– Time For A Tiara: Column by Ginna Young – - Just my luck, I grew up to be Horshack

– Time For A Tiara: Column by Ginna Young –

Did anyone ever watch Welcome Back, Kotter? I grew up with that classic comedy sitcom and loved all its characters. Known as the Sweathogs, the group of students the sitcom revolved around, were actually misfits, but I thought they were cool.

Especially Vinnie Barbarino (John Travolta), he was the coolest, albeit kind of dumb. It was OK though, because he was so good-looking, with perfect hair and suave air about him, and the best insult ever. Up your nose, with a rubber hose!

Then, there was the wise-cracking Washington, who brought the humor to any situation. He always made it seem like things would just go his way, but they never really did.

Of course, the group wouldn’t have been complete without Epstein, the street-wise, notso- tough-but-acted-like-it tough guy. All those ethnicities and backgrounds lent variety to the group, making it an enjoyable watch each week.

And, of course, there was Horshack. Remember him? Not too bright, but well-meaning. Twitchy and sensitive, his trademark was raising his hand high, bouncing in his seat and loudly proclaiming, “Ooo-ooo!”

When I was growing up, I thought he was quite annoying and kind of dismissed him. He was tolerated as part of the group, but that was about it.

Well, recently, I have discovered I am the Horshack of our group. It began when I was running errands after that big snowstorm the day before, and heard a sound. I looked around suspiciously, then heard it again.

I looked up quickly and flying directly over me, in the brilliant blue sky, were two swans. “Ooo-ooo,” I yelled, as I pointed at them. I heard that same sound, looked to the right and two more swans flew over me. Again, what came out, was “Ooo-ooo!”

After the swans had flown out of sight, I sheepishly realized I sounded exactly like Horshack. Maybe it was a one-time thing.

The next day, my co-worker and I headed to a work convention in Madison, and I was telling her about the swans episode, how I would try not to repeat my actions. I made it all the way to Madison, then she pointed out the airport, “where the big planes” land.

“Ooo-ooo,” I pointed excitedly. Well, that would be just one incident, right? Yeah, I saw a gorgeous big house, with architecture that I could picture a vampire living in. “Ooo-ooo.”

A few more turns and we were almost at the hotel, when all at once, there was the Capitol building looming directly in front of us. You can guess what happened next. “Ooo-ooo!”

Shoot, I just kept having Horshack moments. Maybe they’d get better inside the hotel. Nope.

All through the one-day conference, I’d see something that amazed me or I liked, and out it would come. “Ooo-ooo!”

After we left the hotel the next day, I promised Joy that I was done with my Horshack impressions and would show more decorum from now on. I kept that promise, even driving around the Capitol, only stating, wow, at every breath. I was very proud of myself.

That is, until a few blocks had gone by and I saw one of the big planes flying over us. “Oooooo!”

It was at that exact moment, that I realized I’m not just having Horshack moments, I’ve full on turned into the Horshack of our group. Despite that, so far, people still seem to want to spend time with me.

I guess somebody has to provide the comedic relief. Do you know who that somebody is?

“Ooo-ooo!”