The other night, when I got home from work, Adventures in Babysitting was playing on one of our movie channels. That movie is a classic for me. I’ve seen it too many times to count.

When I went to Chicago for the first time a few years back, I spotted the building that the little girl slides down in the movie, as Elisabeth Shue is attempting to babysit she and her brother, along with her brother’s best friend, who’s just along for the adventure that night. It’s a crazy ride from start to finish.

It got me thinking about all the adventures my ma and I have had over the years, 41 years to be exact, since this week is her birthday. We haven’t slid down any buildings but there’s still plenty of time to make that happen.

She’s always been a good sport with all my crazy ideas. The older I get the crazier the Cruise Director itinerary gets and she always comes along with a smile.

Early on, she was the Cruise Director and introduced me to all the things that I continue to love today: movies, tv shows, music, celebrities, travel, shopping, Disney, to name a few.

On trips back and forth from Southern California to Bishop, we listened to my Star Wars book with R2-D2 telling me to turn the page. It was always a long trip so we listened to it many, many times and spoke fluent droid. We had epic camp outs on our pullout couch, watching movies like Dirty Dancing and Pretty Woman, when my pop was out of town working. We listened to the soundtrack tapes for the movies until my mom’s truck nearly ate them.

We went to the theater to see movies as much as possible, first when I was little, at a cool theater in San Bernardino, before we moved to Bishop. They played all the Disney classics. We’d sometimes go to the big theater at the mall to see movies like Star Wars and The Goonies. When we got a VCR, that was a game changer. We spent a lot of time at the video store and I would rent the same movies over and over, similar to how I would check out library books.

Once we moved to Bishop, we went to a little twin theater that *sometimes* had the movie on opening weekend, if we were lucky. It literally only played two movies each week and still does to this day. We also spent a lot of time at the video store, the big one and then we’d peruse the small selection at the convenience store near our house. Weekends that weren’t spent seeing a movie at the theater consisted of take-out pizza and a video, one that was for us, a comedy, drama or romance and one that was usually for my pop, a “shoot-em-up” as he called them. More times than not, he’d actually watch both with us.

We traveled some during school breaks and holidays. My pop worked too much so my mom and I went on many trips just the two of us or with other family and friends. Lots of shopping trips to Reno or to Southern California to see family. I’ll never forget when we saw Jurassic Park at a huge stadium-style theater by my aunt’s house in Fullerton. Dolby surround sound was very new and it literally felt like the dinos were in the room with us. It was awesome and ironically that was about 26 years ago this week, since the movie just had its anniversary. Or, the time we were in Sacramento when I was in the state History Day competition during junior high and we went to see Basic Instinct. We didn’t *really* know what we were in for with the movie and to this day we still look at ice picks in a completely different way…and Sharon Stone too.

Theme parks have always been on our agenda too. From Disneyland and Knotts to Magic Mountain and Universal Studios, we’ve made the rounds and even to Florida for Disneyworld. So much fun and so many memories.

There have been lots of concerts over the years too, along with Broadway shows. My ma loved Kenny G so we took a trip to Reno to see him perform for her birthday that year. I remember we laughed at all the crazy women swooning over him, especially when he came out into the crowd and stood up on a chair, playing his instrument. You would have thought he was as popular as the Beatles, based on the crowd’s reaction. It was hilarious. I know they were all just hoping for one of those curly locks to fall at their feet for their scrapbooks.

Many other events too like the Kentucky Derby, a bucket list birthday trip for my ma’s 70th birthday, a ton of Cirque Du Soleil shows here in Arizona and other locations and trips to Vegas to see the awesome magic of David Copperfield and Barbara Mandrell, my first real concert as a kid.

We drove to Arizona in my first car, a Mitsubishi Mirage, that had terrible AC, to tour ASU, in July. It would shake at stoplights and blow hot air most of the time. It was one of the hottest summers on record in the Phoenix area and my ma kept asking me if I was really sure I wanted to go to college in Arizona. We mapped out all the malls in town, walking around in the cool air for as long as we could, found whatever shade we could park under and we sat at Majerle’s in Downtown Phoenix for what felt like hours, and likely was, drinking as much iced tea as the waitress could pour. She ended up sitting with us, since the restaurant was dead, since it was the Suns’ off season. It was just a place we knew well, having come to town to see the Suns play a few times. (By the way, I got my car serviced and the AC worked *ok* after that. I only had to drive it a couple more years until I got my bad-ass Mustang from my pop and ma that had zero AC issues.)

