Thursday, April 21, 2011

Revisiting 'P' - Oh, the Cleverness that is Pan

I allowed myself an indulgence yesterday. Indulgence meaning I shirked all reading, writing, blogging, etc., responsibilities and watched one of my all-time favorite movies.

Peter Pan.

Back in 2003, this live action version of J.M. Barrie's tale hit theaters. My reaction to the preview? Comical. Actually, that's a bit of an understatement. I may have crowed out loud in the theater.

Yep. I'm that person and proud of it.

When I was young, single digits young, my mother* recorded Peter Pan from PBS or TNT or some other awesome station. This was the Mary Martin stage version with mascot-costumed Nana and enough wires to teach Spiderman: Bring on the Dark a thing or two about flying. The memory of the day the VCR chewed up that overwatched video cassette and spit it out seared my brain. The tears, the anguish, the sorrow! Because this production, darlings, was a live stage play aired on television. Something not easily recaptured on VHS. What would I do without Peter, Wendy, the Lost Boys, the dreadful and devious Captain Hook? More tears, more anguish, more sorrow! Life as I knew it had ended!

Years later, I cherish my younger self's passion for fairy dust, happy thoughts, and the refusal to grow up. For loving a boy who wanted only to be a child and have fun. Isn't Peter the reason I, as a twenty eight year old accountant, read and write? To revisit the carefree girl I was when I watched that video to death? When germs weren't a worry and responsibility barely existed? When my imagination had no limit?

From this post, you may think 'R' is for rhetorical questions, hehe, and though you may be right, I'm sacrificing 'R' to revisit 'P.' Well, 'P' as in Peter, though 'P' as in Potter was worth it (go here to enter my Deathly Hallows, Part 1 Blu-Ray giveaway). 'P' as in Peeta would've been good, too, but if I have to choose one, and I mean only one to keep and care for my heart, it must be Peter, because he makes me smile, he makes me crow, he makes the Cheetah fly!

What are your happy thoughts? Did you have a story like this when you were younger? One that made you crow? :)

-Marie


*My mom is one of my happiest thoughts!

7 comments:

Alicia Gregoire said...

I had the same Peter Pan taped from TV. I LOVED it!

L. Diane Wolfe said...

We didn't have VCRs when I was in single digits, but I remember watching Born Free every time it was on TV. I also had the Born Free - Living Free soundtrack on record, and that I did just about wear out.

Morph Waffle said...

I've never seen the 2003 version, I'll have to check it out, I love Peter Pan. Those darn VCRs, when I was little we would go to Blockbusters and rent one!

Unknown said...

I love Pan. I've seen the movie, but none of the live versions previous to 2003.

Lori M. Lee said...

Mine was the Little Mermaid. OH HOW I YEARNED TO BE A MERMAID. And marry Eric. *cough*

Carrie said...

There is a Peter Pan statue in the botanic gardens in my town. I may or may not put my hands on my hips and crow every time I visit :)

Alleged Author said...

I yearned to be Super Girl. Tee hee. Now I sometimes wear a cape, but a bed sheet doesn't help in the special powers department.