one of the more memorable closing lines ever in a movie came from the classic film, “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off.”
Just before the end credits, the lead actor had said about time (or life) : “It moves by so fast, in the blink of an eye, it’s gone”.
Being a film buff back in the 80s was actually living the life for me.
During that time, practically all the classics our parents have been bragging about could be had, and quite easily too, courtesy of a local Betamax video shop in the city, who prided itself at having it all.
Shout out to the owners of the BetaHaus. Incidentally, that was where, during many late-night movie marathons, I must have counted close to ten films which mentioned life as being fleeting. (Dare me, and I’ll bait you with “Patton” and “Dead Poets Society”.)
And how is this important? It’s just interesting to note, filmmakers have been unrelenting in their playing of the “life-is-fleeting” theme, they’ve been doing so to death, with scarcely a few of us noticing.
Then true to the topic of fleeting, all those Betamax days are gone now. However, while old (as well as new) films nowadays could be had on the net more easily at a moment’s tick of the finger, these are all digitized copies, unlike those in video cassettes, which one could touch and hold in your hand.
Let’s spread it more thinly, since life involves spectrum. What else in life is fleeting?
For one, I would like to add, friends. Or family, for another.
Just recently, I have met with both and I would have to say, whatever else isn’t evolving just as fast?
Last weekend, we attended the swim party of one of our great-greats by our late and eldest brother.
Happy as we all were to be bolted-in once again ala Voltez-5, I could not help but be amazed at how fast time and life really fly.
I’ve also talked to a very close and dearest friend on her birthday and felt the same heavy air of nostalgia right away.
On both occasions, I have to say, while the now have all been graced with better times, the old days have never been more missed.
In more ways than one, their very memories have provided us with nothing but a good shade during trying times. That’s why we never fail to remember them.
