Give thanks and be excellent to each other

Most folks don’t know that we sometimes speak a different language at The Madill Record. It isn’t one you learn in school. Rather, it’s a language or dare I code most people learn from their family and friends. I’m referring to movie quotes.

Growing up with two younger siblings had its challenges. As you can imagine, we didn’t always like to share, play nice or get along.

However, there was one thing that always seemed to bring everyone together: the movies.

Maybe it’s cause our dad one of the first people on the block to buy a VCR. But for some reason we nearly always had a movie going that the whole family could watch.

That said, the three of us Caban kids were exposed to a lot of movies from a young age.

We saw plenty of comedies, dramas and action films. And that’s just the Disney movies! (I’m only half-kidding there).

No matter what has gone on in our lives, my siblings and I (who are all grown) found some way to end up back in front of Mom and Dad’s TV.

When we were little kids it was the revival of Disney thanks to “Aladdin” and “The Lion King”.

Later, it was movies like “Star Wars” and all of the pre-Christian Bale “Batman” movies that bonded us further.

Then of course, there were less popular movies like “Blast from The Past” or “Tremors” that we watched over and over again.

And like many families, we had our favorites to quote. To this day, we quote these movies from start to finish. A prime example would be the seminal Mel Brooks work, “Spaceballs.”

Many of you may think, “that’s not even the best Mel Brooks movie.” And I may not debate that with you.

However, when you’re somewhere between ages four and 12 and everyone including Dad and Mom are laughing, it’s hard not to eat that stuff up.

Not to bury the lead, but the point I’m getting at is simple. My family has brought me a wealth of memories.

Movies are like seasons of our lives; sometimes we are in the mood for “Forrest Gump” and sometimes we need to cut loose like Ferris Bueller on his day off.

But this time of the year can be painful for many families and individuals.

I don’t write these words to glaze over the hard times and hurtful things that happen; oftentimes during the holidays or times when family gathers.

After all, 120 minutes of film isn’t a cure-all. Rather, it was my way of remembering what joy togetherness can bring.

Instead of focusing on the things about family members that annoy us, or we wish they’d change, maybe we can all spend a little time acting out what George Carlin told Bill and Ted: be excellent to each other and party on dudes.

We should cherish each of the moments we are given with the people we love the most. After all, they love us too in spite of our flaws.

We should celebrate not just what we have this Thanksgiving, but also the love we can give to those around us.