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Indiana Jones

Let me begin by continuing my thoughts about the Oyster Fest Parade. Perhaps what I got a kick out of most was the band being pulled in a flatbed trailer as they sang "Jolene." Classy and family friendly. I'm not sure what is more unsettling, that they were singing that song or that I recognized it instantly.

So, I don't have the words to describe how excited I am about Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. I kid you not. I watched the preview for it the other day and I felt like I was 11 years old again. It was the same feeling I thought I would get when all the new Star Wars movies came out, but they were largely disappointing. But as soon as I saw Indy's shadow reach down and put on that familiar fedora, I was hooked.

I was 10, about to turn 11 when I saw Raiders of the Lost Ark. When it was over my heart was beating so fast I didn't know what to do with myself. I hardly slept that night because I was so excited (and freaked out - those guys melted, and Beloq's head exploded!). I was astounded at Indy's resilience and tenacity. He was smart, he was courageous, his motives were (largely) pure, and even though he was constantly getting the snot kicked out of him, he was a hero I could get on board with. I wanted to get a bullwhip and learn how to speak Hovitos (I wasn't going to be caught like Indy was). When I turned 13 things went south for me in a big way, and my teenage years were times I have worked hard to leave behind.

I was 18 years old when Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade came out. I had just graduated from high school and was about to head to Brownwood, TX for college. This was supposed to be the last Indiana Jones movie, and everyone knew that going in. There I was, with one foot in the world of a teenager and the other foot about to be placed in the real world of adulthood and "the rest of your life," and for about two hours on a Friday night I could go back to feeling like I was 11 years old again. That was a good feeling -to move beyond the pain, regret, and stupidity of my teen years and reconnect emotionally to a time in my life when I was more hopeful, excited, and believed that an average joe could take on the Nazis and win, by the virtue of what was in his heart. My heart had become corrupt. I wanted it to become pure and child-like again. (And it has...it has just taken time.)

So I'm looking to escape for a little while on a Friday night this summer and go on one more adventure with Indiana Jones. What about you? What movie can you watch that makes you feel like a kid again? I would love to hear about it.

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