40-40 Club
When I was in first grade, yes I can remember that far back. I’m still 39 for four more days people, sheesh. Anyways…
When I was in first grade, the principal at my school knew that I was a sports nut. So he came up with a series of questions to ask over the course of a week to test my knowledge. Each day he’d give me a question. Each day, I gave him the correct response. Until day five. On Friday he asked this shell shocker: “Jose Canseco is the first player to achieve what historic mark?”
I didn’t have any idea.
Canseco hits home runs that’s all I cared about.
I went home and started to read that day’s newspaper (remember there was no Google in 1988) — no info. Watched the news — no highlights. All throughout the weekend I asked as my brothers, neighbors, people at my church — no insight.
Then on Monday morning as I was getting ready to walk Mrs. Barwick’s class in order to face the shame the principal would surely heap upon me, my Mom (yeah, the woman who birthed me but didn’t watch sports) broke the scoop.
“Tell Mr. King that Jose Canseco is the first player in the MLB history to hit 40 home runs and steal 40 bases in a season.”
Goodbye Fred McGriff!!! My mom was my new hero.
Needless to say, Mr. King was shocked at my ability to retain information.
What I didn’t know then is that I would grow into a full blown Enneagram 5. Those information loving maniacs who hoard knowledge and energy more greedily than Ebenezer Scrooge saves a penny.
What does that have to do with anything? As I get ready to celebrate my 40th birthday this weekend, my form of mid-life crisis is sharing 40 of my favorite things in order to help you get to know me a little better.
Today, it’s my Top Ten Favorite Movies.
1. Monty Python and the Holy Grail — Watched for the first time with my brother Ben. Then with my high school friends Pat and Tommy. Though I don’t get to watch it much with my current friend group, it’s still a go to when I’m left alone for at least an hour and thirty-one minutes.
2. The Secret Life of Walter Mitty — Visually and audibly stunning.
3. The Longest Week — Jason Bateman is one of my favorite actors…ever. I think the wit of the dialogue for the setting in which the movie takes place can’t be beat. (Of course it probably CAN be beat, but I like it.)
4. Stranger than Fiction — Will Ferrell as Harold Crick is Will Ferrell at his finest.
5. Fever Pitch — Even though the Sox beat my Cards for the ’04 World Series, reliving my first fall in Massachusetts in which I got caught up with the culture that is Red Sox nation, brings too much life not to enjoy over and over. Fallon is just incredible in this one too portraying a loyal school teacher doing his best to help the Red Sox reverse the curse.
6. Elf — The only reason this movie isn’t higher, is because it has a limited watching window due to seasonal concerns. However, there are just too many one liners that can be used every day. So I do. But I only watch between November and December. And sometimes March. And July.
7. Kicking & Screaming — Ok, Will Ferrell as an angry coach of a horrible children’s soccer team, while learning to drink coffee with the last name Weston…it’s just too much not remind me of my time as a varsity coach. Even though my soccer team was the good ones while our basketball team, well that was another story. We were truly all “winners.”
8. Nacho Libre — If the tv is on and the children are around, this is likely the show that I pick (besides the We Bare Bears series) to have on if we haven’t made a strategic choice. Can’t not laugh at Jack Black’s portrayal of a priestly luchador.
9. My Blue Heaven — My wife introduced me to this Steve Martin classic early in our marriage. Almost bought some arugula at the Farmer’s Market this weekend in honor of Martin’s role as a mafia member in the witness protection program.
10. Dan in Real Life — Just a feel good movie with enough conflict to make me uncomfortable but all the joys of a New England setting and a Sondre Lerche soundtrack to silence my inner Enneagram 5 fears for ultimate enjoyment.
There’s so many other GREAT movies that didn’t make my Top Ten list. I’m sure that means I have bad taste. Or just forgot because I’m old. Either way, I’m enough of an adult to say “I’m wrong,” while also being secure enough that I can admit Mary Poppins still gives me the heebie jeebies.
