My Life as a Furry Red Monster
What Being Elmo Has Taught Me About Life, Love and Laughing Out Loud
By Kevin Clash
With Gary Brozek
Reviewed by Angela Hutchinson
Spirit-Works.net
Kevin Clash is the special man who sits behind, or under, the much adored Elmo and brings him to life. This is the story of Clash’s journey through childhood, adolescence and adulthood and how the character of Elmo has brought central life lessons center stage in the only way Elmo can…with love. It has been an amazing path for the author growing up in Turner Station, Maryland and he shares with the reader his own personal experiences in a home Clash describes as “structured mayhem” due to the many children and family members who visited each day providing the author with an early sense of community; his very own Sesame Street.
My Life as a Furry Red Monster takes us from the early days of Kevin’s puppet making and neighborhood performances to his success on Sesame Street and the creation of Elmo, the adorable and joyful youth who has brought love and friendship to many children, big and small. This is a story that is multifaceted that demonstrates persistence, passion, and having a dream, as well as offering it’s reader the core lessons in life that make a life one well lived. Elmo lives in the moment and shows us his appreciation for life through his joy of learning. “Elmo connects with children and adults on the purest and most fundamental level, and that is the human desire to love and be loved.” He is simple, honest, and provides the love that only a furry red monster can provide a child who needs a little magic in his or her life. Clash found when he “unleashed his own joy” into the world, that joy found its way to others bringing them the joy he embodied. It was a perfect circle of passion and living from the heart.
In America’s favorite neighborhood, Elmo experiences his own creativity when problem solving, dreaming, or simply playing. Clash states, “…the first key to my performance as Elmo was, of course, emulating the children I saw at home. And one of the things that I’ve always loved about children is their vivid, unrestrained, and far-reaching imagination-the depth and breadth of their creativity.” His own passion for puppetry was supported by vigilant parents who understood the importance of supporting their son’s creativity and joy of creation.
Elmo’s very essence is one of tolerance realizing how important it is to have respect for each other in a wonderfully diverse world. Elmo is a welcoming monster who doesn’t make judgments or exclude other monsters for any reason. Sesame Street has always promoted beauty of differences which is quite obvious from the rainbow of monsters living there. Clash writes of his great respect for Muppets creator Jim Henson and felt Jim’s deep sincerity when he would sing “It’s Not Easy Being Green”. He was a master of his craft and an incredibly brilliant human being.
Courage is a small word for such a big feat in life. Clash learned “that you can’t be afraid to fail, because you never know true success unless you have a flop or two (or six)” The author’s courage is palpable as he follows his bliss from Maryland to New York and finds his own way to success on his own terms and in it’s own time.
This author/puppeteer shares some of Elmo’s most memorable storylines as well as his inception and it is quite obvious he was born to bring joy to children and he is living with great purpose. He values his friendships and continues to learn from even the smallest among us. My Life as a Furry Red Monster is an optimistic view of life and contains many reasons why we love Elmo. Now we are able to share in the creator’s genius and path to his dreams. When we are the highest versions of ourselves…we are all furry red monsters.