"Are you real?"

I recently suited up for a visit to one of the shelters helping people who fled the hurricane damage down south. Unfortunately I don't have any pictures to show, but it is a good policy for the shelters.

Every time I suit up brings both familiar themes and new experiences.

Most of the time when a kid spots my lion I get a reaction that I call "the big-eyed moment". When a kid first sees my lion, they usually stop whatever they're doing very suddenly and stare, trying to decide how to respond. It's at that moment that I try to convince them I'm friendly & fun.

And do you know what's funny? I get the big-eyed moment from adults, too, but they usually make up their minds about the lion before I have a chance to respond.

But this time at the shelter was the first time I've ever seen a kid have the big-eyed moment and ask, in all earnestness, "Are you real?". Snowlions are mythical creatures of hope and joy. And there were those big eyes, wondering if I was real.

I nodded enthusiastically, of course. And got a smile. The joy was real.

And then the kid asked to touch my lion's eyes.

Every time is a new experience.