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MY FURRY TALES--STORIES FROM 20 YEARS IN THE FUR! #10
16 years ago
Notes by a white lion.
(ROWLLLLL!)
One thing that is somewhat frustrating to me is that I can't do so many things that my characters are famous for. Animation allows one a great freedom to escape the constraints of reality. Being enclosed and surrounded by fur is a wonderful feeling but at the same time quite restrictive. Oh, how I would love to jump into the arms of Shaggy when I'm Scooby Doo. Yes, and at 240 pounds, I would surely maim or kill him in the process. Sigh!
But! There was one occasion that afforded me the opportunity to do something I always wanted to do. I know that what we did was the virtual hit of the party we were at. I had help in accomplishing this by a fellow performer and friend, John. He was a little hesitant at doing it at first, thinking he might accidentally hurt me in the process. I reassured him that knowing he was going to to this was what made it so safe. I wouldn't have wanted him to just do it unexpectedly. That could catch me off guard and pose possible injury.
We drove separately to meet at the home in Pacific Palisades. We were to be "Hunny Bear" and "Tiger". As requested by the client they wanted Tiger to come in first, followed by Hunny Bear about five minutes later. That's what gave me my idea. Had we walked in together I don't think it would have worked as well as it did. As you all should know, Tiger does like to pounce a lot. Especially on his good friend, Hunny Bear! So that's what we decided we'd do. John was Tiger, I was Hunny Bear. I told him to let me arrive and kneel down on the ground to meet all the little kids of the party. They were two, three and some four-year old kids. I told him I would be expecting his pounce and would be "ready" for it. I would fall backwards right onto my back and utter an "Oh, bother!".
You had to be there! It was perfect! I would like to have been standing when hit but felt that might be too dangerous. Being on my knees kept me close to the ground. I simply fell over. Even did a little "oof" for extra effect. So here I am, spread eagle, with my tiger friend bent over me. "Hi there, buddy bear!" All who saw, kids and adults, loved it. May I add in some modesty that we also got a $60 tip each for that show! Don't know if was that alone. Or, for that matter, if it made any difference at all in getting that generous tip. But, I can assure you, a $60 dollar tip is highly unusual. Remember too, that was for each of us. That makes it even the more special! This was another one of those great moments that I've had over the years that I truly felt so "real"!
Semper Furry! --Me Furry
One thing that is somewhat frustrating to me is that I can't do so many things that my characters are famous for. Animation allows one a great freedom to escape the constraints of reality. Being enclosed and surrounded by fur is a wonderful feeling but at the same time quite restrictive. Oh, how I would love to jump into the arms of Shaggy when I'm Scooby Doo. Yes, and at 240 pounds, I would surely maim or kill him in the process. Sigh!
But! There was one occasion that afforded me the opportunity to do something I always wanted to do. I know that what we did was the virtual hit of the party we were at. I had help in accomplishing this by a fellow performer and friend, John. He was a little hesitant at doing it at first, thinking he might accidentally hurt me in the process. I reassured him that knowing he was going to to this was what made it so safe. I wouldn't have wanted him to just do it unexpectedly. That could catch me off guard and pose possible injury.
We drove separately to meet at the home in Pacific Palisades. We were to be "Hunny Bear" and "Tiger". As requested by the client they wanted Tiger to come in first, followed by Hunny Bear about five minutes later. That's what gave me my idea. Had we walked in together I don't think it would have worked as well as it did. As you all should know, Tiger does like to pounce a lot. Especially on his good friend, Hunny Bear! So that's what we decided we'd do. John was Tiger, I was Hunny Bear. I told him to let me arrive and kneel down on the ground to meet all the little kids of the party. They were two, three and some four-year old kids. I told him I would be expecting his pounce and would be "ready" for it. I would fall backwards right onto my back and utter an "Oh, bother!".
You had to be there! It was perfect! I would like to have been standing when hit but felt that might be too dangerous. Being on my knees kept me close to the ground. I simply fell over. Even did a little "oof" for extra effect. So here I am, spread eagle, with my tiger friend bent over me. "Hi there, buddy bear!" All who saw, kids and adults, loved it. May I add in some modesty that we also got a $60 tip each for that show! Don't know if was that alone. Or, for that matter, if it made any difference at all in getting that generous tip. But, I can assure you, a $60 dollar tip is highly unusual. Remember too, that was for each of us. That makes it even the more special! This was another one of those great moments that I've had over the years that I truly felt so "real"!
Semper Furry! --Me Furry
