How He Got Famous

This is the story of a meteoric rise to fame in a local Columbia Facebook group. This story is true, only the names have been omitted to respect the privacy of the members of the group. 

It all started on July 6th, on the Buy Nothing (Columbia East) Group.

Gift: blue tutu

No size listed, but banana for reference

Would prefer to have it picked up within the next day or 2.

And then, following in quick succession:

Comments:

I love your banana for size. It makes me laugh.

That banana is going places.

On July 7th:

Comment: 

I’m wondering who that banana’s agent is... I hope he has a lucrative contract for all of his modeling work this week 

July 11th:

Comments: 

That banana is getting rough.

He’s waiting for his day to shine!

And then, yesterday:

Comments: 

He looks so dapper! 

Googly eyes! 

This banana is my favorite thing.

Omg, that banana!! His agent is definitely doing their job!!

Finally, on July 13th:

Gratitude: thank you to everyone who chimed in and commented on my banana antics (banantics?) this past week. It definitely helped to brighten my day. 

However, it was finally time for the banana to move on and realize his full potential today, so this will be his last post.

Comments:  

I've loved your banantics!

I agree, they certainly had appeal! 

He decided to make like a banana and split. 

Omg this banana post keeps getting better and better. Love your sense of humor! 

He was sad though, because he realized he was no longer appealing.

But now I have no idea how big this is!

And yet, it wasn’t exactly the last word in the banana-tastic saga. A little while later came this tribute from another member, complete with a photo montage and a virtual award:

To gift ... I’m veering off the typical post in that i want to gift to a specific person. I know this is not our normal way of doing things, but i felt that a personal gift of a virtual Emmy award for Best Spokesperson is deserved for Mr. Banana and his hardworking talent agent. Mr. Banana, you put Billy Mays and Ron Popeil to shame. Thank you for brightening our days with your many spokes-person appearances. You will be missed as you enjoy a well-deserved sweet retirement.

Comments: 

I love you all! What a great group of people this is!

But most of all, I hold the memory of Dear Mr. Banana close to my heart. 

He was so young looking back on his blue tutu days! I was shocked at his bold move to add the googly eyes in his glass bowl days. He just looks so majestic in retirement. This look suits him well.

I love him!! I’m so happy that you are honoring him as he enters his golden (brown) years

Another one bites the dust. I'm sure he had a sweet and smooth journey. We loafs you Mr. Banana.

Standing ovation!

How could such a beloved character meet such a dark end? 

Thanks for the laughs!

Thanks a bunch!

Another member posted this photo as a tribute, perhaps the very first piece of Mr. Banana swag?

The mission of the Buy Nothing Project:

We offer people a way to give and receive, share, lend, and express gratitude through a worldwide network of hyper-local gift economies in which the true wealth is the web of connections formed between people who are real-life neighbors.

Their website encourages members to “give freely and share creatively.” The unexpected rise to fame of an unassuming banana seems to me to be a prime example of both. Years from now, if someone asks me what helped me hold it all together during the pandemic, I’ll probably tell them about my Buy Nothing Group, and about a small-town superstar named Mr. Banana.