Yes, it’s true.
I have an unhealthy interest in Hello Kitty.
(I have this soap in my bathroom. Really)
But this isn’t some fledgling, new-found friendship. Hello Kitty and I go back a long way.
(OK, maybe not THAT long!)
There are strong Hello Kitty connections with Jews…
(Hello Hasidish)
..I’m not sure why but so many Jews are just dippy about Hello Kitty.
(Hello Kitty mezuzah)
Seriously. We just can’t seem to get enough of Hello Kitty!
(Hello Kitty Hanukah menorah)
And Israel! My kids say Hello Kitty is HUGE in Israel… especially Jerusalem!!
When he was in Israel this year, I got my son Exhibit Two to bring me a Hello Kiddush Cup!
(…”asher kittyshanu”…)
I promise you, this cup will be a regular feature on Shabbes and Yontiff tables from here on in.
(The heart reads “b’ahava” ~ ‘with love’)
I only wish I had the presence of mind to have him bring me another one that I could use during Passover as Elijah’s Cup.
(Open the door for ~ Eliyahu HaKitty!)
Oh well, maybe I can talk my daughter Exhibit One who lives in Israel into sending one to me in the mail.
(Hello Kitty Bento lunch)
Hello Kitty has a fun, lovable side. But as with so many things…
(Darth Kitty)
There is a Dark Side…
(Hello Kitty Stormtrooper)
And there are those who have no qualms about exploiting that side of Hello Kitty!
Some can go to extremes and even try to impose Hello Kitty upon others by means of brute force!
(Hello Kitty armoured personnel carrier)
Some have even turned the Hello Kitty motif into themes that are quite disturbing…
…quite disturbing indeed!
(Trick or Treat! It’s Hello Kitty Jason from [and for] Halloween!)
And I suppose it was just a matter of time before Hello Kitty was drafted into the service of preparing for The Upcoming Zombie Apocalypse!
(Clearly not a George A. Romero Hello Kitty zombie)
So, there you have it, folks… my addiction, for better or worse.
Hats off to the Sanrio corporation of Japan (celebrating its 50th anniversary this year) for bringing me so many hours of harmless fun over the years!
どーもありがとう