We’ve even stalked celebrities, like Charlie Sheen. Our adventure list goes on and on and will continue since the Cruise Director never stops. Thank you, Ma, for not only always being my biggest fan, and now Syd’s too, but for always humoring me over the years with my crazy shenanigans. You’ve always showed me how to live and love. In the words of one of our favorite movie characters, Clairee Belcher, from one of our all-time favorite movies,”You know I love you more than my luggage.” Happy Birthday! XOXO

On May 16, 1986 Top Gun opened at theaters. I was 8. I remember seeing it on VHS when it finally was available and I think I about wore out the tape. I know for sure I nearly ruined the soundtrack cassette. It is hands-down one of my top 10 favorite movies, to date. I had to make that Facebook official recently when I was tagged in one of those pseudo-chain mail thingies. I usually never give in when I get tagged but because this one was all about the movies I love, I couldn’t resist.

Aside from watching the movie one million times over the past 33 years, I also can sing every word to every song on the soundtrack, again, bordering on ruining the tape. Current movie soundtracks just aren’t like they were in the 80s, or at least it feels like that. Again, it could be that I’m just marinating in nostalgia so forgive me if that’s the case. Sometimes you get one or maybe two catchy songs that are overplayed on the radio. But, those classic movies are jam-packed with anthems that you know for life, that when they come on the radio, you risk blowing out your speakers because you turn it up to 11 and drive like your hair’s on fire. When Kenny Loggins comes on, everyone around me on the freeway better look out.

In 8th grade, my obsession for Top Gun was blossoming, just like me. We had a mother/daughter luncheon and fashion show. We had one or two cool stores to shop at in my little home town. It was either that or K-Mart but either way, everyone looked like everyone else because there was only so many options. I lived for shopping trips to Reno, NV where I knew I would find things that *maybe* no one else would show up in at school. The interwebs did not exist so that was my ticket to coolness.

We all got our two outfits for the fashion show at Beno’s. We also got to choose the music for the runway. I honestly don’t remember one of the songs that I chose and walked to in a rare appearance of me in a dress. But, I do remember the other song. It was “Playing with the Boys” by Kenny Loggins from the Top Gun soundtrack. It plays during one of the most iconic scenes of the movies – the volleyball scene. One could argue that the whole movie is iconic scene after iconic scene but this is seriously number one or two. I played the song for my hubby recently and he didn’t even remember it. I nearly divorced him on the spot. Now, to his credit, it’s no “Danger Zone” but c’mon, the VOLLEYBALL SCENE! How could he not remember?! I’ve since gotten over this betrayal.

Now, I was a huge volleyball fan and a decent player. I actually was co-MVP with my other best friend that year. I played on a hard court with six on a team, but tried beach volleyball, only to realize how fucking hard it was to move around in the sand. Growing up in the high desert and mountains, we didn’t have a lot of sand. My best friend and I, on many summer break occasions to the beach, thought we could just roll right into it and kick-ass like we did on the court. Yeah, right. It was in the words of Charles Barkley, TUURRIBLE. We spent most of our time just admiring the hot guys and cheering them on, which was a-ok too but we always had Maverick and Goose aspirations.

My volleyball fashion show outfit, complete with an actual volleyball in-hand, was a hooded flower top with white jean shorts and white high tops. I played basketball too so just about every shoe in my closet at the time was a Nike, along with some Vans. I also wore shades, a must. And yes, the pictures you see here are from my yearbook – our little school had limited events so they needed to fill those pages. When you reached the 8th and final year, you got a lot more real estate in the book, too. My best friend rocked a volleyball too but you only get to see me in that dress…and bangs that were their own zip code.

Say what you will about ol’ Tom Cruise but he makes great movies and timeless classics that are hard to top. I know he’s a hot mess when it comes to his personal life and all the crazy Scientology crapola but man, he can entertain. I also think whatever deal he made with the Scientology Devil err Head Alien, what’s his name…David Miscavige, has worked out to make him not really age. It’s clearly worth every terrible, guilt-ridden penny. He’ll be 57 on July 3 and still looks amazeballs.  Crazy looks good on him, just sayin’.

