"Barney Has Problems" by Richard F. Yates

Poor Barney... Becoming self aware (especially for a cartoon character) can be TOUGH! Psychologically traumatic. Barney SEEMS to have fur (so he's not naked in the sense that HUMANS would relate to, but as Sam the Eagle once said on an old episode of The Muppets, "Did you know that, underneath their clothing, the entire population of the world is walking around completely NAKED!" It's appalling!

Anyway, foam based eagle puppets aside, maybe what Barney is worried about isn't literal clothing, but the understanding that he is laid out EMOTIONALLY bare for the entire world to view. Perhaps he's just become aware of the invasiveness of modern society, with media companies monitoring every move he makes online, and social media sites asking personal questions that are then shared with everyone who accesses his profiles, or with the fact that nearly every phone has a camera in the modern era (especially in an industrialized country like the one in which Barney lives.)

The Sun and the Clouds don't have to worry about these things! Most people don't even believe that astrological bodies or cumulus formations are sentient (and that's a shame---because they miss out on some great conversations. The MOON, in particular, is a RIOT at parties!)

So let's not forget poor, old Barney, (and the entities like him) whose self consciousness has suddenly caused him such distress. Let's be kind to those folks who we know have issues (as we can clearly see by looking at his self deprecating posts on all of his social media platforms.) Let's do something SPECIAL for Barney today and send him a little love. (Personally, I'm going to give him a digital "Just Because" card with one of my silly drawings on it---maybe a snake wearing sunglasses... I'm not sure yet....)

And remember to say hi to the Sun the next time you see him (or her... I'm not sure how the Sun identifies...) Just because s/he's floating in space doesn't mean s/he doesn't desire a little recognition and affection!

Later, skaters!!!

---Richard F. Yates