hhmx.de

Kim Scheinberg

Föderation EN Fr 23.12.2022 18:40:07

The holidays can be a really tough time. The advice I often heard was, "Volunteer at a soup kitchen. Help others. Get out of your head." It's perfectly fine advice, but unhelpful if the mere thought of interacting with people is overwhelming. Anyway, here's a thing I did one year that did help:

I bought a Cookie Monster costume, went to the airport, and waited at arrivals with a sign that said "COOKIE"

Didn't have to talk to anyone and boy did I get to watch people's faces light up.

5 people, 4 men in suits and one dressed as Cookie Monster, standing in an airport terminal holding up signs with passenger names on them.
Cookie Monster's sign simply says COOKIE

(Medien: 1)

Leigh Honeywell

Föderation EN Fr 23.12.2022 18:44:09

@kims this has such chaotic energy, I love it

Arclight

Föderation EN Fr 23.12.2022 18:48:28

@kims More of this please. Not necessarily from you - you've clearly paid your dues propping up our collective psyche - but as inspiration to others. To be that Airport Cookie Monster that we all need and deserve.

Bruce Mirken

Föderation EN Fr 23.12.2022 18:51:23

@kims But did anyone give you a cookie?

Kim Scheinberg

Föderation EN Fr 23.12.2022 19:09:26

@BruceMirken
Funny you should ask. One girl, age 9 or 10, handed me the last of her 6-cookie pack of Oreos (the kind you get at an airport newsstand) while her mom watched from 15 ft away.

It gets *really* hot in that costume really quickly, but that small gesture (and the 2 cookies!) kept me there an hour longer than I otherwise would have been.

Bruce Mirken

Föderation EN Fr 23.12.2022 19:10:25

@kims I love it!

Ransum

Föderation EN Fr 23.12.2022 21:48:30

@kims @BruceMirken That is so dang awesome !

JulieEmery

Föderation EN Fr 23.12.2022 18:51:27

@kims I love that!

Juicy Cake Of Figs

Föderation EN Fr 23.12.2022 19:18:01

@kims Did you meet anyone NAMED Cookie? 😁

Jess Zimbabwe

Föderation EN Fr 23.12.2022 19:18:09

@kims I love the story, but why the weird photoshop? I would have just believed the story…

Kim Scheinberg

Föderation EN Fr 23.12.2022 19:30:59

@Jzimbabwe
A pic is worth a thousand words, and I still have the costume so why not? Just digging it out of the closet for the photo holding the COOKIE sign made me think about going out to the airport this weekend...

Jess Zimbabwe

Föderation EN Sa 24.12.2022 14:31:05

@kims ha! So you got _into_ the costume and then photoshopped yourself? That’s commitment. Thanks.

Eunger

Föderation EN Fr 23.12.2022 19:33:27

@kims this is an amazing idea…

Paul Will Gamble :mastodon: πŸ‡¨πŸ‡¦

Föderation EN Fr 23.12.2022 19:52:29

@kims Not all heros wear capes

Dennis1212

Föderation EN Fr 23.12.2022 20:52:07

@kims Your post and my follow got you to 1k. Love your idea. Cookie!

Patty Bluebird 🦩

Föderation EN Fr 23.12.2022 20:59:25

@kims Ever since my stroke I've become more introverted. I can't handle crowds. The other day I walked into the AA meeting and there were maybe 15 people and I almost walked out. I sat by one of my 'safe people' and managed to survive the hour.

Peter Drake HAS MOVED

Föderation EN Fr 23.12.2022 21:01:13

@kims There are also logistical behind-the-scenes volunteer jobs where you can help the neediest without being on the front lines.

vincente

Föderation EN Fr 23.12.2022 21:08:46

@kims Did anyone give you a cookie?

LostInPompeii

Föderation EN Fr 23.12.2022 21:21:32

@kims What a great idea.

Marc Reichelt πŸ‡ΊπŸ‡¦

Föderation EN Fr 23.12.2022 21:26:41

@kims ohhh, what a lovely idea! Hilarious! πŸ˜„

@fascinatorfun@mastodon.green

Föderation EN Fr 23.12.2022 21:39:20

@kims

Yes! More people and noise is enough to send me into reverse gear.

But I do like making a cake and bringing slices around to my neighbours.

Your airport Cookie trip made me laugh.

And happy to see a fellow fan. Hence my handle here and on twitter.

Maria Jordan

Föderation EN Fr 23.12.2022 21:46:04

@kims This is really great! It made me laugh. I might find some costumes and wear them around for fun.

Richard Martin-Nielsen

Föderation EN Fr 23.12.2022 21:50:28

@kims @chad I once came through the doors at airport and there was someone standing there with a sign saying

GODOT

I laughed quietly and applauded them discreetly.

I don’t know how long they waited. And they were alone.

