I distinctly remember seeing the movie E.T. for the first time at the movies. I remember being wrecked when he and Elliot were dying and E.T. got all white and icky looking. I remember thinking Gertie would be a cool kid sister (little did I know she was high as a kite!) It is the first movie I can remember seeing where there wasn't a dad in it. I loved the trick-or-treating, and the frog scene at school and I am always a fan of a movie that wraps up neat and tidy! But what I remember the most about E.T. is that he scared the crap out of me for years to come!
Yeah, I know he was friendly and sweet, blah blah blah - but seeing him for the first time screaming back at Elliott from the corn field pretty much did me in. My brother Brian had a sketch of E.T. that he hung on the outside of the door to his bedroom. Our bedrooms were across from each other and depending on how my room was arranged me sleeping on my side in bed would have a perfect view of his E.T. pic. I HAD to sleep with my bi-fold closet doors closed and the door open (and actually I still have to have closet doors closed when I sleep but I think that may have just become part of my mania about tidiness). I think Brian might have had a t-shirt too and for some reason I remember this E.T. stuffed animal that was made out smooth plastic to look like his skin...FREAKY! Needless to say E.T. was a defining moment in my childhood for a myriad of reasons.
So flash-forward 25 years and here is Jack, Chris and I at Universal Studios. We had finished our morning in Harry Potter's Wizarding World and were now over in the other park. I should probably step back a bit and let you know that the our morning began with this incredible virtual reality Harry Potter ride where you snake your way through the castle and then are strapped in to a seat and whisked off to play Quiddich and fly with Harry Potter...and a few demeantors and some giant spiders are tossed in for good measure. Jack really likes Harry Potter - except for Dobby the house elf - he will run from the room anytime we are watching the movie with Dobby in it and won't return until the scene is over. Maybe I should have seen that as a sign for what comes next?!? Anyway, the ride is insane. I loved it! Chris and Jack hated it! It tossed and spun us around and gave the illusion of going really fast. I love that stuff - they do not! Something about being out of control I think. Anyway, we don't really go on any other rides during the morning. Jack is frankly a little freaked out by the whole thing but totally keeping his cool and politely turning down any opportunity to ride any of the rides.
So we grab lunch and head over to the other side of the park. When Jack and I were looking up the attractions prior to our trip Jack was stoked about 2 things - Harry Potter World and the E.T. ride. So we get to the park and the lines aren't very bad, but most of the rides are inside buildings and you get to see a little movie to set up the ride, etc. Well we head into the E.T. ride and you get the little cards you see in the picture and tell them your name. Now I had been on this ride years ago and if I remember correctly you sit on what sort of looks like a bike with E.T. in the basket. It isn't virtual reality but a not very scary indoor roller coaster and at the end, E.T. thanks you by name for helping him save the day (hence the card w/ your name programmed on it) Anyway, we get our cards and take the hallway into what looks like a forest and Jack stops in his tracks. We had prepped him that this ride was different than Harry Potter and he was buying it up until that point. But once we got into the darkish area with the forest he was done. So we had to escape out an emergency exit. On the plus side we got to keep the cards that you usually have to turn in at the end of the ride. On the not so plus side, I fear I may have ruined Jack for life when it comes to roller coasters and E.T.
Since we have been back in Michigan, we have had several movie nights and once or twice I offered up watching E.T. Jack puts on his brave face, doesn't freak out and scream no and run from the room, but looks me in the eye and says, "maybe next year, Mom. E.T. still sort of freaks me out." Me too J-man...me too!