Shana and Friend

Hats Off to You Strangers

by Shana Ogren Lourey

My parents told me during childhood about a local "boy with no butt." It was their description of a baby boy in the neighborhood who was unfortunately born without an anus. His name was Elvis. I always had a very illustrated image in my head of Elvis, the boy without a butt. I imagined him very tall and very wide, but just lacking any break in his structure. I believe I imagined his legs stuck together also. I have never forgotten his story, yet I have never met him.

A man named Derek Amato hit his head severely while playing football. The brain injury that it brought him also gave him a sudden ability to expertly play the piano. My friend, Meleia, has no sense of smell whatsoever. And Nicholas, my husband, was born with three fingers on one hand and two on the other.

Are you strange? What is it about you that makes you different?

I am tall, loud, and Jewish. My mom is bi-sexual. Those are some of the things about me that seem to stand out to others. What makes you strange is based on who is judging and interpreting you, and where. What makes us strange to some can make us normal to others.

What is your story? Were you born remarkable or did you become extraordinary over time?

Theodor Seuss Geisel, better known as the popular and award winning writer, "Dr. Seuss," wrote and illustrated forty-four children’s books. The books, such as The Cat in the Hat, most often featured weird and wonderful animal-like characters.

An eccentric character himself, Dr. Seuss apparently collected hundreds of over-the-top looking hats throughout his life. He wore them to inspire his writing, and also to parties where he would sometimes have all the guests sport a hat of their own. I love to imagine attending one of these gatherings! I would hope I could find a peculiar hat to call my own.

"You're the strangest person I ever met she said, and I said, you too, and we decided we'd know each other a long time." Brian Andreas