As You Wish - A Memorial of My Childhood.
As I sit behind the computer in my classroom, awaiting that last bell of Friday afternoon as anxiously as my students are, it is a slight time of reflection. I have gotten several bits of news this week of famous people that died, and I am in mourning, selfishly, for my childhood as I realize that I hold a connection to each of these figures. I have never met them nor shaken their hands, and yet they have all impacted my life in some way. Their essences and auras hold memories for me, which I now contemplate on as the clock ticks ever closer to the time when I get to shed my teacher persona and be a regular human for a couple of days.
Roy Clark
Roy Clark was a gem of a talented man, which I did not realize until I was older. When I was younger, I spent many hours rolling my eyes when my father would speak of Hee Haw, of which Roy was a robust host. At the time, I saw shows like Hee Haw as outdated and musicians like Roy Clark to be outdated. As I grew up, out of my stubborn teenage years and into my stubborn adult years, I realized that talent like Roy Clark's and the people of his time never go out of style. They take you back to a groundbreaking time of cheap laughter and fun, along with relatable sorrow and heartache. A time when one man could play the fiddle, the guitar, and the banjo all in one song ( I posted a video on Facebook of Roy Clark doing just that). A time when it was not about technology or theatrics, but just about talent, making good music, and seeing people smile. Now that I am an adult, I sit with my father on the couch and laugh along when he comes across old episodes of Hee Haw, while it is my mother's turn to roll her eyes. I think I can appreciate the humor more now, and it makes me smile to see my dad laugh so hard, probably flooded with memories of watching it while he was growing up.
Katherine MacGregor
My friend Sam text me that this particular actress had died. I saw nothing about it online or in the news, but for us she was a big part of childhood. Katherine MacGregor played Harriet Oleson on the TV show Little House on the Prairie. When I think of Little House on the Prairie, I think of my Mamaw, who is always close to my heart. My mamaw still watches Little House on the Prairie reruns and other shows like it, because they remind her of simpler times. They are shows that hold meaning and memories for her, which in turn made memories for she and I. I remember reading the books in school, my Mamaw reading them to me, watching the show with her, and even visiting the home of Laura Ingalls Wilder on a roadtrip with my two favorite ladies, my mom and mamaw.
Katherine MacGregor and that show holds memories for so many people. I have talked to many people of my generation that watched Little House on the Prairie growing up with their grandparents or parents. There are ideas of a simpler time, simpler ways, and actual drama and life-changing situations instead of who is getting the newest plastic surgery, or why this over-countoured princess screaming curse words at another over-contoured princess because they bought the same Louis-Vitton luggage that costs more than my car. Don't get me wrong, I love a little television-engineered drama (usually between competing drag queens), but give me the Ingalls, the Ricardos, or the Taylors over the Kardashians any day.
William Goldman
I saved Williams Goldman for last. My favorite movie of all time is the Princess Bride. This is a movie I can recite word-for-word and I never tire of no matter how many times I watch it. I love the story and the writing, and, yet again, this is a book and movie that holds special memories for me. My mom first introduced me to the movie, and I don't remember the specific reason, but probably because I was sick much like the little boy in the movie. From that point on, it became my go-to movie. When I was sick, I watched it. When I was tired of the world, I watched it. When I was sad, I watched it. When I lost faith in humanity, I watched it. When I was younger, I was captivated by the "fencing, fighting, torture, revenge, giants, monsters, chases, escapes, true love, and miracles." When I was older, I appreciated the character development, the witty one-liners and entertaining yet profound writing, and, of course, the action (especially the sword fight scene). And, since this movie became a cult classic, I feel like I am not the only person that feels this way. These reasons are why it has such a big following. I have introduced this movie to others, just as my insightful mother showed it to me. I read the book as well, and it is just as captivating as the movie. It takes you to another world full of sword fights, ROUS's, and unlikely heroes. It takes you to a place of adventure where good still triumphs.
"If you carry your childhood with you, you never become older." -Tom Stoppard
Roy Clark
Roy Clark was a gem of a talented man, which I did not realize until I was older. When I was younger, I spent many hours rolling my eyes when my father would speak of Hee Haw, of which Roy was a robust host. At the time, I saw shows like Hee Haw as outdated and musicians like Roy Clark to be outdated. As I grew up, out of my stubborn teenage years and into my stubborn adult years, I realized that talent like Roy Clark's and the people of his time never go out of style. They take you back to a groundbreaking time of cheap laughter and fun, along with relatable sorrow and heartache. A time when one man could play the fiddle, the guitar, and the banjo all in one song ( I posted a video on Facebook of Roy Clark doing just that). A time when it was not about technology or theatrics, but just about talent, making good music, and seeing people smile. Now that I am an adult, I sit with my father on the couch and laugh along when he comes across old episodes of Hee Haw, while it is my mother's turn to roll her eyes. I think I can appreciate the humor more now, and it makes me smile to see my dad laugh so hard, probably flooded with memories of watching it while he was growing up.
Katherine MacGregor
My friend Sam text me that this particular actress had died. I saw nothing about it online or in the news, but for us she was a big part of childhood. Katherine MacGregor played Harriet Oleson on the TV show Little House on the Prairie. When I think of Little House on the Prairie, I think of my Mamaw, who is always close to my heart. My mamaw still watches Little House on the Prairie reruns and other shows like it, because they remind her of simpler times. They are shows that hold meaning and memories for her, which in turn made memories for she and I. I remember reading the books in school, my Mamaw reading them to me, watching the show with her, and even visiting the home of Laura Ingalls Wilder on a roadtrip with my two favorite ladies, my mom and mamaw.
Katherine MacGregor and that show holds memories for so many people. I have talked to many people of my generation that watched Little House on the Prairie growing up with their grandparents or parents. There are ideas of a simpler time, simpler ways, and actual drama and life-changing situations instead of who is getting the newest plastic surgery, or why this over-countoured princess screaming curse words at another over-contoured princess because they bought the same Louis-Vitton luggage that costs more than my car. Don't get me wrong, I love a little television-engineered drama (usually between competing drag queens), but give me the Ingalls, the Ricardos, or the Taylors over the Kardashians any day.
William Goldman
I saved Williams Goldman for last. My favorite movie of all time is the Princess Bride. This is a movie I can recite word-for-word and I never tire of no matter how many times I watch it. I love the story and the writing, and, yet again, this is a book and movie that holds special memories for me. My mom first introduced me to the movie, and I don't remember the specific reason, but probably because I was sick much like the little boy in the movie. From that point on, it became my go-to movie. When I was sick, I watched it. When I was tired of the world, I watched it. When I was sad, I watched it. When I lost faith in humanity, I watched it. When I was younger, I was captivated by the "fencing, fighting, torture, revenge, giants, monsters, chases, escapes, true love, and miracles." When I was older, I appreciated the character development, the witty one-liners and entertaining yet profound writing, and, of course, the action (especially the sword fight scene). And, since this movie became a cult classic, I feel like I am not the only person that feels this way. These reasons are why it has such a big following. I have introduced this movie to others, just as my insightful mother showed it to me. I read the book as well, and it is just as captivating as the movie. It takes you to another world full of sword fights, ROUS's, and unlikely heroes. It takes you to a place of adventure where good still triumphs.
"If you carry your childhood with you, you never become older." -Tom Stoppard
