Great post! It's funny how certain things hit us, regardless of how old we get :) I have to admit that I've never seen "E.T." the whole way through. As strange as it seems (me being a big sci-fi geek), it never interested me. I'll have to sit down and watch it some day :)
When I watched the film again recently I was surprised at how little of the first half of it that I remembered. As soon as it got scary though (those who've seen it will know exactly the point I mean) it was more of a tough watch. And then at the end, well, let's just say I don't think I'll put myself through the theme tune a fourth time.
It's definitely worth a watch, though, if you haven't seen it. But if you don't - well, in my post I've tipped you off about the ending already!
Rebecca, The way you wrote this—I felt like I was right there with you—how scary. I was glad to read that you found your way back! PHEW! You writing also brought back the memory of when I first saw E.T. thank you.
I felt ABSOLUTELY everything when I watched E.T as a child. Maybe around aged eight too...I got lost a lot more than I think I should have - often in supermarkets... it wasn’t a nice feeling at all.
I still remember getting lost in what I think was a Bargain Shop in the local “big” mall. I stopped to look at something, probably a toy, and my parents thought I was with them when I wasn’t. It was horrible, and I couldn’t have been more than three or four. I was terrified out of my mind, and an associate took my hand and we went up to the front of the store. My parents found me then, it couldn’t have been more than five minutes but I was distraught for the rest of the day. I don’t think you ever forget that first, terrible feeling of being all alone and not knowing where to go.
Oh Alison, I know exactly how you must have felt! When we’re tiny we have very little control of things, and then if we’re lost and alone in unfamiliar surroundings it is absolutely terrifying because we are just powerless. Thank you so much for sharing your story. :D
oh no, that sounds awful! i'm so glad you found your way back. i also saw ET in the theater when i was about the same age, but luckily i can hardly remember it ;-)
Thanks! Funny how some films stick around in our memories, and some just don't resonate to the same degree. What amused me about watching it again recently was that the special effects (although of course incredible for the time) dated it rather!!!
So true! But I do love watching old films with their outdated special effects :-) I remember when everyone would say "I wonder how they did that..." whenever something impossible appeared on the screen. Now they all look so simplistic by comparison, but there's no mystery or wonder left in today's effects. My favorite truly terrible effects are in the cheesy films from Mystery Science Theater :-D
I enjoyed the beginning as you described your experiences in New York. I kept waiting for when you got lost. Nice job breaking this into three interesting parts, good job!
Beautifully written. I always admire people who escape into other countries as refugees. (I know they have little choice.) It must be terrifying. I've experienced a mild version of this feeling of being unanchored when I've been abroad -- especially in the USA. I love America, but I think the fact that the language is the same (more or less) obscures the fact that the culture is very different.
Interesting point about same language but different culture being served up on the same plate. I guess it's a matter of expectations not quite meeting reality. Very disorientating!
My first "lost" story is from returning home from a trip to Florida (I think I was 10) and getting lost in one of the US airports after a bio break. I was disoriented and couldn't find where my parents were waiting. In fact, I probably looked right at them several times in my frantic searching but I suspect my panic made me a bit blind. Come to think of it, I think I temporarily got lost at Disney World on the same trip - I guess this was the second time!
I also got lost on a school trip when I was in second grade because the teacher just told us to go home from an area of town that I had never been to before. I didn't know how to get home, and just started walking. Eventually some older kids saw that I was lost because I kept looking from side to side searching for something that I could recognize, and they helped me get home since I knew my address. I'm glad that no soundtrack was playing so nothing can really bring back the fear and sadness of that day! I'm sorry that watching E.T. was so traumatic for you. It's traumatic for me as well because I think the film is just too sad. I definitely don't think it's appropriate for kids under 10 years old.
Gosh, that’s really scary - I’m glad those older kids looked after you. It’s good that you knew your address. Really shocking decision from your teacher.
There’s such trauma involved in getting lost and not knowing your way home - it’s the sort of thing that lasts a lifetime!
I can only imagine what you were going through at that age. It must have been real scary.
You're not going to believe this but I have NEVER seen E.T.
It was pretty scary - I would say I'm over it, but clearly I'm not!
Never mind that you've never seen the film - maybe my plot spoiler means you don't ever have to, as you already know the ending! ;D
I watched E.T. in the theaters when I was 6 years old and it TERRIFIED ME. Never again.
Gosh, you were only six?! No wonder you were terrified! To be honest I'm surprised that the film ever made it to a 'U' rating.
Great post! It's funny how certain things hit us, regardless of how old we get :) I have to admit that I've never seen "E.T." the whole way through. As strange as it seems (me being a big sci-fi geek), it never interested me. I'll have to sit down and watch it some day :)
Thanks, Mark!