It's Just Jenn 🏳️‍⚧️

Föderation EN Sa 24.12.2022 00:38:29

@rmartinnielsen @kims @chad maybe they were waiting for Gal Gadot and just spelled her name wrong? πŸ˜‚

Dahlia lithwick

Föderation EN Fr 23.12.2022 21:54:24

@kims Love love love this. Thank you. Face lit up

The Velvet Hammer

Föderation EN Fr 23.12.2022 21:57:02

@Dahlialith @kims would be great to organize groups to do this in every city. I can dream. πŸ’•

The Velvet Hammer

Föderation EN Fr 23.12.2022 22:04:38

@Dahlialith @kims @kims, ooh now to organize..hopefully.

Kim Scheinberg

Föderation EN Fr 23.12.2022 22:04:52

@Dahlialith @vmatinnia
My kid asked if seeing so many people appreciate this story was as enjoyable as actually doing it. I told him I couldn't remember anymore (it was years ago) but there was one way to find out.

Good thing the costume still fits β€” guess what we're doing tomorrow? I promise to report back with a real pic, or maybe even video.

And y'all are amazing. Thank you.

The Velvet Hammer

Föderation EN Fr 23.12.2022 22:08:59

@kims @Dahlialith that’s fantastic! Way to mom awesomely!

Dahlia lithwick

Föderation EN Fr 23.12.2022 22:59:39

@kims @vmatinnia My 17 year old was so delighted when I showed him this. So paid it forward here too?

Kim Scheinberg

Föderation EN So 25.12.2022 03:41:59

@Dahlialith @vmatinnia
We went out to Harry Reid today. It was eerily empty. We eventually found some int'l passengers arriving but only a trickle, and Uber means no one is waiting inside with a sign anymore. (Maybe a Christmas Eve Saturday when thousands of flights were cancelled wasn't the best planning.)

It was still fun (just putting on the costume is fun!) and we'll do it again, but maybe on a Friday or Sunday next time. I hope I'll eventually get to see your photos.

four pics of a person in a Cookie Monster costume holding a sign that says cookie in a long airport hallways that has very few people in it. In the top left photo, CM stands alone holding his sign. In the bottom left photo, you see CM from the back with a sign overhead indicating he's at International arrivals. There is an unmanned Information desk. In the top right photo, a man with a wheeled suitcase is pointing at CM, and in the bottom right photo, CM is posing with three young girls in purple outfits while their mother looks on smiling from a few feet away.

(Medien: 1)

The Velvet Hammer

Föderation EN So 25.12.2022 15:25:28

@kims @Dahlialith Kim, I think you’ve begun something immense.

Randy Noseworthy 😼 :debian:

Föderation EN So 30.04.2023 13:29:20

@kims @Dahlialith @vmatinnia

Thanks. - The world could use more people like you.

The Velvet Hammer

Föderation EN Sa 24.12.2022 03:40:20

@LindaVT @Dahlialith @kims Im trying to figure out a way to do it this Xmas, what does everyone think- we post pix of it when we can?

Callalily

Föderation EN Fr 23.12.2022 22:30:17

@kims
That's so cool.

LadyL

Föderation EN Fr 23.12.2022 22:34:39

@kims I am smiling too.

Alex is catching up on sleep

Föderation EN Fr 23.12.2022 22:49:38

@kims i tried to volunteer at a soup kitchen and was told the slots are so popular that they give them preferentially to their regular volunteers, but I was welcome to come along for a free Christmas dinner. I thought oh no, I couldn’t, that’s for people who really need it. In retrospect I now think, if you’re lonely enough on Christmas Day to seek volunteering opportunities, then you are ABSOLUTELY one of the people they’re making that meal for. ⬅️Just in case that helps anyone else.

Bro

Föderation EN Fr 23.12.2022 23:02:18

@kims there's something hilarious about this person just straight up making up a weird story and propping it up with a shitty Photoshop.

Alexandra

Föderation EN Sa 24.12.2022 00:15:23

@kims That's amazing!

Nuki's Old Account

Föderation EN Sa 24.12.2022 00:29:54

@kims This is living your best life.

Gigawatt121

Föderation EN Sa 24.12.2022 00:48:30

@kims well that's just delightful

Hunter Gough 🍦🌹

Föderation EN Sa 24.12.2022 00:50:52

@kims one Christmas in the 90s my whole family went all the way to the gate to greet my uncle's family's flight, all dressed as shepherds and holding a sign that said "Jesus".

kcǃ

Föderation EN Sa 24.12.2022 01:05:42

@kims that’s brilliant! What a fun idea!!! πŸͺ

Carol Bean

Föderation EN Sa 24.12.2022 01:31:08

@kims @thatandromeda

omg that is so awesome

TP

Föderation EN Sa 24.12.2022 01:38:00

@kims let your cookie freak flag fly

Rabbi Nathan Farb

Föderation EN Sa 24.12.2022 01:57:45

@kims
I know this is a photoshop joke, but I really love this Idea! you should actually try it one day!