Tuesday, April 10, 2012

University of Maryland

The middle child is looking at colleges.  Last week, we visited the University of Maryland.

Maryland is known for many things- an awesome school of business, high academic standards, and their basketball and football teams, as well as the home-made ice cream served in the lower level of the Student Union.  (The Creamery)

Many famous alumni have graduated from Maryland: Connie Chung, Larry David, Robert Basham, Sergey Brin, and Carl Bernstein.  Perhaps the best known of all the graduates is Jim Henson: the creator of The Muppets.

On campus, just outside of the student union is a statue of Jim Henson and Kermit.  They are sitting together on a bench, facing each other.

While on the tour of Maryland, I heard a couple of stories about Jim Henson that I'd never heard before.  The character of Animal was based on one of Henson's Fraternity brothers.  Miss Piggy's character was based on one of Henson's former girlfriends.  Even better--the dorm where the girl lived has been immortalized and now contains her profile in the lobby. 

I wonder how often that woman has cringed over the years as we have watched the popularity of Miss Piggy, and her continuing infatuation with Kermie over the years.

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