April 24, 2014
Okay, so this blog entry is
going to be a little bit of a combination of a Monday Matinee and Thursday
Diary entry. Part of the reason why I
did this is because I cancelled the actual movie discussion that was planned
for this past Monday as I had something that I needed to get off of my chest.
But here's the thing. I still wanted to do a diary entry because
for whatever reason, April has been one of those months in which I have done a
lot of sharing. I don't really quite
understand what the motivation is behind it, but I would wager a guess that
this sharing is setting the stage for a big move. What that big move is, I have absolutely no idea, but I think
it's a bit of a precursor.
So, I decided to come up with the idea to combine a diary entry with a series of like-themed movies so that the movie discussion for this week wouldn't be a total loss.
Again, I'm not sure how this is going to work out because I'm basically flying by the seat of my pants as I type this...but hey, you know me. I LOVE a challenge.
So, I decided to come up with the idea to combine a diary entry with a series of like-themed movies so that the movie discussion for this week wouldn't be a total loss.
Again, I'm not sure how this is going to work out because I'm basically flying by the seat of my pants as I type this...but hey, you know me. I LOVE a challenge.
Okay, so the subject of the
diary/movie discussion is all about class reunions. And if you've been keeping up with the blog over the last few
weeks, you might know that I have a bit of a reunion coming up within the next
couple of months.
Sometime in June, a group of us from my grade school's graduating class (Class
of '95, might I add) will be reuniting with each other for an afternoon of fun,
reminiscing, and good times. And, I'll
readily admit that I did sign up to attend this reunion because I wanted to see
how my elementary school buds were doing.
(Well, that, plus I am more open to attending an elementary school reunion than a high school reunion. For obvious reasons.)
(Well, that, plus I am more open to attending an elementary school reunion than a high school reunion. For obvious reasons.)
But it's funny how time can
sometimes play tricks with your mind because quite recently, I was having
second thoughts about going.
It wasn't because of the fact that there might be people who used to hate me back then and who still might have an axe to grind with me some 19, 20 years later. Chances are, half of them wouldn't even know who I even was, and those who did know probably wouldn't even waste their time looking back on bad memories. Admittedly, I did have a little bit of fear regarding that, but I quickly got over it. After all, they were the ones with the problem...not me.
And, it certainly wasn't the fact that I absolutely hated my time in school that I didn't want to relive it. Certainly there were some moments in which I did hate being at that school (pretty much all of 1987 and most of 1988) remains one of those periods), but for the most part, it wasn't all that bad.
It wasn't because of the fact that there might be people who used to hate me back then and who still might have an axe to grind with me some 19, 20 years later. Chances are, half of them wouldn't even know who I even was, and those who did know probably wouldn't even waste their time looking back on bad memories. Admittedly, I did have a little bit of fear regarding that, but I quickly got over it. After all, they were the ones with the problem...not me.
And, it certainly wasn't the fact that I absolutely hated my time in school that I didn't want to relive it. Certainly there were some moments in which I did hate being at that school (pretty much all of 1987 and most of 1988) remains one of those periods), but for the most part, it wasn't all that bad.
No, the reason behind my sudden
apprehension over the upcoming reunion?
Well, admittedly it has to do with my own insecurities. I mean, I see pictures and read stories from
my former classmates, and how they all have great career opportunities, and
have gotten married and have had children.
While I am very interested in seeing how their lives have changed since
we left eighth grade, it does kind of make me feel a little bit insecure, only
because I really don't feel as though I have any interesting stories to share
myself.
I know...it seems silly. I do charity work, I have kept a blog going
for three years, and have secured a full-time job in times in which full-time
jobs seem to be dying a slow and painful death. I have quite a bit going for me at this time. I only wish I had more to share.
And, it got me thinking...what
kind of an impression would I ultimately leave at this reunion. When I graduated eighth grade, I was the fat
and nerdy kid whose feelings got hurt too easily. And, well...I'm still fat and nerdy - and my feelings sometimes
still get hurt. So, how could I make
the best possible impression on people who I have not seen in almost two
decades?
What if I consult the world of
film? Surely there have been lots of
films that have had to do with class reunions!
Maybe one of them will inspire me, and make me realize that reuniting
with old classmates can feel so good!
No, wait. That was Peaches and Herb. Nevermind.
But seriously...there's lots of
movies that showcase some wonderful class reunions. How about the 1983 film "The Big Chill" in which a
group of college classmates reunite with each other after fifteen years? The movie itself was fantastic with a
wonderful soundtrack of favourites from the late 1960s, and the entire film is
a beautiful example of friends picking up where they last left off...and
certainly, there are some touching moments, as well as some funny moments.
Of course, the only thing about
"The Big Chill" is that the reunion takes place after the funeral of
one of their classmates who actually committed suicide (TRUE FACT: The friend was played by Kevin Costner, but
his scenes were cut from the final version).
And, well, it wouldn't work, because the reunion I'm going to is built
on a happier foundation. So, yeah,
we'll leave that alone. Still, it's a
fantastic movie. Check it out.
Okay...so, maybe "The Big
Chill" is not the way to approach this reunion. What about the 1986 film "Peggy Sue Got Married"? You know, the one with Kathleen Turner going
to her high school reunion, married to Nicolas Cage, and something happened in
which she fainted and woke up in the year she graduated high school and is
forced to relive that year...all...over...
...nah, forget about it. 1995 wasn't the greatest year to relive. The clothes were bad, the music was bad, "Melrose Place" and "Roseanne" jumped the shark. Yeah, who needs to relive 1995?
And, I think it's a safe bet to say that I probably shouldn't go into this
reunion with the "National Lampoon's Class Reunion" film from '82
stuck in my mind. With my luck, I'd
transform into a younger version of Walter Baylor and end up stalking my former
classmates one by one.
DISCLAIMER: I would NEVER wish harm on any of my former classmates. Not even the ones who bullied me. Not even the abusive teacher I had from first grade...well, aside from a paper cut. Paper cuts really hurt.
DISCLAIMER: I would NEVER wish harm on any of my former classmates. Not even the ones who bullied me. Not even the abusive teacher I had from first grade...well, aside from a paper cut. Paper cuts really hurt.
1997's "Grosse Pointe
Blank" is another reunion movie that wouldn't quite fit with the mood that
I wish to showcase at this reunion either.
After all, I'm not a former hitman, and I'm pretty sure that if I had a
therapist, they wouldn't advise me to go to a high school reunion to ease my
murderous rages. Because as I
previously established, I don't have these rages.
Sigh...what's left?
Oh, goody..."Romy and Michele's High School Reunion" from 1997. Wonderful.
A movie that features two women who don't exactly have the greatest
sense of self, and who seem to have about as much brain power as a Christmas
tree bulb. Surely I can't find anything
to relate to in this film...can I?
Hmmm...actually, yes. I can.
Hmmm...actually, yes. I can.
Funny thing is, they got to the reunion and found that while they have changed and matured, the girls in the A-group were still as snotty and catty as ever. And funnily enough, none of them seemed to be all that happy with their lives. I still cheer over Romy and Michele's speech to the most vapid, vicious girl of the group, letting her know exactly what they thought of her. In fact, let's see if I can find that moment.
And, you know...I should try to emulate Romy and Michele. No, I won't put on a shiny short dress (trust me, nobody wants to see THAT). But I will just try to have as much fun as I can at the reunion, and if anyone does come at me, trying to make me feel inferior...well, I really don't give a flying @#$% what they think!
Well, at least I SHOULDN'T anyway.
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