Launch

• February 2, 2015
• Website

 

You know,  I don’t know why I remember the things I do.  My wife doesn’t understand why I forget the things I forget.  Memory is a weird thing.  This is why when I go to the grocery store I’m the guy with a post-it note on his wrist like a quarter back calling plays,  but instead of yelling  “Blue 42”  in the big game with screaming fans,  I’m mumbling  “don’t forget cilantro”  to myself while someone’s child whines about wanting Fruit Loops.

Believe me kid,  I feel your pain.  You think it’s bad now?  Just wait until the top of your fridge is lined with nothing but Chex.  Wheat Chex.  Corn Chex.  Rice Chex.  Honey Wheat Glazed Now Even Wheat-ier Chex.  Oh if there’s a farm inspired flavor, Chex has you covered.

And you think that’s where it ends?  Not a chance. 

Open the pantry and wha-bam:  more Chex.  This time in snack-mix form.  They couldn’t stop at cereal,  oh no.  Traditional,  Cheddar,  Bold Party Mix,  Peanut Lovers,  Sweet & Salty,  Hot & Spicy,  60% less fat,  oh here have some more fat,  Chocolate covered dipped in powdered sugar…whatever you want whenever you want it-Chex.  They’re not going to be happy until you’re eating it all day everyday.  Until our faces swell to the size of a giant checkerboard.

I’ve had nightmares where I’m sinking in an above ground pool full of party mix while my neighbor sings American Trilogy into his grill tongs.

Why so why does our household have so many Chex,  kid?  Because there’s a coupon that’s why.

Do whatever you can to get those Fruit Loops.  Promise to clean your room.  Dig those baby Crocs into the floor and unleash a Tony worthy tantrum.   Because soon…nothin’ but assorted grains far as the eye can see.

Where was I?  Oh yeah,  memory.

So there are things from this very day that will never cross my mind again,  yet scenes from 30-years ago extremely vivid.  Some memories we cherish,  others we long to forget.  Why is the song Pump Up the Jam still stuck in my head?  Hard to explain really.  I remember with perfect clarity my dad playfully tossing me in the air when I was an infant,  yet the other day I start freaking out ’cause I can’t feel my keys in my pocket…while I was driving.

Sealed in my memory is this film I watched in 1st grade called The Red Balloon,  Le Ballon Rouge to be exact.  I didn’t know what a director was at the time,  but Albert Lamorisse won an Oscar for his little masterpiece about a Parisian boy traipsing brick boulevards with his new best friend.  Perhaps you also watched it in your school gym on a rainy day in lieu of recess.

 

 

I was captivated by this thing.  I attended a French Immersion school in Milwaukee, WI for 1st and part of 2nd grade ( which is a whole other blog post…was happy to see the school still exists  )  so La Ballon Rouge picture book was popular in my literary circle.  To see the book come to life was part of my fascination.  There was something enthralling about the contrast of that beautiful bright-red balloon against the venerable streets of the Menilmontant neighborhood of Paris.  (Yes I looked it up on Wikipedia)

I knew a few things for certain after watching the film:

• I want a giant red balloon and I want one now.
• I’m chucking my Jansport backpack for a mini-leather brief I’ll carry everywhere.
• From now on I’m wearing grey sweatpants all day everyday.  To school and to church with a suit coat.
• I’m going to run through city streets and jump on trolleys.
• If I see a bunch of dudes in shorts holding rocks run the other way.
• I’m traveling to Paris,  and all over the world for that matter,  with my balloon and briefcase.

Not much has changed except the unfortunate reality that bringing a balloon through airport security is just not possible in this travel climate.  How sad is that?!

It’s interesting watching it again several years later.  If you have a spare 34:30 sometime and you’d like to partake:

 

 

Friendship,  hope,  innocence,  how society treats what it doesn’t understand,  the tragedy of bullying and oppressive authorities,  never losing childlike wonder,  wanting to be part of a greater solution,  am I helping and healing when someone is down or do I let fear paralyze me?…these are things I ponder now when watching….that,  and how to get away with wearing sweatpants to work.

Launching this website gives me similar marvel as my 7-year-old self had watching the film.  I left the gym that rainy Milwaukee morning with a sense that there’s more out there.  That there are new worlds to be discovered,  new people to meet,  places to see,  things to do,  pastries to eat at Paris bakeries.  I want to write.  I want to share.  I want to engage with others who are writing and sharing and learning tough but important lessons from this crazy life.

I’m excited to have a place to post comedy videos and songs and thoughts about faith,  life,  culture,  and cereal coupons.

Thanks for joining me.  Where’s it all going?  Who knows.  All I can say is what I used to say to band members before taking the stage:

“Let’s Rock this Badshow!”

 

Makes about as much sense now as it did then.

 

(Public domain pics courtesy of pixgood.com. Video courtesy of Rahul Ravi)

• Comedy
• Film
• Fruit Loops
• Music
• Sweatpants
• The Red Balloon