The Day I Met Oscar the Grouch

Donna here!  Recently on a trip to a conference in NYC, I had the great opportunity to attend a session with Caroll Spinney, the puppeteer behind both Big Bird AND Oscar the Grouch.

Mr. Spinney told us the story of his life as Big Bird and Oscar and how he got his start.  Wouldn't you know that after falling in love with puppets, his mom lovingly hand-sewed his first full sets of character puppets to tell stories & create shows with?

Flash forward through war, being discovered by Jim Henson, bringing Oscar and Big Bird to life for the very first episode of Sesame Street, then decades of globalization, social, political and cultural change.  And through it all, Sesame Street and the incredible impact it's had on kids, families and educators
everywhere for more than 40 years.

And today?  Not only is Caroll Spinney a living legend who has loved getting to be 6 yrs old for his entire career, but through his characters, he has been the very first best friend to billions of children all around the world.  I can't think of any accomplishment one could make in life that could be any more important.

To our delight, he brought out Oscar, and a room full of grown-ups instantly turned into a giggling mass of 4-year-olds.   Later he thanked us all in Big Bird's voice and it was a powerful moment as we realized it truly was Bird - he was real and right there with us.

Best. day. ever.