I have a new hero and his name is Bob Eckstein. Why? Well, let me back up a bit.
I'm coming out of the closet. I have been a friend of Frosty since I was a little kid. In fact, I used to carry an inflatible Frosty the Snowman around like other kids toted Teddy Bears. Why a snowman? I don't know. Something in that song spoke to me; it's magic, this friend who didn't judge. Frosty saved my childhood. And so, I started collecting snowmen early on. Oh, it was a secret pastime. No, I wasn't ashamed of it, but I didn't think there were others out there like me, people who had a deep, abiding love for snowmen. It wasn't cool (so to speak). It just wasn't discussed in polite company. Sure, the Pillsbury doughboy was a socially acceptable surrogate, but just not the real thing.
But Bob Eckstein has literally written the book on snowmen. The History of the Snowman, to be exact. A keen book on the subject that I am itching to get into my hot little hand (hope I don't melt it). But in the meantime, he has the best ever blog on the subject with cool pictures and nifty info, a place others like me can feel safe and secure. Go there. Go now!
And also buy his book!
Do you suppose there are medieval snowmen? I would like to know.
I have to say one more thing. I loved that Little Golden Book of Frosty the Snowman, the one with the song lyrics to the 1950 Gene Autry hit, with it's Dick and Jane illustrations. That was a sacred text to me growing up. When Rankin Bass made that ghastly cartoon of it, I was beside myself with ire. Someone needs to make a new one, something watchable that snowman lovers like me would be proud to watch. Something far more venerable than that excreble cartoon. (Can you tell I dislike it?) Get back to me on that.
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