I know I’m a day late with a Dr. Seuss post.  But with our snow day yesterday, I assume that local schools will be honoring the author’s birthday today.  During my daughter’s elementary school years, it was a big deal, indeed.  Everyone brought in their favorite Dr. Seuss books.  Children, teachers and staff dressed up.  There would be an army of Things 1 and 2, and Cats-in-Hats by the dozens roaming the halls.  My daughter and I tried to find a character for her that wouldn’t be over-represented. 

For the 100th Birthday celebration in 2004, we succeeded. 

 Can you guess? 

Does this help? 

Probably not.  My daughter returned home somewhat downcast because no one recognized her character.  When she was in Kindergarten, she was neither skilled at winking nor bold enough to tell people who she meant to be. 

We thought it was so clear.  Obviously, she’s a Yink.  The Yink from One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish.  Maybe you don’t have a lot of ink.  Because if you do, you should get a Yink.  Dr. Seuss, of course, says it best: 

This one, I think, is called a Yink.

He likes to wink. 

He likes to drink. 

He likes to drink, and drink, and drink.

The thing he likes to drink is ink.

The ink he likes to drink is pink.

He likes to wink and drink pink ink.

SO. . .

If you have a lot of ink,

then you should get

a Yink, I think. 

The Yink pages from One Fish Two Fish, as colored by my daughter at age five. 

A couple of years later, we opted for a more mainstream character.

This time, we took no chances.  In case the reindeer horn, the floppy dog ears and the furry shirt rang no bells, my daughter wrote “Max” in big letters on the red collar.

Today, with a vague pang of regret, I notice that my daughter left for school dressed in the typical clothes of a sixteen-year old urban American girl.  My Yink has grown up (thanks to all that healthy pink ink).  My little dog Max is no longer so little. 

Maybe you look back with fondness on a time when you outfitted a small Fox-in-Sox, a Horton, a Lorax, or a Sam-I-Am.  Perhaps you kissed your Sneetch or Little Cindy Lou Who goodbye this very morning.  Maybe you worked for weeks crafting an amazing Green Eggs and Ham Costume.  Whatever the case, may your day be enlivened by the light-hearted, fresh-faced wisdom of Dr. Seuss. 

So. . .

be your name Buxbaum or Bixby or Bray

or Mordecai Ali Van Allen O’Shea,

you’re off to Great Places!

Today is your day!

Your mountain is waiting.

So. . .get on your way!

–Dr. Seuss, Oh, The Places You’ll Go!