Happy Birthday, Charlie Brown

Charlie Brown is 57 years old. He doesn't look it, but he's been around for 57 years. He was created by Charles M. Schulz, and was a 4-year-old in 1950, so he's actually 61. He has attended elementary school for years, going through many of the traumas of elementary, middle and high school students with other students, teachers and parents. The teachers and parents have spoken in voices that don't contain words, voices most of us remember hearing.

Anyone who can't identify with Charlie Brown is living in a world of self-deception. His constant battle with insecurity has yet to result in a victory, but even people with self-confidence that borders on conceit have had their Charlie Brown moments. There is the worrying about baseball games, kites getting caught in trees, little red-haired girls or boys, taking care of a dog, the meaning of life, and whether or not the visits to the shrink are really worth five cents.

Charlie Brown can confide his worries to his friend Linus, who identifies with some of them and offers philosophical responses. Meanwhile, Linus' sister Lucy fools Charlie Brown into trying to kick the football she will pull away at the last moment. Charlie Brown continues to hope, if not believe, that he will get a chance to kick that football.

Linus' unrequited faith in witnessing the appearance of the Great Pumpkin, as well as Charlie Brown's annual bag of rocks instead of candy, make for repeated performances of a disappointing Halloween. Who hasn't anticipated an event eagerly, only to be disappointed?

Always the optimist, Charlie Brown adopts a scrawny little Christmas tree that shows more life than any of the big shiny aluminum Christmas trees. In one of his rare achievements, he gets everyone to work as a team to turn the tree into a grand display of hope, faith and teamwork. The scene where they are all decorating the tree is priceless.

Charles Schulz' round-headed blockhead is a great teacher for small children learning to read. He shows them, and he shows adults reading more meaning into what they read years ago, that there is always hope. He also shows that it is perfectly normal to have doubts.

With the music of Vince Guaraldi, Peanuts films that include It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown and A Charlie Brown Christmas have become holiday traditions. They provide nostalgic glimpses into both festivities and triumphs. They remind people who watch them of how they enjoyed reading Peanuts cartoons and identifying with Charlie Brown, Linus, Snoopy, even Lucy. You're a good man, Charlie Brown. Happy Birthday.