The Start of Something Big

On this day in 1950, the very first Peanuts comic strip was published, all because (according to some stories) Charles M. Schulz was told by his kindergarten teacher that he had quite a knack for drawing.

(copyright - United Feature Syndicate, Inc)

What an amazing legacy from that one teacher's encouragement.

I mean... really... there are multiple generations of kids who celebrate Christmas, and Easter, and Halloween, and Thanksgiving around Charlie Brown and Snoopy.

Who doesn't know the theme song when they hear it? (It's called Linus and Lucy, in case you were wondering.) And who doesn't know how to "dance like a Peanuts character" when they hear it?

Who doesn't know exactly what is meant by a "Charlie Brown Christmas Tree"?

And, really, how many of us are happier all because of the drawings of one man?

So here's to the Great Pumpkin and the Easter Beagle; Miss Othmar and the Little Red-haired girl; Woodstock and Spike; Lucy and Linus and Sally and Pigpen and Peppermint Patty and Marcie and Schroeder and Frieda (who I always thought was named Rita) and Shermy; Rerun and Franklin and Violet; the Kite-eating Tree and Lila; and, of course, Snoopy and Charlie Brown.

Thanks, Mr. Schulz - and your kindergarten teacher - wherever you are.