When my otherwise normal toddler, Matthew, said Dan's name before mine, "Mama", I laughed. (Well, sort of, I am the one who nurtured him, not this Dan person?). When he began to squeal Dan's name as he raced to the tv , it was funny and strange, even though the cats were in constant peril of being squished by charging Fred Flinstone feet. When Dan graciously sent a photo for the chickabiddy, I anticipated that my child would grow tired of the entire disconcerting Danfanism. Nope. After my maternal attempts to curb the unyielding exuberance for MSNBC's then Chief Legal Correspondent, the Dan's Under Three Fans web site was created. Over the years, many a fan has written to express their child (or themselves) exhibiting similar joyously unrestrained dedication to Dan. It does lead one to ponder whether or not there is some kind of subliminal message being telepathied from Dan's set to our homes.
At any rate, at last I've chosen a name which should cover the situation for quite a while. Happily, I can report that Dan's originaly under three fan has transitioned from an excitable screaming tv-kissing Dan Fan to a youngster who truly and absolutely believes Dan is his friend who waves to him at the close of each program. (And the boy does believe that those waves are for him personally so, of course, he sometimes waves back). |
