After watching Stand By Me this weekend, and also after having briefly mentioned it last post, I've kind of got it on the brain. I was twelve or so when it was released in theaters and it's one of the few movies where I remember my experience in the theater, rather than just recalling the movie. It was at The Cinema, and I had a cat in my lap the whole time.

Being the suave kid I was at that age, I used to up my coolness status (if only in my head) waiting for the opportunity to repeat some of the good one-liners from the film. In school, I tried unsuccessfully to get anyone to say "shut up" to me , just so I could say so wittingly back "I don't shut up, I grow up. And when I look at you, I throw up!"
Alas, not being known for sharp wit let alone for even talking much, the typical reaction I got was "huh? did you say something?"

Or when someone would say "See you later" I would so cleverly answer "Not if I see you first." I was so smooth. Only nobody knew it because I never got the chance to repeat my zingers and I was usually left stuttering witty comebacks like "uuhhh, yeah? So what??" before I kicked them in the shins.

Also on my list of good one-liners were (and still are) great quotes from Charlie Brown specials. You know the ones with the Dolly Madison ads? I still say "I got a rock" when we go trick-or-treating with the kids and they announce what they got. And "Cold hard cash! What a beautiful beautiful sound!" (says Lucy shaking her money tin at her Psychiatry 5 cents stand) I love it when Sally shouts "YOU OWE ME RESTITUTION!" after being denied going for tricks or treats.

But one of my favorites is "Chaaaarrrge!!" followed by "Never jump into a pile of leaves with a wet sucker." This one my kids have caught onto and now they repeat it (and re-enact it) every time they have a lollipop. Unfortunately, they might be doing more than simply enjoying the pop culture of my generation. Shannon bears a strong resemblance to Lucy, especially when she refers to Daniel as her "stupid blockhead of a brother" Funny enough, she will be a witch this year for Halloween too.

"A person should always choose a costume which is in direct contrast with her own personality."