My day as a mascot

So this might be a little different than my normal posts but I had a few observations I thought I would share. Over the weekend I volunteered with a friend at the Race for the Cure in Seattle. Actually I volunteered with the Tubbs Romp to Stomp booth at the race.

The morning started off early as I set out at 5:30 to arrive at the booth by 6 am to help with all the set up. We did all the usual booth activity-putting up signs, putting out fliers, etc. But my role for the day was actually to put on a fur costume and become Tubbs Scout for the morning. Yes I was to be a mascot for a day.

I knew that I was going to be hot but really that is not the word to describe the experience. It is never really a great idea to put on a fur suit in over 60 degree weather. But hey it is all for a great cause.

The interesting thing is when in the costume you get to see every one's face and reaction to you as this large dog and they have no idea what you actually look like or your reaction.

So from the beginning. I along with my handler took the heavy bag (yes it took two of us to carry it) to the bathroom to become Tubbs Scout. I pulled on the jumpsuit which was my body and then attached my feet or paws and tried to maneuver around in the small space. Who knew what a tail would feel like. Lastly came the head. Good thing I am not claustrophobic because it is a helmet with the large over sized dog head all around. I was looking out of the big smile. My handler actually had to adjust all these pieces as we slid some of my fur into a shirt so that I didn't have parts of the costume peeking out.

Out I walk, a very large dog ready to wave and smile to the crowd. This is where the day begins to become full of observations.

I think I began to notice just how different people's reaction are to characters. I had been a handler once before when I worked for Warner Bros but this was my first time behind the mask. The experience is so much sweeter as you look at a child's face full of wonder and excitement as they share your hand-well paw and give you high fives. I loved watching as their eyes would get large and hesitate for a moment but then rush up to be next to me as a furry friend. Of course a few little ones would see me and just start to cry or hide in fear. I tried to make sure I didn't scare them and found myself getting down to their level to just show them I wasn't that scary. Overall I saw wonder and amazement in kids eyes. I loved it.

Then down at the kids race I got to walk around with all the other mascots cheering on the little runners and making them feel so special. Many pictures were taken and many hugs given. Being furry sure does change things. A few of the mascots actually started to run with the kids during the kids race. I had contemplated doing this as well. I mean I am a runner how bad could it be right? Well running is one thing, running in a fur suit when sweat is just dripping down my face with me standing there is another. So I opted for high fives and cheering on the kids as they came back from the quarter mile race. I sure do have even greater appreciation for those professional mascots.

A few more observations. Adults have varying responses. Many just laughed as I passed by and waved. A few giggled as I am sure they were thinking a big furry dog is looking at me. Then there were the groups and individuals wanted a picture. I was happy to oblige. The funny thing is I kept smiling for the pictures. About halfway through my time I realized I was doing this and found it incredibly funny as no one could actually see that I was smiling along with them.

As to not give you the impression I actually kept this costume on all day I did actually have to take many breaks and find a bathroom where I could remove my head to just breath and cool off. At one point after the stint for the race starts my handler could smell me and see steam rising off of me as she pulled the head off. It was pretty comical. I even had a moment where I was hiding in a changing room with a me sitting half in and half out of the fur suit. Trying to just cool down before I would head out again to greet the many passers-by.

Last observation. A fur suit allows you access to many places you would never be able to go as a regular person. Pretty much no matter where I wanted to walk I was given access. I just kept passing through all sorts of security and sections that were for certain people. I guess obviously if you are dressed as a dog you are probably not a threat. Or maybe they figure you belong. Who knows but I was enjoying the day.

Well I can now check this off as an experience. It was an interesting and fun filled day of making people smile. I especially enjoyed the little kids. I don't know if I will ever be a mascot again but I do know I will now smile at both the big furry creatures I run into and smile knowing someone inside the furry suit will see me smile at them.

More inspiring thoughts

So I am actually not much of a blog reader. I think I would enjoy them but I just don't seem to take the time to search out those that would inspire me. Yet I have been so struck by the comments of Q ideas. I have loved reading Gabe Lyons book and all the great thinkers that write for their blog which gets sent to my inbox frequently. The more I read the more I want to read. Oh that I could write and think with such grace and vision. Anyway I thought I would post a quote from one of the articles written by Tim Keller. Another amazing thinker and a man who seems to embody what it means to dwell on the Gospel and let that influence his life.

"The gospel doesn't change us in a mechanical way. To give the gospel primacy in our lives is not always to logically infer a series of principles from it that we then "apply" to our lives. Recently I heard a sociologist say that, for the most part, the frameworks of meaning by which we navigate our lives are so deeply embedded in us that they operate "pre-reflectively." They don't exist only as a list of propositions and formulations, but also as themes, motives, attitudes, and values that are as affective and emotional as they are cognitive and intellectual. When we listen to the gospel preached, or meditate on it in the Scripture, we are driving it so deeply into our hearts, imaginations, and thinking that we begin to "live out" the gospel instinctively." ~Tim Keller

I pray that I can more fully embrace the dwelling on the Gospel and let that transform my heart and life.