It’s 2am and I had to go for a drive. I thought that maybe the drive would help, but as Tamara suggested, I am now taking a stab at writing. The headline of this post reflects the name of a movie that is now 21 years old. This movie came out in 1986 and I watched it again tonite. This time, for the first time on DVD. It had been awhile since I had seen this flick, but I think it is safe to say that even after 20 years, this is still my favorite movie. Let me tell you why.
If you have never seen it, the movie is basically about 4 boys who go on a little adventure together to find a dead body. They are all 12-13 years old, very good friends, and it’s the story of their journey to find the body of another kid their age as he had been reported missing. The real part of the story is about these boys and their connection to each other.
This movie is my favorite movie because in every way I can think of, this movie is very much like The Four Horsemen used to be. I see myself, Ben, Jason, and J.C. in that movie. I think that’s why it’s my favorite. I see so much of myself and my past in those characters that it really bonds to me well. It’s an incredible coming of age story and if you have not seen it, watch it. Don’t expect explosions and sci-fi-ness. Expect a nice story about 4 boys being boys.
The movie left me almost in tears and I couldn’t sleep. I replayed countless memories of my early teenage years and could not help but think about what Gordie said as the final lines in that movie.
“I never had any friends later on, like the ones I had when I was twelve. Jesus, does anyone?”
I felt myself thinking about J.C. a lot. I went out for a drive and I drove by some places that I had not thought of or been near for awhile. 220 Dominion St where J.C. used to live. The Riverview Kinsmen center where us four would go to dances and I would be too chicken to ask any girls to dance. My old school.
I also thought about how that line is very true. I have written on here before about the passage of time and friends and wanting to stay close, blah blah blah, but tonite, after seeing that movie, I came to the realization that all those great memories are just that, memories. I felt myself missing the days of being care free and not having to worry about much. I also thought a great deal about a someone who was a good friend for a long time, and we just drifted. J.C. was definitely a part of that, but for myself, I kept seeing Jason Hyslop on that screen talking to Gordie.
Jason was probably one of my closest friends for a very long time. I can’t count the amount of times we sat up talking about useless shit til all hours of the night. In many ways, at the time, Jason was a brother to me. He was the one I talked to, vented to, and helped me through countless sleepless nights because of a great many things. He was the rock I needed when I needed it. But when him and J.C. moved into Steadman, that sort of changed.
I watched this movie tonite and everytime Gordie talked to Chris, I saw myself talking to Jason and vice versa. It was sort of surreal.
In the movie, after the boys come back to town, they sort of go their separate ways and eventually all become more acquaintances than friends. I saw this as well in my own life. How many times have I said on here about having drifted from people I was so close to? Jason, and J.C. as well, are examples of that. Jason is someone who I speak to on occasion via email, but would have no idea if he was back in town. We don’t have that close bond anymore. Like Gordie says, you don’t have friends like that as you get older.
I’m fortunate in that at least I have kept good ties with the one remaining horsemen in Moncton. Ben. For almost 20 years this guy has been a good friend and indeed I believe he will be until my days are over.
I already feel the fatigue now setting in as I get some of this stuff out of my system.
I think what is really on my mind is that right now, I am able to look back a those times and smile and know that they were good, but I also wish in some way that I would have known then about how important and special those kinds of friendships were. Close ties to friends that you swear will never die and then shortly over time they do and you don’t notice it until it’s too late. J.C. was a prime example of that. Here’s a guy who was a loyal friend to me and I never got the chance to let him know how good of a friend he was. The same goes for Jason. At least with him, he’s still alive. I’m thankful that I can at least say here that although we don’t speak much now, you will never know how much of an impact you had in my life and I am grateful that we were good, close friends during our youth. Thanks Jason. Thanks J.C. Thanks Ben.
I have been finding that I am becoming more and more apparent of things in my life and I guess with seeing that movie tonite, it just brought back a LOT of things that seemed to be long gone. I am glad I can still “feel” from the old days and realize that it was good, but this is now, and now is also very good.
The movie will sit in the DVD case and gather dust I am sure but without a doubt, I will watch it again, and again, and again. And everytime I do, I’ll be reminded of a time when things were simpler, and how I am glad that I was able to experience the things I did, with the people who were around me. I don’t think people do enough of that now. You need to seize the day and realize that when it’s gone, it is done and over with. No going back.
It’s now almost 2:30 and I thought I’d be a bit more tired than I am so I think I will go ahead and write some more for me. Thanks for reading my blurb and feel free to comment on your feelings/thoughts. Thanks
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