I think it all started about 3 years ago when I had to make a reciprocal storytime time kit for SRC (summer reading club). I wanted to create a kit based on a colleagues very fun & popular, Monkey Around with Curious George kit. It was created by Carol Snowden who was a long time librarian at the Whitehall branch. A few months after she died due to ovarian cancer, we were required to update summer reading club kits. I wanted to continue Carol's kit in her honor. To my horror when I opened the blue kit out popped Sock Monkeys!!! Since about age 2, I have had a real disgust for these homemade toys. It is hard to explain why I disliked them so profoundly ... for some reason their appearance creeped me out and made me feel a mixture of embarrassment (for its sheer homeliness) and disgust. Something about them just repulsed me mixed with, "what the hell am I going to do with this thing?!" I recall a color Brownie camera photo of me dragging a home made sock monkey around the Christmas tree when I was two. I seem to have vague memories of other exposure to them throughout my childhood. When Jordan was born we received a thoughtful homemade baby gift, a well made sock monkey from a dear friend's mother and I reacted with horror. I had a strong maternal instinct not expose my newborn to such a thing!! I recall disposing of the monkey quickly although it was NOT doomed to a trashcan; I am not sure were or how I banished him. I felt guilty about it then and feel even worse today. The poor dear elderly woman crafted this toy so thoughtfully and I cast it out of my life instantly. So when I encountered a blue storybin full of the little buggers, I pushed my natural instincts aside and embraced them into my office and now they have taken over my life!!!!!! No wonder, I was leery of them all those years ago! Those meddlesome, menacing monkeys!!! Guess I will have to turn my little dog loose on them, ha!
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