What Would Totoro Do?

Have you seen me?

Umami has always liked Hayao Miyazaki's "Tonari No Totoro" (My Neighbor Totoro).  It's a film about two girls and their interactions with woodland creatures? spirits? that look like bears of some sort.  Umami says "interactions" because there isn't really any action or adventures in the film, just an acceptance and respect of the others existence.

Umami likes this little Totoro ornament, with its Totoro-grin and pink cocktail umbrella.  It's not very big, and some of the details are wrong (only three chest chevrons??), but it's cute and obviously made with care.  Perhaps the maker intended it for gift, say, maybe for his or her niece or nephew?

It was hanging waaay above the ground at Honolulu City Lights Courtyard of Trees, above the Department of Corporation Counsel tree, above even Patrick and the Golden Snitch.

In flight

So someone must have really, really, really wanted to steal it, because it's gone now.  It must have taken a ladder (unlikely) or someone sitting or standing on someone's shoulders to get at it.  It's sad to think that a Totoro fan would have taken it; is that what Totoro would do?  That person apparently missed the point about acceptance and respect.  Or maybe just doesn't like lawyers.

Maybe the question is better addressed to the Ornament-Maker.  What would Totoro do?  Raging against the injustice of it all won't bring it back . . . it's gone.    Perhaps the best anyone can do is to hope that whoever has it needs it terribly and that is was worth all of that.

Regardless, if this is the worst thing that happens this year, it will be a pretty damn good one.  Umami wishes everyone peace (and acceptance and respect) for 2011.  And maybe we'll see another Totoro next year . . .