NEO MAXI ZOOM DWEEBIE

Que Anthony Michael Hall...
Brian Johnson:
Saturday, March 24, 1984. Shermer High School, Shermer, Illinois 60062.

Dear Mr. Vernon,
We accept the fact that we had to sacrifice a whole Saturday in detention for whatever it was that we did wrong. What we did WAS wrong. But we think you're crazy to make us write this essay telling you who we think we are. What do you care? You see us as you want to see us... in the simplest terms and the most convenient definitions. You see us as a brain, an athlete, a basket case, a princess and a criminal. Correct?
That's the way we saw each other at seven o'clock this morning. We were brainwashed.

I have always been a big fan of the movie, The Breakfast Club. I loved the idea of these kids coming together and their lives changing because of the impact that they had on each other.

Andrew Clark: You don't have any goals.
John Bender: Oh but I do.
Andrew Clark: Yeah?
John Bender: I wanna be just like you. I figure all I need, is a lobotomy and some tights.
Brian Johnson: You wear tights?
Andrew Clark: No, I don't wear tights. I wear the required uniform.
Brian Johnson: Tights.
Andrew Clark: Shut up.

So why am I blogging about this movie today of all days? This really is plain and simple...

John Bender: Well, Brian, this is a very nutritious lunch. All the food groups are represented. Did your mom marry Mr. Rogers?
Brian Johnson: Uh, no. Mr. Johnson.

Today I took my son to his first and hopefully his last Saturday School. As I dropped him off outside the school, I wondered which character he was. Who he was most like. Is he John Bender, Allison Reynolds, Claire Standish, Andrew Carp or Brian Johnson? I would like to think of him more as Emilio Estavez' character, 'The Athlete' as oppose to Judd Nelson's, 'The Criminal'. Then again, Anthony Michael Hall's 'The Brain' would be nice. I know he isn't 'A Basket Case' like Ally Sheedy. And he definetly is not 'A Princess' like Molly Ringwald. It might seem weird to you that I think about that, but I loved, I LOVED this movie!

Allison Reynolds: Your middle name is Ralph, as in puke, your birth date's March 12th, you're 5'9 and a half, you weigh 130 pounds and your social security number is 049380913.
Andrew Clark: Wow. Are you psychic?
Allison Reynolds: No.
Brian Johnson: Well, would you mind telling me how you know all this about me?
Allison Reynolds: I stole your wallet.

I sat there and looked at the other kids who were dropped off and wondered who these kids were and what they had done to join my son at school on this fall morning. I know you are wondering what my son did to be at school on a Saturday morning at 8:10. No, he did not tape anyone's buns together, he did not pack a pistol, and luckily there was no weed involved. He was more like Claire today...He cut class. Not to go shopping like Molly Ringwald's character, but because he didn't want to go to science class.

Richard Vernon: Well, well. Here we are. You have exactly eight hours and fifty-four minutes to think about why you're here. You may not talk, you will not move from these seats. Any questions?
John Bender: Yeah. Does Barry Manilow know that you raid his wardrobe?

This was a tough one for me. I felt complete disappointment in my son. I was sad that he had listened to two other kids who said, "Don't go to class and hang out with us." I was frustrated that he didn't have the courage to say, "NO!" and I wonder what will be the next thing that he gives in to peer pressure for. That is hard to swallow. I now know how my parents felt, those times that I am sure that I disappointed them. I wished that they could have been here, for me to call and apoligize too. Instead, I am sure, that they were looking down on me and saying, "We know how you feel."

John Bender: My impression of life at Big Bri's house, "Son?" "Yeah, Dad?" "How was your day, son?" "Great, Dad. How's yours?" "Super. Say, how would like to go fishing this weekend?" "Great, Dad. But I got homework to do." "That's okay, son. You can do it on the boat." "Gee." "Hon, isn't our son swell?" "Yes, dear. Isn't life swell?"
[kiss]

Now this makes me think even bigger...How many times my Heavenly Father has looked down on me and felt the same thing that I felt that day: Disappointment and frustration in choices I have made and might still make.

Brian Johnson:
Dear Mr. Vernon,
We accept the fact that we had to sacrifice a whole Saturday in detention for whatever it was we did wrong, but we think you're crazy to make us write an essay telling you who we think we are. You see us as you want to see us... In the simplest terms and the most convenient definitions. But what we found out is that each one of us is a brain...
Andrew Clark: ...an athlete...
Allison Reynolds: ...a basket case...
Claire Standish: ...a princess...
John Bender: ...and a criminal...

Does that answer your question?...

Sincerely yours, the Breakfast Club.