I'll always remember the first time I laid my eyes upon him. I'd heard so much. The thing that had stayed with me for all my life was that his eyes were black as night. That was right, off course, but I saw so much more than that. His eyes weren't just black. The night within them glinted with a thousand stars, each with their own story. They were filled with wisdom and grace. You knew you could rely on them. You knew you could rely on him. I'd fallen for Kermit the Frog in the same way the shadows fell into his perfect dimples. I'd fallen like the rain from the skies. It was so natural. It was meant to be. I loved Kermit the frog. I knew I could never let him go.
The year was 1994. The first day of December. Mexico had just got a new president. I thought that might be the most exciting thing to happen. The sky was overcast, dreary like the days before it. I had no reason to believe anything special would happen. Why would it? December. It was just a reminder to start sorting out Christmas gifts. I had loved Christmas. I loved the warmth of staying inside, and how it conveniently forced your family to stay together. The food, the feeling of anticipation. For most people, that feeling went away after childhood. Not for me. It only went away years later. After Kermit.
I wasn't usually the one to stay out late on a Thursday, but it had been my friends birthday, and he insisted we went to this new bar on Sesame Street. Honestly, it sounded rough. He mentioned all these "animals" that hung out there. Those weren't usually the type of people I associated with. I'd always preferred to take it safe. Safe is where you can't be hurt, or pulled into anything that could hurt you. But it was his birthday. I had to oblige, and at least try to enjoy myself. And, if you asked me the night afterwards, I would definitely say I did.
When we got there, it wasn't what I had expected. When my friend said "animals", I didn't expect animals. I expected the rough type. But this was the nicest bar I'd ever been in. It was colourful, soft. Everyone was helping one another, and teaching them things. Instead of a sports game playing on the televisions, there was a tutorial on cleaning household grime. Still, it was nothing once I caught my first glimpse. I was spellbound. I didn't expect Kermit the Frog to be here, or anywhere I would ever visit. Someone like Kermit seemed so alienated, so wildly different from someone like me. I didn't even believe my eyes. But there he was. Sitting at the bar. I'd always been a casual fan. But not now. It was like there was an angel above him, guiding every last graceful movement. Nothing like that could come from earth. I knew I had to speak to him. He was alone. There was a chance he'd listen.
I walked over carefully, nearly tripping over someone's tentacle. I couldn't take my eyes off him. That would show weakness, and he would devour me, in a bad way. I got closer. I didn't know how to start. My tongue felt frozen to the roof of my mouth. Somehow though, the moment I sat down, it thawed. Being close to him felt natural. It felt right. I just needed to work out the right words.