stevie + petey
Millers and I went on a random thrift shopping experience last week... as we often do. For over 10 years now I've had a wrinkled plastic bag full of old 8mm film that my wonderful grandpa handed down to me just before he past away. When I was the little annoying brat that I was, my grandpa would always sit me down, and 'enlighten' me with his wisdom of out dated technology. We'd put together huge elaborate towns with model trains, he'd educate me on the brilliance of storing cigarettes in the freezer, and how the phillips' screwdriver got it's name. I've always thought that all that crap he taught me was lame and pointless... as any kid would think.
As Mily and I walked through this "Bargain World" looking for designer furniture and cheesy Christmas sweaters, I came across an old 8mm projector and nearly shit my pants. I've been keeping my eye out for one of these suckers for a long time. So, we got it, brought it home, and hooked it up. It took about 2 full hours trying to figure it out, then fixing it, then realizing the thing is a piece of crap, then riggin the fucker to actually project something. Finally it sorta was working. We loaded up the film "Peter -1983".
My family had just moved to the states from Germany, and this was the first time my grandfather met his only grandson, me. So, there I am in a dorky ass red polo shirt standing next to my one and only American friend, the kid who lived across the street, Stevie. I realized through all this footage how frickin cool it was of my grandpa to do this crap. Photos, Albums, School report cards, and all those old things aren't just things we keep in a wrinkled plastic bag... it's our life, our story.
Stevie and I later went to Elementary School together, worked at the local swimming pool's snack bar together, smoked our first cigarette together, graduated High School together, and we shared a few beers together just last month. It's amazing how a small piece of transparent plastic shown through light can make you remember and appreciate your family, friends, and life.