When I Grow Up I Want To Marry Jim Henson

I think that if you examined my DNA

you would find that I am very actually more muppet than human bean.

I have a gently fading memory of being very little and our tv going on the fritz - we had sound but no picture - and tripping over myself with panic because I thought that Big Bird was trapped INSIDE our tv. Mr Hooper dying was a Very Big Deal. I still, even now as a grownup, hum the songs of my sesame street. I thought that Ernie was the funniest guy ever, but sometimes I fully sympathised with Bert and wanted to give Ernie a good kicking. This still gives me goosebumps...

I loved the deep, dark, beautiful world of The Dark Crystal and it was my brother's favourite movie when he was about three. (Each year when he was small he had a new favourite movie, which he would have to watch as least once a day) (Dot and the Kangaroo, The Dark Crystal, The Wizard of Oz) (If you know him, doesn't this just say so very much about him?) Anyway, he couldn't say skeksi, and he didn't know the movie was called the Dark Crystal, so he just used to ask to watch The Sexy Movie. I adored it too, so it really wasn't a chore to watch it with him until we wore out the video tape.

My very first official crush was David Bowie in the Labyrinth. (Yes, I still like men in tights.) (Yes, I am still in love with David Bowie) As a girl with her own baby brother it was like this movie was made just for me - you mean I can trade my brother away to a Goblin King, hang out with monsters and have David Bowie fall in love with me? DEAL! Ludo is still one of those characters who just makes my heart swell and smile. And of course there are all those catchy catchy songs, just perfect for dancing around the lounge-room to. I watched the Labyrinth earlier this year - on the night my first solo exhibition opened, celebrating with fizzgood and the yetiboy I was seeing at the time - what a perfect shiny moment that was.

The Muppets are my family. I know this because I love them all and forgive them their imperfections. And because I can't really pick a favourite. Well, if you're going to make me then maybe it's Kermit. I do have a Kermit tattoo on my ... body. But I got it more as a reminder to fling myself into imagination, to wonder at the world, to express my love of stories, to dream and sing and laugh and create. And Jim Henson* was the guy who gave me all this and so much more.

So, I truly do wish that I could marry Jim Henson when I grow up.**

*Yes, yes, I know there is a whole awesome Team Henson. But, just like Kermit - Jim is my favourite.

** This explains so much of why I am still single. Unrealistic expectations much?