Movie Magic

In 1977 my dad took me and my sister to see a little science-fiction movie that changed my life, even if I didn't know it at the time.  I didn't know it after I saw that movie's sequel.  Or even the third movie in the trilogy.  I don't think it was until I had my own growing children that I realized the magic I experienced in my youth:

1977:  Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope
1980:  Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back
1981:  Raiders of the Lost Ark
1982:  Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan
1982:  E.T. the Extraterrestrial
1983:  Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi
1985:  Back to the Future

In less than 10 years I saw some of most classic sci-fi movies ever made.  It really was a magical time for young movie-goers, if for no other reason than we had no idea what kind of ride we were in for.  Certainly for the Star Wars sequels we had some expectations, but you have to remember how completely unremarkable movie trailers were back then.  Plus we rarely even went to the movies so opportunities to see trailers were limited.  Star Wars, Raiders, Wrath of Khan and Back to the Future were very, very pleasant surprises.

So as my kids have neared the age at which my own cinematic adventure began I am trying to replicate, to some extent, my childhood..  When my daughter turned 7 she was allowed to see Star Wars for the first time.  At age 8, she saw The Empire Strikes Back.  She's only allowed to see these movies one other time between birthdays.

You see, kids nowadays consume their kiddie movies like so much cotton candy.  Any movie we get from Netflix gets watched no less than 3 times before being sent back.  I'm glad they enjoy movies, but part of the magic of movies for me is seeing the movie seldom enough that upon seeing it again it's like getting reacquainted with an old friend.  I've tried to recreate some of that movie magic for my kids.

Tomorrow is my son's 7th birthday and tonight his adventure begins.

When Did It All Change?

Perhaps I was away when it happened.  Or caught up in a good football game.  Or on the can.

At some point in time Americans became whiners.  Case in point: a Dr Pepper commercial, wherein young, college-aged people bemoan the difficulties of paying for and getting through college.  Yeah, I know.  You want to know how I know?  Because that's what I did:

• I didn't know how I was going to pay for college (but I went anyway and found ways to make it happen)
• I had to work 5 or more days per week (I didn't have scholarships or grants - but I knew how to make a pizza)
• I did NOT attend college for altruistic reasons.  I wanted to make great wadges of cash.

So it's discouraging to see these young people looking weepily into the camera saying they don't know how to pay for college and have to work.  It's also discouraging to hear them talk about how much they want to help their fellow man.

Let me explain that last bit.  I may have wanted college for free and I am earning decent-sized wadges of cash.  But by having to work hard for my degree and income I learned a great deal about myself and what matters in life.  What really matters is that I help those closest to me.  The absolute best reason to attend college, even when it's difficult, was so I could be a good husband and father.  What better way to contribute to your community than to have a strong family?

So when did we become a nation of whiners?  Is this the result of so many years of participation trophies?  The second something isn't just handed to a young person they stare back in disbelief and ask, "you mean I have to work for this?"  When I was young, hard work was expected for anyone who wanted to achieve something, be it serving the community or supporting a family.