Some overheard conversations are better than others in my household. They’re made just a little more delicious when my daughter is home from college, her boyfriend stops by to help to cook dinner and they’re left to entertain my son who has autism — and what the doctors have labeled a language processing disorder (where he actually puts words in a better order than they were originally intended, in my opinion).
Allow me to share what was served up this evening:
My son, who was quietly humming to himself over in the window seat, was questioned by my girl —
GIRL
Hey, buddy. What are you humming over there?
BOY
The jingle for Smokey the Hibernating Bear. I remember hearing it on the radio when I was a kid. ** [Note: For the record – he’s still a kid. In fact, to me, they all are.]
BOYFRIEND
Wha…? No-no. I’m pretty sure you heard that incorrectly. You see, Smokey is a fire-fighting bear, not a hibernating bear.
BOY
Uhm, no. I remember what they sang. It was, “Smokey… the Hibernating Bear.”
GIRL
Hahaha! That is NOT what they sang. Smokey the Bear is a working bear and his whole thing is that he’s a bear who helps fights fires.
BOY
That’s true. That’s his job, fighting fires.
GIRL
But then again, think about it. He is telling people, “Only YOU can prevent forest fires.” Maybe he’s depending on other people to do the work.
BOYFRIEND
You know, that would actually be pretty lame if Smokey was telling people, “Uhm, only YOU can prevent forest fires, because I’m going to be over there sleeping.”
GIRL
What if he films his public service announcements in the autumn, telling people that they can prevent fires, right before he settles down for his long-winter nap.
BOY
Ha-ha. Ha. Ha. Ha! < Said quite dryly and very clearly not amused > All I know is what I heard on the radio and I know I heard “Smokey… the Hibernating Bear.”
It is so hard to fight that kind of logic.
I have to tell you, that sometimes, it is good to be me. Dinner and a show, nightly – brought to you by the colorful filter of autism.
xo – t.
Smokey the Bear was created in 1947 created by the Advertising Council. He is 70 years old. According to the Ad Council, Smokey and his message are recognized by 95% of adults and 77% of children.