planning on coming down there in the next few weeks, but my fairy god-daughter is expected at any moment and should she be like me it will be fasionably late. SO I will hopefully be in Milwaukee feb 2-5, BUT I am opening an invitation to you all (hint hint Wingal) to leave any notions of being PC aside and come here to go to a show with me on March 15th at 10pm. more info IF you say yes!

If no, count me in St. Louis mid to late march

Anonymous said...

Hello - can't write now - new job - but I'm here too!

Anonymous said...

I think your advisor rather looks like Charlie, don't you?

Anonymous said...

But Charlie is ambiguously gay, which my advisor is NOT; thus making Tony the obvious choice for Charlie... especially since he's also terribly insecure and cries a lot.