Close Encounters of...

...the absent-minded kind.

Sigh.

For the past several months I've been trying to remember the name of a movie.

"The guy takes the mashed potatoes and makes them into a shape? Remember?"  I said to Mr. Jenny.

"I don't remember what movie you're talking about," replied Mr. Jenny.

"You know?  He dumps dirt in his kitchen window and bushes and there's that melody...you know?  That song to the aliens...da da da DUH da!   Remember?"

Mr. Jenny did not recall.

But...

A few days ago not only did Mr. Jenny remember the name of the movie, he recorded it on our DVR.

Close Encounters of the Third Kind.

All day long I waited to watch it.

I made a sumptious repast so we could dine while enjoying this epic movie.   (okay, technically it was brown rice and salad)

We settled in.

The movie started.

"This isn't the movie," I complained.

"Yes, yes it is, just be patient," said Mr. Jenny.

I was patient for at least two minutes.   "No, it's not the movie.   Where are the potatoes?   Where is the da da da duh da music?   I don't remember any of this.  Where is..."

"Ssssshhh," Mr. Jenny interrupted.  "This IS the movie, just be patient."

 

Patient.   Schmacient.

I watched it. 

I pondered.  How can Terri Garr look almost exactly the same now as then?

I giggled over the appliances.

I debated how 35 years could have elapsed since I first saw that movie.

But I didn't remember hardly any of it.

I waited for Richard Dreyfuss to shape mashed potatoes into a mountain!

(blogger won't let me load the u-tube video but it will start if you click on the bowl of potatoes)

 

And he did!

He really did!

I remembered that part perfectly.

Okay, I didn't remember anything else about that movie perfectly...except the potatoes and throwing bushes through the kitchen window.

But still.

But still...I kinda/sorta remembered the movie.

Which goes to prove that I'm not nearly as absent minded as I think I am.

Perhaps I'm not really getting forgetful in my old age.

Perhaps there is hope that I will someday remember to leave the house with my wallet AND my car keys at the same time.

Perhaps someday I, too, will age as gracefully as Terri Garr.

Okay.   That's not gonna happen...but still.

If I can remember some actual scenes from a 35 year old movie...

 

...anything is possible.