Sad Dumpster Puppets

Anthropomorphism. It's a big word and it's a big theme here at this house of crazy. I love it, I do—endowing inanimate objects with imaginings of motion, voices and emotional veracity. And today it takes a dark turn as we reveal the true, sad endings to the life of playthings. 

My friend Nils took this shot. He has an outstanding eye for the absurd and the askew. This photo depicts, in his own words, "Sad Dumpsters Puppets." Even without Muppeteers behind these little guys, they instantly evoke a story. Abandoned at the top of the garbage heap, the future looks bleak for this Fraggle-Rocked pair.

Just look. Look! One ragged blondie carelessly hurled against the other. Heartbroken. Maybe a whisper of a final plea. Arm outstretched, mouth agape. His friend looks stoically ahead, resigned to their fate. Maybe there's even a third victim squashed in between them, longing for daylight and a simple picnic with preschoolers. It's the ultimate in plaything despair. No one wants to see a toy at the end of his life (I can't even think about Wheezy from Toy Story...it's too much to bear).

I was stunned and secretly, sickly overjoyed when I saw the Sad Dumpster Puppets. Because what to my wondering photo collection should I already have, but Sad Garbage Pony. Observe.

Not only was this once plush and magical race horse (of Care Bear decent?) tossed cruelly to the ground next to trash cans (not even regarded highly enough to be placed inside a trash can), but look! Is that stuffed pony blood I see? What horror struck this poor filly? And why? Why? What did she ever do but give you rides on fluffy clouds and shuttle you tirelessly back and forth to tea with Fluttershy and Twilight Sparkle of My Little Pony fame? She bleeds! Oh! it's too much.

Much too much for my little anthropomorphizing brain.

But let me say this to you, Puppets and Pony...there's always a place for you in my heart. A place where you teach me about numbers and the joys of sharing. Your dignity and your grace live on in the playroom of my mind.