Elemental Series, Episode 02: Gold

In 1983 a movie came out with a star studded cast, including Tom Cruise, Rob Lowe, Patrick Swayze, Emilio Estevez, Matt Dillon, and the two 1980s teen heart throbs pictured above, Ralph Macchio and C. Thomas Howell.  The movie was called "The Outsiders", and it featured a couple of rival gangs in 1965 Tulsa Oklahoma, the Greasers and the Socs.

This episode takes a little look at a specific scene in that movie that has stuck with me my whole life (well, the last 33 of it years anyway).  It instilled in me a sort of philosophy of living, as well as a budding interest in poetry.  I've included the scene below so you can watch. Prepare for the shmaltz.

It was a sweet moment in the film, for a couple of kids who were hoping for better things in their futures.  Who doesn't want to look ahead to good things?  Is Robert Frost suggesting that it's all futile?  Nothing good will ever last? Is there such thing as hopeful anticipation? Is it even practical?  I ponder these things in the parking lot.

In case you haven't gotten your fill of schmaltzy 80's drama soundtrack music, here is the original recording by Stevie Wonder, of the song, "Stay Gold"

Oh, incidentally, I thought I’d share my morning’s sunrise, complete with the empty football stadium.