Fast Times.
I was sitting across the table at dinner with Sandler the other evening and I was flooded with flashbacks from Fast Times at Ridgemont High. For those of us old enough to remember the movie, images of Spicoli typically come to mind—his unforgettable face and hair accompanied by the priceless quotes. Lines delivered in such a way that cannot be mistaken for any other character from any other movie. However, I could not quite put my finger on what the connection was between Sandler and a movie that had come out in 1982 (other than the fact that they carry skateboards around).
After I studied Spicoli’s mannerisms, facial expressions and messy locks; it dawned on me. Sandler not only looks just like Spicoli, but he also has a similar aloofness and cool-innocence about himself that emulates his unique style. Once I saw the similarities, I could not stop paralleling the two. I felt as though I had gone back in time and was experiencing the live version Jeff Spicoli. Who would have thought?
Sometimes I wonder how my life would look if I had approached events from my past like Sandler. However, it is a lot more fun to experience the present through his eyes. He is the kind of kid you want to live vicariously through. Yet, he wants more than that for you. In fact, he wants you to join him and feel all that is good in the world with him. He has a way of selling you on believing you too can enjoy life the way he does and not take a minute of it for granted.
As I have referenced many times in past blogs, I clock countless hours at the skatepark watching “Spicoli” (I mean Sandler) ride, converse, and interact with fellow skateboarders. Only now—several months later—I too am skating, learning the vernacular, and sporting Thrasher attire (as if it is a “normal” style for a middle-aged mother to wear around town). I even learned the nick names of the locals. I am also beginning to feel more comfortable navigating around the park on my own. I call it “scooting,” but my skate coach politely informed me that it is called “pushing.” Whoops!
Some may think I am going through a midlife crisis. I beg to differ. I found I am going through a Spicoli/Sandler breakthrough. Freedom is experienced when witnessing a person genuinely going through life seizing each and every moment of the day, completely unaware of negativity and being judged. That is not to say that Sandler does not want to please people. He does. In fact, it is very important to him. However, because he does not judge anyone—he only sees the good in everyone—his focus is not on how people perceive him, but how much he can give them and what he can gain from them.
It is an unintentional philosophy I try my best to embrace. In the words of Spicoli —
“Awesome! Totally awesome!”
- Nikki