Reeling

by

My life is defined 
by film...
From the magical worlds 
of childhood--
Willy Wonka,
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang,
Darby O' Gill--
to Hong Kong film
and Reservoir Dogs...

First drive into the city 
was to see Star Wars--
before it had a number--
with two friends long since
gone ahead...

First date in High School
was to see The Exorcist--
and laugh our heads off...

The films that called me 
dozens of times--
Rocky Horror,
Ladyhawke;
The Crow

The worlds I wanted to live in--
the girls I wanted to be--
Sweet Home Alabama,
Safety Not Guaranteed,
The Princess Bride

Worlds where love was
more than real.
It was magic.

Rocky calling my name
the first time I'd heard it
onscreen.

Romeo and Juliet--
reciting the lines along with the cast,
and crying for Mercutio.

Fifty First Dates,
Ten Things I Hate About You,
Four Rooms--
larning to count from film.

Movies magical and maddening.
Life more and less glamourous
than real.

Mad about musicals--
Carousel,
Grease,
Moulin Rouge,
Les Mis...

Crazy for comedies--
Ferris Bueller's Day Off
Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure
Big Trouble in Little China...

Television favorites twenty-feet tall--
The Addams Family
Dark Shadows
Star Trek

Disney to Distopia,
Tarantino to Tremors...

Eclectic memories of 
movies that shaped
my world...