A Girl, A Guy, and a New Guy and a Different Girl
When our daughter, Dimples, was about three, she inexplicably started saying, “the guy” at random moments. Sometimes she would point at her dad, sometimes at baseball caps. We could not figure out what she was trying to tell us.
Then we took her back to SeaWorld for the second time. We sat down at the “Viva” show, which had mesmerized her the first time we went. The show was filled with leaping dolphins, graceful beluga whales, and amazing feats of gymnastics and diving. Despite all of that, it stunned me that she didn’t fidget the entire program. She never clapped or smiled, just watched with wide-eyed wonder.
Determined to repeat that experience, we brought her again about 3 weeks later, carefully arriving about 15 minutes before the beginning of the show so we could be sure to have the same seats as the first time. When you find something that works well with a toddler, you don’t mess with perfection.
We sat down, and suddenly Dimples started saying, “The Guy! The Guy! The Guy!” with great excitement.
And then I saw who she meant. Before the show started, a man entertained the crowd with goofy antics in the audience, pretending to try to “fix” a leak, and splashing water everywhere. He wore a cap. And last time, I had pointed him out to Dimples by saying, “See the guy over there? See what the guy is doing? Isn’t the guy funny?”
From then on, whenever we went to SeaWorld, it was required for us to attend the Viva show to see The Guy.
And if there was a substitute Guy? Dimples was not happy.
This week, Dimples and I went back to the show. It’s been 7 years since “The Guy” appeared in her life. Since then, the show has morphed into a new one, “Azul”, but it’s always had pretty much the same theme.
And it still has “The Guy.” And he still fills a baseball cap with water and puts it on the head of a very surprised member of the audience.
“But it’s a different guy,” Dimples noted with disappointment this week. I felt myself preparing for her inevitable announcement of a Day Ruined. But it didn’t come.
Because now we go to the show to see someone else. Now, Dimples is a synchronized swimmer, and her coach is performing in the Viva show. Now, Dimples is on her way to the Nationals, and her mind is on holding her breath, standing during her lift, and pointing her toes. Now, she is noticing technique and stamina, not the silly man who does pratfalls into the water.
Will I sit in that stadium seven more years from now and be watching Dimples performing with the dolphins?
I don’t know. But I will always associate that open-air theater with a little girl watching her idol with bright eyes of adoration.
And my frantic mental telepathic warnings to The Guy that he Better. Not Come. Anywhere Near Me. With that Cap Full of Water.
Dimples and The Guy
Posted on June 21, 2013, in Children, Dimples, Family, Humor, Parenting and tagged entertainment, humor, motherhood, SeaWorld, synchronized swimming, The Guy. Bookmark the permalink. 29 Comments.
whatimeant2say 
Ha! Great story! Time marches on. The Guy had a pretty signature look. It would be difficult to pass off a different Guy as him.
Yep. Even if the substitute had blond hair, she always knew if it wasn’t him – even from far away!
There really is no telling what will be a “best moment” in the life of anyone. But certainly The Guy will be in yours.
I certainly have a feeling we will meet again.
oh my gosh was that dimples a cutie (i’m sure she still is!). great story. if she is starring at sea world – you better tell us so we can go see her show!
I will definitely tell you!
That is a great story. That would be so cool if she swam with dolphins for a living. That’s what I’d want to do.
Maybe we will let her do one of the encounter sessions for her birthday or something to see if she likes it.
It’s funny what a child will remember and try to tell us.
Yes, I think they notice a lot more than we give them credit for.
That brought tears to my eyes! I had never thought before that Azul would be the perfect place for a synchro swimmer to work. Would dimples need to take gymnastics, too? Or do they practice out of water flips and trapeze tricks with synchro?
I think I’m feeling especially sentimental with her in CA this weekend. The synchro performers in the show only do swimming, so she wouldn’t have to do any of the crazy dives or trapeze tricks.
Wow, Dimples is doing incredibly well. You must be very, very proud and very happy as well, that her attention was on something other than the wrong guy
I am proud of her, thanks! She’s a pretty awesome kid.
Aw, that is so sweet!
I am getting way too sentimental in my old age.
What a sweet and fun to read post. Such a cutie little Dimples in the picture with the Guy! Hugs
I wish I could show you what she looks like now!
I bet she is beautiful!!
SSFAM – I gotta tell you, that was a bea-u-tee-ful post. All gooey and lovely. And, I kind of get Dimple’s fascination. My passion was spring board diving as a child/teenager. Greg Louganis was ‘That Guy’ for me. I hear he’s just now found the love of his life and is getting married.
Dimples was just competing at a pool where Greg L. filmed a reality show. Of course, she didn’t see him. But, heck that just proves you and I are SO connected!
Dimples was such a cutie!! Oh my goodness, that smile!
You should see it now!
Beautiful story!
Of course, if dimples gets a job swimming in the show, she may make The Guy do the hat trick on you…
Only YOU would come up with that scenario, Guap!
Sweet story, and Dimples is a cutie. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you!
Cutest story ever!
Great story! How cool that Dimples is doing so well with swimming. Congrats to her! Two Christmases ago my great-nephew, age 2, (whom I rarely see) was sad at a family gathering and I picked him up and he said, “Kid.” I thought he was sad that perhaps the other great-nephew (a kid) had hit him or something so I carried him gently off and pleas for “Kid” continued. Turns out that “kid” was his name for my daughter and he wanted HER to comfort him, not me. I love the way young minds work – “guy” or “kid” – it’s so cute!