When I watched the film again recently I was surprised at how little of the first half of it that I remembered. As soon as it got scary though (those who've seen it will know exactly the point I mean) it was more of a tough watch. And then at the end, well, let's just say I don't think I'll put myself through the theme tune a fourth time.
It's definitely worth a watch, though, if you haven't seen it. But if you don't - well, in my post I've tipped you off about the ending already!
Rebecca, The way you wrote this—I felt like I was right there with you—how scary. I was glad to read that you found your way back! PHEW! You writing also brought back the memory of when I first saw E.T. thank you.
Thanks so much, Julie! :D
Wow, well told. I could picture being that age, alone and terrified. Oi!
Thanks, Tom! I'd like to think I can better handle getting lost now that I'm grown up... but I still find it hard!
I felt ABSOLUTELY everything when I watched E.T as a child. Maybe around aged eight too...I got lost a lot more than I think I should have - often in supermarkets... it wasn’t a nice feeling at all.
Oh wow, me too! Supermarkets are a nightmare, especially the big ones where every aisle looks exactly the same!
The films that get to us when we're little - don't get me started on 'Watership Down'! What were my parents even thinking?!!!!!!
Watership down 😭
I still remember getting lost in what I think was a Bargain Shop in the local “big” mall. I stopped to look at something, probably a toy, and my parents thought I was with them when I wasn’t. It was horrible, and I couldn’t have been more than three or four. I was terrified out of my mind, and an associate took my hand and we went up to the front of the store. My parents found me then, it couldn’t have been more than five minutes but I was distraught for the rest of the day. I don’t think you ever forget that first, terrible feeling of being all alone and not knowing where to go.
Oh Alison, I know exactly how you must have felt! When we’re tiny we have very little control of things, and then if we’re lost and alone in unfamiliar surroundings it is absolutely terrifying because we are just powerless. Thank you so much for sharing your story. :D
oh no, that sounds awful! i'm so glad you found your way back. i also saw ET in the theater when i was about the same age, but luckily i can hardly remember it ;-)
Thanks! Funny how some films stick around in our memories, and some just don't resonate to the same degree. What amused me about watching it again recently was that the special effects (although of course incredible for the time) dated it rather!!!
So true! But I do love watching old films with their outdated special effects :-) I remember when everyone would say "I wonder how they did that..." whenever something impossible appeared on the screen. Now they all look so simplistic by comparison, but there's no mystery or wonder left in today's effects. My favorite truly terrible effects are in the cheesy films from Mystery Science Theater :-D
You’re right! Thinking about it, the awful effects in the first few series of the BBC’s ‘Dr Who’ do have their very own charm!
I enjoyed the beginning as you described your experiences in New York. I kept waiting for when you got lost. Nice job breaking this into three interesting parts, good job!
Thanks so much, Scott! Glad I'd managed to lure you into a false sense of security there, but you knew the getting lost bit was coming! :D
Beautifully written. I always admire people who escape into other countries as refugees. (I know they have little choice.) It must be terrifying. I've experienced a mild version of this feeling of being unanchored when I've been abroad -- especially in the USA. I love America, but I think the fact that the language is the same (more or less) obscures the fact that the culture is very different.
That's so kind - thank you, Terry.
Interesting point about same language but different culture being served up on the same plate. I guess it's a matter of expectations not quite meeting reality. Very disorientating!
My first "lost" story is from returning home from a trip to Florida (I think I was 10) and getting lost in one of the US airports after a bio break. I was disoriented and couldn't find where my parents were waiting. In fact, I probably looked right at them several times in my frantic searching but I suspect my panic made me a bit blind. Come to think of it, I think I temporarily got lost at Disney World on the same trip - I guess this was the second time!
Wow, I’d’ve been beside myself if I’d got lost in places that populated! And you were at the airport alone, aged 10? Gosh!
No, I wasn't alone, just had gone to the bathroom or something.
Oh, phew! :D
I also got lost on a school trip when I was in second grade because the teacher just told us to go home from an area of town that I had never been to before. I didn't know how to get home, and just started walking. Eventually some older kids saw that I was lost because I kept looking from side to side searching for something that I could recognize, and they helped me get home since I knew my address. I'm glad that no soundtrack was playing so nothing can really bring back the fear and sadness of that day! I'm sorry that watching E.T. was so traumatic for you. It's traumatic for me as well because I think the film is just too sad. I definitely don't think it's appropriate for kids under 10 years old.
Gosh, that’s really scary - I’m glad those older kids looked after you. It’s good that you knew your address. Really shocking decision from your teacher.
There’s such trauma involved in getting lost and not knowing your way home - it’s the sort of thing that lasts a lifetime!