Today is the 78th anniversary of Jim Henson’s birth. The occasion struck me both because of his great talent, and the realization that he would be almost precisely my mom’s age had he lived. He died at age 53, younger than I am now, from a bacterial infection. Too soon, by decades. Hope there’s a heaven; it would be cool to think he’s created some Muppet angels just for laughs.

Alas, poor Yorick, he knew him.