Stretch Armstrong

In the late 1970s, the Hasbro toy company released a new toy known as Stretch Armstrong. Stretch was a bendable (yes, stretchy) action figure filled with purple gel. You could pull Stretch's arms for what felt like as far as you wanted and he never broke. The only time I recall Stretch being "harmed" was when we might have poked him with scissors -- on purpose. (My brother and I had to know what was inside of him causing him to stretch so far and so well.)

The last few weeks of "school" have felt a little like what I imagine being Stretch Armstrong would feel like. Educators, including administrators, are being pulled in so many directions at once and it's making it hard for us to find our original shape. This new way of operating has us trying to extend ourselves to figure out what direction needs us most. Flip your leg over your head, through your arm, and around your neck? Sure! Now use your other leg to touch your ear. Got it!

The toy Stretch Armstrong likely came with directions for the youngsters to reference. For us, those of us living real life stretch scenarios, there is no guide. We are making the best decisions we can with the most reliable information we have.

Likely akin to those in similar situations, I have good days and bad days. This closure has taught me that these feelings come in waves. There can be high periods of productivity and hope but that can quickly become clouded by brief episodes of the unknown. Those are the times we have to pull through. Pull as if your brother has one end of Stretch and you have the other.

Except this time, you want to win (by yanking Stretch so far he flies out of your brother's hand.).

Here's to being able to find our own shape again, once this has all passed. Even if it's a new shape, it will be our own.

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