Legacy Writing 365:22

When Lynne and I were just into our teens, her cousin, who I’ll call NC, was shooting an 8 mm movie. I don’t remember all the details, but I believe I was a vampire (see? it started early), and it ended with Lynne’s sister Liz running into the night. Some ten or more years later, NC shot another movie, a sequel to that first one, and this one began with Liz running toward the camera. During the intervening years, she’d lost quite a bit of weight–makes sense if someone’s been running for ten years, right?

I’d gotten a movie camera in college–a Super 8. It didn’t have sound, and movies had to be sent away for developing. After I graduated and moved back to our little town, making movies was a way to have harmless fun on the weekends. It was a more innocent age, when everybody and her/his boyfriend didn’t make sex tapes. I can’t imagine having access to all of today’s technology, when practically every digital camera and phone have video capability. I can only say that what we did create, wholesome though it was, is better left in the vault, including a little gem titled “Friday Afternoon Virus.” Though there were several of us playing muppet characters in a Muppets/Saturday Night Fever mashup, only two of us were breakout stars. Our friend Cathy, who was a great Kermit in a white disco suit, and Lynne, who was a sensational Miss Piggy. That’s why she ended up with the button featured in Button Sunday.

I regret that I’m failing you, because I have no photos of this event. It’s possible Lynne does, but that doesn’t mean she’ll share them. Unless maybe I ORDER HER TO. Because that night is when it became clear that my personality best lends itself to the role of director. When Fozzie Bear accidentally knocked over a glass that shattered on our dance floor, I yelled, “Keep moving! The film is rolling!” And everyone stayed in character.

MY POWER…