Did you ever see one of those inflatable crazy dancing guys in front of a store? We drive pass one almost daily, and we’ve named him Crazy Guy. The kids have had a long time obsession with Crazy Guy, going back as far as they can remember. Whenever we pile into the car, the first thing they ask is whether we’ll be driving past him. It’s always a let down when he isn’t out dancing, so I try to rationalize that he’s likely just taking a nap or eating lunch.
When I really want to get a rise out of my daughter, I’ll suggest that he’s at the beach, which absolutely infuriates her. She insists that Crazy Guy is not real. At the same time, she’s fallen hook, line, and sinker for our advent calendar filled with treats by sneaky elves that only work while we’re asleep.
As Crazy guy has aged, we’ve lamented that he’s become tattered by the elements. At one point, the top half of his head tore completely off. It doesn’t matter to the kids, who love him no matter how faded and ripped he becomes.
So, when we drove by the other day and found a brand new Crazy Guy, bright red body glowing and yellow hair ablaze, the kids went bananas! My reaction was more along the lines of horror, as I anticipated the kids crying foul and classifying him as an impostor. However, they didn’t. They just thought he got a makeover.
We pulled over and decided to celebrate by taking a photo, which prompted a Verizon employee to come outside to enjoy some free entertainment.
We introduced ourselves to the nice man and explained how Crazy Guy has attained celebrity status in our home. He admitted that we’re not the only ones that are obsessed with him. In fact, it turns out he’s a big hit with just about any family that visits the store. In other words, their marketing strategy works!
He went on to say that the store employees call him Fly Guy, which was fascinating because we always wondered about his real name. After a little digging around Amazon (no, I didn’t buy this American flag edition for the front yard, yet) I discovered that they are called Sky Dancers.
If you happen upon your own Crazy Guys, be sure to snap a picture or video with the hashtag #skydancing. I’d love to post some of your contributions on my blog. Let’s spread the crazy fun!
Watch our short skydancing videos on YouTube, then go out and make your own!
Mike Evans blogs at the Secret Dad Society, and is a geeky (his words, not mine!) dad of two. You can follow his blog, or ‘Like’ him on his Facebook page…