DVD's Bringing Generations Together

Chris went to pick up some groceries this week. The groceries are on one side of the store – electronics are on the complete opposite side, but somehow he managed to bring home a DVD with the groceries. Funny how that happens…

I didn’t care too much. The DVD was $1.00 and if it’s only $1.00 you have to buy it. Seriously. This DVD is of the Superman cartoons that aired when my dad was a boy. I won’t give specific years, but it was a long time ago – the cover indicates these are “vintage episodes”. Vintage is a word used when “oldies” no longer works out.

Wilson thinks these are great. And from what I’ve seen these are such innocent episodes. The “bad guy” in one is a robot. This is funny to Wilson because the “bad guy” robot is normal technology – Wilson loves those toys that are robots and respond to commands. This was another time, back when technology was the enemy, not some raving psychopath who will unleash a dirty bomb in a subway – that’s what we contend with on current cartoons.

DVD releases are such an interesting thing. The idea that my 3 year old is now watching the very same cartoons that my 58 year old dad watched when he was a boy amazes me. Funny that the “bad guy” technology in those cartoons is the only reason grandfather and grandson have watched the same cartoon – and both loved them.

The only concern I have is that I vaguely remember a story from my father’s childhood that involved the viewing of these cartoons we are showing Will. I remember hearing that, upon watching Superman, Dad decided he, too, would give flying through the air a go. He climbed out of an upstairs window and jumped. It probably wouldn’t have been so bad if he hadn’t tied a rope – around his neck – before jumping. (Before you think this was an attempt on his own life, he was wearing a cape and was only about 5 years old). The truly disturbing part is that my grandma saw it from another window while she was in the kitchen. She ran out to free him with a knife. Oh, well, we live in a one story house. What are the chances he’ll try to do what Poppy did 53 years ago?