Bruce the Ewok

My mother-in-law lives near Belmont and Halsted in Chicago. This used to be a rough neighborhood 20 or so years ago, but it is much more colorful these days. Imagine my surprise when I saw Bruce the Ewok walking down the street in that area yesterday.

He was wearing a brightly colored sleeveless T-shirt, yellow bicycle shorts, and a fanny pack. Interestingly, all he would say to me was "Zub zub, fella."

He had a companion, who explained to me that while in his teens, Bruce discovered that he was different from the other Ewoks. There were many aspects of Ewok life that Bruce loved, the singing and dancing in particular, but Bruce still felt very different from his furry brothers and sisters. Bruce was expected to become a great hunter like his father and to bear his parents many grandchildren, but this was not to be Bruce's future. This caused his parents and their tribe such stress that Bruce felt it would just be easier if he moved to a place where people were more like him.

Now Bruce lives here, and though he has many friends, he still doesn't feel entirely at place here either. He feels caught between two worlds; not entirely welcome in either.

There is a lesson to be learned here, maybe it's "An individual needs to follow his or her own destiny" or maybe it is "Our differences should always be celebrated." I don't know, but it probably isn't "An Ewok in bicycle shorts looks too darn cute."