A mirthful life? I'm dedicated to making one.
I have a few little side projects, but one is I've been trying to start some happy, good-fortune, eensy-tiny urban legends around my city for well over a decade now.
The one most people in my sphere know about regards the iconic statue outside Bob's Big Boy in the city of Burbank. (My non-U.S. ladies, Laura, Chiara, Kelly, Ulrika, Kirsti -- Bob's Big Boy is a famous old-school diner chain.) Burbank is home to the oldest Bob's, by the by, all neon and Motel Fairwil-like cheer.
The Bob statue's urban legend? Give his little tush a pat -- or touch his nose, if you prefer -- for good luck.
I did so the other night and felt lucky! Aside: Can you feel lucky when you know you're the one who started the luck-making legend?
Answer: Yes.
I have two other very tiny local legends-in-the-making, but I won't reveal them. I just repeatedly do something every time I'm somewhere specific, and make sure other people see.
Have I then seen people repeat what I just did, for luck's sake? Indeed I have.
Here's my thinking: People want more joy and fun and fortune in their lives. Everyone. As a mirthful passing stranger, I don't mind playing a little part in that.
Plus? So many urban legends can be negative. My thinking has always been that we need more sunnier rumors flowing in the world. Positive, everyone-wins high jinks tend to be in very short supply.
Plus? Should we wait on others to start legends? No way. All of us should be the legend-makers. My life brims with wee legends and happy hearsay because I actively pursue those things, to balance out the slogginess that our days can often take on.
Oof. Revealing all of this is NOT going to help Wilfair's rep as a quirky and whimsical world! Ha ha.
So, there it is. Let me say I'm not a prank person at all -- nope -- and I don't celebrate April Fools. I've actually revealed to some strangers what I'm up to, even as I'm doing it, which might defeat my sunny-but-stealthy purpose (they usually laugh, thank goodness).
But I do believe in everyday magic and the aspirational ripples it can create. And I believe we have an obligation to each other, all of us, to make the journey better.
I haven't even gotten to the part about eating at Bob's and how I wrote out all of "Fairwil," the next Wilfair book, on four napkins, for fun. Maybe I was feeling lucky, after touching the statue's little button nose? Definitely in higher spirits, for sure.
I'll post "Fairwil" on four napkins next time, with pictures.
