Despite all of this, somehow my kids had never seen it before. Dermot had expressed some interest, but we just never got around to it. So tonight, when we had an unclaimed block of time for a change, we decided to fill it with The Princess Bride. It was the best decision of the year. At every kissing scene, Kieran echoed the Fred Savage character: "Oh gross! They're kissing!" and other exclamations of mock horror. Meanwhile, Dermot began quoting the movie as it continued, in the manner of 10-year-olds everywhere. The best part is that it matched the famously quotable lines:
- "Anybody want a peanut?"
- "You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means."
- "Hello. My name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father; prepare to die."
- "Mawidge, the bwessed awangement..."
- "You'd make a wonderful Dread Pirate Roberts."
I noticed as the movie progressed that whenever I looked over at him and he was laughing and loving the movie, I got a little choked up. Let me be clear: I am extremely proud of my kids. Kieran is a funny little spark plug. I can't wait for Little League because he gets so into it. Dermot is a budding scientist and writer. (I'm envisioning the next Malcolm Gladwell.) In fact, tomorrow Dermot will be competing in the Coconino County Spelling Bee as the two-time reigning Knoles Elementary Spelling Bee champion. Yet, somehow, I felt myself getting a lump in my throat over my kids' joy at a movie.
Maybe it's silly, but I can't help it. Tonight, watching that movie with them, I was as happy as I've ever been as a parent. I will apologize for being sappy, goofy, distractible, myopic, and overweight, but I won't apologize for what happened tonight. For me, that's the good stuff.
Thanks for reading. I'll try to do better next time.