When news broke that they were finally making a sequel to Top Gun, that day was like Christmas for me. Now, they’ve pushed back the release date some and that was like cancelling Christmas or at least postponing it a wee bit but it’s still on the calendar for June 26, 2020. I will be there with my aviators and dog tags on, maybe even a fly boy jump suit. One can never know for sure. By 2020 I clearly will be even more nostalgic and even more crazy than I am now. I mean, that’s really only a year away. Let me write that again, A YEAR AWAY. Fuck me – time is just cruisin’ (get it?!;)) faster than Maverick in his F-15! I’ll be ready to buzz the tower a couple of times over, just like Maverick. In the meantime, I’ll keep showing up to Alamo Drafthouse for their movie parties and next time, I will *try* to refrain from reciting the whole movie and singing all the songs like an asshole. Maybe one less beer next time too…nah.

Sixteen years ago today my pop passed away. He was only 58 years old. Cancer is a real motherfucker. His love for both cigarettes and vodka likely didn’t help but we all have vices. You have to enjoy life and if vices help with that, bring it.

There’s not a day that goes by that I don’t think about him. I have two great reminders I wear daily – his pinkie ring and wedding ring.

My mom gifted me his pinkie ring when he passed away. He bought it with his earnings from the Air Force when he was in Vietnam. He came home from the war and he asked my grandpa what he should do with all that he saved. He said to put it in diamonds. So the pinkie ring is really choice. Always loved it and it fits perfectly on my ring finger. My mom then surprised me for my 40th birthday with his wedding ring. She added my birthstone, my hubby’s and daughter’s too. My mom always outdoes herself with gifting but this was by far the most special gift I’ve ever received.

When I opened up the package, I cried at the center island in our kitchen. I knew right away what it was. My daughter was there with me and she ran in to tell my husband that I was balling in the kitchen. She’s not at the point in her life to be sentimental with her emotions. Someday *maybe* she’ll soften.

Aside from my rings, I hear or see things that remind me of my pop all the time. Whether it’s a clever joke that would be a pop-ism or my own curse words that he gifted me, he’s always with me. “Fuck” was for sure my first word, whether my mom will admit it or not. My pop held nothing back and used curse words for commas, just like me. My mom attempted to make me a lady but quickly realized I was just going to talk like a sailor. I grew up on a construction crew so it was inevitable.

My pop and mom both got me hooked on my pop culture obsession at an early age. Because of my pop, I learned to appreciate all the action stars of the eighties including Chuck Norris and Charles Bronson, along with legends like John Wayne and Clint Eastwood.

He ran his own construction company where he built awesome custom homes. When I was about 5 or 6, we started watching the afternoon re-runs of Dallas. We coined it our “Daily Dose of Dallas” and when he would get home from the job site, we’d watch it together and see what the latest drama J.R. Ewing and Sue Ellen were cookin’ up.

We also watched a ton of other shows together like Magnum P.I., Simon and Simon, The A-Team, and Miami Vice, just to name a few.

Lots of sitcoms were on our TV watch list too like Cheers. We’d laugh together at all the Norm and Cliff-isms. Our favorite was “It’s a dog eat dog world and I’m wearing milk bone underwear.” Now, I hear Norm recite that from time to time on 80s on 8 on Sirius and I just smile, remembering my pop.

From time to time I’d convince him to go to see a movie in the theater. He preferred watching at home but I remember two movies specifically that I got him to see with me. We were huge Bruce Willis fans so when the third Die Hard hit the theater, he went with me. Then, because he loved to golf and thought Kevin Costner could do no wrong, we saw Tin Cup.

Sometimes he’d surprise me with watching a movie that you wouldn’t think a tough S.O.B. like him would care about. Movies like Pretty In Pink, The Cutting Edge, and The Bodyguard were among some of his favorites. He’d watch them on repeat with me, most likely because he knew how much I liked them. I’ve done the same for my daughter. It’s just what parents do, especially if you get to spend some time together.

It’s hard to believe that he’s been gone for close to two decades. So much has happened that I wish he could have experienced but I know he’s watching from the big golf course in the sky, while he sips on his vodka on the rocks at the 19th hole bar.  Cheers to you, Pop. Thanks for all the memories and being my O.G. pop culture partner-in-crime.