Taking a Break

 

      Ineed to take a break from everything going on in my life. So, after today’spost, you probably won’t hear from me until after the first of Octobersometime. Yesterday’s news was the distraction I needed right now, so it’squestion and answer time.

Whatwas the first PG-rated movie I saw at the theatre? “The Sting” in1973. My sister Pat wanted to see it for her 14th birthday, and I naturallywanted to tag along. So, Dad took both of us coz I was too young, and at thattime, people seemed to care who was going to PG movies. I love that movie! It’sone of those stories where the first time you see it will always be the best.Just like “The Sixth Sense.”

Whatwas the movie that changed my life? “The Electric Horseman” from 1979. I hadjust gotten back to Madison to sign up for spring classes at the UW. My otherthree roommates went to see “The Big Chill”, but I’d already seen it, so Istayed at the house. Flipping through channels on cable, I came across “TheElectric Horseman”. I really kinda hated it. Just like “The Horse Whisperer”, Ifelt like no one was really looking out for the horse’s future.  

Butwhy did it change my life? Sonny Steele felt compelled to set Rising Star free,and by the end of the movie, I was compelled to drop out of college. I was onlytwo semesters away from graduating, but I had no idea what I was doing. Maybe Ithought if I left school, I would be free to run wild on the Western plains.Right this second, this thought just hit me – eight months later, I moved toColorado on a whim, not running wild, but still out West and still doing my ownthing.

Whatis one of my top five all-time favorite movies? “Butch Cassidyand the Sundance Kid” from 1969. That should need no explanation; it just isone of the best movies ever, up near “The Princess Bride” and “Goonies”.

Whatis my favorite movie set in Africa? “Out of Africa,” of course. And onceagain, there is no need for an explanation. Even though I hate watching romancemovies, with Meryl Streep describing Kenya in her remarkable accent and the scenesof the African plains from the plane, I could watch this movie over and overagain.  

Andit should require no explanation what all these movies have in common. Runfree, Sundance Kid.

(I took the picture above when I was in Kenya in 2019. It was taken at the Karen Blixen house with the Ngong hills in the background.)