Monday, March 5, 2012

Drive-In Delight-Slice 2012: 5 of 31

I spent most of the weekend watching The Godfather Saga on cable.  I must have seen those movies a thousand times.  None the less, whenever I catch it on again, I'm captivated.  I love the story telling and the dialogue.  It's funny how people, including me, quote their favorite lines from the movie.  You have to be a Godfather buff to "get it" when a quote or line from the movie is used.  Some of my favorite lines are, "Going to the mattresses" and "He sleeps with the fishes" and of course, "I'll make him an offer he can't refuse".  That line always comes with a change in voice that's low and scratchy.

As a result of all of my "Godfather" watching, I started thinking about Drive-In movies.  When I was little, about 9 or 10 years old, my parents would take my younger sister and I to a Drive-In movie, on a Saturday evening.  Mom, would pop a container of popcorn.  No microwave stuff either, she popped it on top of the stove, in a large pot.  Oh, how I enjoyed watching those kernels explode, puffing up and leaving the lid slightly ajar.  We would load into the car with our pillows, popcorn, and favorite cans of pop.

I'm a huge movie buff.  I really love a good movie.  My favorite thing to do is read a great book and see it translated on the big screen.  Some of my favorites have been, Water For Elephants, The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo, and of course, The Tale of Despereaux.  I'm anxiously awaiting, The Hunger Games.  After reading all three in the series, I can hardly contain my excitement.

My love for books (and movies) are among the things that give me pleasure.  There is nothing like getting lost in a good book.  I love when I continue to think about the characters, long after finishing the book.  This is how I felt about each book in the Hunger Games series. After I finished the first book, I couldn't wait to get to the bookstore to purchase the next.  I read lots of children's books too.  One of my favorites to read aloud is The Tale of Despereaux.  I love changing my voice to fit the characters, like for Despereaux's mother, Antoinette, who is a French mouse.  I really get into the characters. I secretly want to be an actress when I grow up.  I know when my students are hooked on the books I'm reading aloud because, on library day, there's a mad rush to check-out a extra copies.  I want my students to find pleasure and joy in reading too...to find that one book that "Hooks" them to the point of no return.  That's the moment when you know you are a reader and there is nothing that will separate you from a good book.

I've already shared my favorite quotes from, The Godfather.  Below are some quotes from some famous people you may know:

  • There is more treasure in books than in all the pirate's loot on Treasure Island. -Walt Disney
  • Not all readers are leaders, but all leaders are readers. -Harry S. Truman
  • A book is the most effective weapon against intolerance and ignorance. -Lyndon Baines Johnson
  • The whole world opened up to me when I learned to read. -Mary McLeod Bethune
  • The more you read, the more things you will know.  The more that you learn, the more places you'll go. -Dr. Seuss

4 comments:

  1. Great post, Valerie! Your description of the drive-in preparations take me right back to my own family memories.
    I sure can't wait to see The Hunger Games in the big screen, either!
    Chris

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  2. Valerie,
    Oh, I do love to go to the drive-in. We only have two left in our area. Both are about 30 minutes from our house. Still worth the trip.

    Cathy

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  3. It's been a LONG time since I went to a Drive In ....but OH the memories just saying Drive In brings to mind...Thanks for sharing the slice!

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  4. I also remember Drive In movies with fondness--and REAL popcorn! Yum! And I also love using a french accent for Antoinette! She's my favorite character to read aloud! One of the best compliments I have gotten from my students is when I am gone and they tell me that the sub doesn't know how to do read aloud correctly. It makes Antoinette even more lovable to me!

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