Gone Too Soon
It seems eons ago but the original Toy Story starring Woody and Buzz Lightyear premiered on Nov. 19, 1995. The following month my oldest son Michael, who was but 14 months old while walking and slurring both words and salvia received from St. Nick both Woody and Buzz action-figures all packaged, wrapped, and bow-tied for Christmas 1995.
I remember helping Michael unwrap both of them.
Pulling Woody’s string from his back you’d get to hear Tom Hanks exclaim, “There’s a snake in my boot!” while pushing Buzz’ flashing red electronic button you’d hear Tim Allen bellow out, “To infinity and beyond!”
Little did I know back then how Michael’s life would be parallel, in a somewhat similar time-line to the story-lines of Toy Story and its two later sequels; with special emphasis to the little boy Andy.
Like most everyone else when the original Toy Story came out on the old VHS format we bought one. As Michael grew older he used to watch the movie over and over again. I recall coming home from work and hearing him singing out loud with Randy Newman’s hit single, “You’ve got a friend in me.”
Michael liked Mr. Potato Head (Don Rickles), Slinky the winner-dog (Jim Varney); Rex the T-Rex (Wallace Shawn), the little green Army soldiers, and Sid (Vicious?); the mean and seemingly callous little boy who was fully equipped with steely braces and rubber bands that lived next door. Who couldn’t? I liked the boy Andy who reminded me of how maybe Michael might look and act like as he got older.
When Toy Story 2 came out in Nov. 1999, we had our second son Jacob who was about 17 months old. By then Michael was old enough to know and appreciate that a new Toy Story was coming out and was really excited to see it.
I remember popping popcorn in the microwave and sneaking some sodas and straws into my wife’s oversized purse into the theater as we all four, along with the grandparents, stood in a long and serpentine Thanksgiving weekend line to see the sequel. Though Michael was only 5-years old his butt was stuck to his seat as much as his eyes were stuck to the silver screen as he devoured and enjoyed every moment.
What was most amusing while watching Michael during the movie was his range of reactions and emotions that he displayed when new toy characters were being introduced for the first time; no it wasn’t Woody’s buckaroo horse, Bulls-Eye; or Stinky Pete the Prospector; nor was it Emperor Zurg; rather it was two pretty girls, Barbie the Mattel fashion doll and Jessie, aaaah yes, Jessie, … the yodeling cute cowgirl who had been abandoned by her owner.
Even though the theater was dark, I witnessed Michael blushing for the first time (he was at times peering though his ten fingers at the screen) during the movie when Woody first saw and interacted with both Barbie and Jessie. I also recall seeing feelings of empathy when Jessie told her story to Woody about her experiences of being loved, forgotten, and ultimately being abandoned; all highlighted while Sarah McLachlan sang her Oscar nominated song, “When she loved me.”
When the movie was over I remember Michael looking up to me with his big brown eyes asking as he took my hand, “Dad, do you think they’ll come out with another Toy movie?”
It wasn’t until June of 2010 that Michael’s decade long question was finally answered when Toy Story 3 was released; in the optional IMAX 3D format this time. By this time Michael was entering into big bad High School. Both Woody and Buzz, who were huge hits during Christmas 1995, were now just about forgotten and stored together in the dusty attic, (both showing signs of chipped paint and plenty of dents and stains), somehow surviving the double-double onslaughts of Michael and Jacob’s unique pulling, pinching, prodding, and throwing techniques.
We also all entered into those dreaded teenage, “I know more than you,” years; with plenty of competing real-time Sid’s waiting around each blind corner (with or without braces), including but not limited to; sports, clothes, and … live Barbie’s.
When I told my boys one morning over breakfast that Toy Story 3 was coming out they didn’t seem too excited. Their attention was on the other side of the Universe.
Much to my ongoing dismay 15 and 12 year old boys really don’t want to be seen in line with their mom’s and dad’s to go see a movie; any movie at that. However, through some arm-twisting and other incentives promised we wound up going together and seeing the movie.
I suspected then and hold it to be true today that deep down both boys were excited and still had a dollop of Curious George still left in them to see another Toy Story movie; they were just trying to be cool and not let on to the old man.
We once again snuck in candy treats, sodas, and straws to share and pass around for this last cartoon roundup. Needless to say the creative John Lasseters’ at Pixar/Walt Disney have really mastered the art of touching the wide and expansive continuum that is human emotions. Toy Story 3 didn’t disappoint us; or anyone else for that matter.
Toy Story 3 became the first ever animated film in history to make over $1 billion worldwide. It’s currently the 5th highest-grossing film of all-time as it won an Academy Award for Best Animated Feature earlier this year at the Oscar awards.
However, with Andy now 17 years old and packing away for college it made me think during the movie about my boys and what my wife and I will be facing sooner than later. It made me feel like another new character that was introduced; Chuckles the Sad Clown.
When Woody and his friends are finally rescued from the dreaded Sunnyside Daycare Center by the awesome threesome of one-eyed green toy aliens and are eventually given away, (by the choice of Andy) to a little 5-year old girl named Bonnie, (rather than being stored in Andy’s attic), Toy Story 3 ends with Woody waving and saying quietly, “So long, partner,” as Andy drives away to college – down that long and winding road – forever in the distance.
Well, I’m determined to have a different Toy Story ending of my own.
I’m going to be selfish and keep Michael and Jacob’s Woody and Buzz action-figures (among other toys) with the strategic and tactical plan of bringing them down from the dusty attic when my yet-to-be grand rug-rats come crawling around one day.
In addition, I’m gonna pop some popcorn, crack open a round of Dr. Pepper’s, distribute the colored straws, and play Randy Newman’s, “You’ve got a friend (and Granddad) in me,” as we collectively laugh by taking turns pulling Woody’s back-string – again, again and again – as he hollers out towards infinity and beyond; … “You’re my favorite Deputy!”
Steve Sayer
Aliso Laguna Columnist
