Hey Kids,

You never know what sticks in your head from when you were a kid. Yesterday, I discovered one such sticky memory.

Not feeling too well the past few days, I stuck to the couch and relied on Amazon Prime Video to keep me company. I cruised through the vast array of items available and focused on motorcycle shows. I’m so predictable.

After watching the Fastest Indian, I saw a movie that sounded vaguely familiar, “C.C. and Company”. A 1970 film starring Broadway Joe Namath and Ann Margret.

For whatever reason, the opening scene of walking through the grocery store and fixing his own sandwich cracked me up and I thought, “Wait a minute, I think I’ve seen this.”

I continued to watch and the scenes hinted at recall but I couldn’t quite put my finger on it. And then it happened.

CC gets in a fight over whether he deserves to keep any of his winnings from the motocross race he attempted. He loses the fight and the money but then steals the money back that night and takes off.

For some strange reason, that scene has played in my mind throughout my many years. I remembered it almost perfectly, except that I didn’t remember that it was Joe Namath. I had watched the movie on some week night TV movie, the ones they used to show at 7:00 like on a Tuesday.

The scene, I thought was so unfair. The fact that he couldn’t keep part of what he earned but had to give to others who hadn’t earned it really bothered me. He was willing to share with the gang but wanted to save a little for himself. Maybe buy another dirt bike and make more money. Maybe buy a new chopper. (Which the bikes in the movie all looked so small compared to today’s bikes; but that’s another subject).

I despised the gang leader for demanding it all. I was happy when he stole it back. Actually, as a kid, I didn’t remember exactly how he did steal it back: I must’ve been younger than I should’ve been to watch that movie (he he).

Before this post goes on forever, I believe that scene formed an idea in my head that I learned or had confirmed. You deserve the rewards when you do things beyond what everyone else is willing to do. You earn success and you owe no one for your efforts.

I have always been taught to work hard for what I seek and desire. And I think that learning comes a little beyond a 1970 “B” movie. It came from those around me, from my own experiences, and my own convictions. I just think it’s hilarious that a scene and a movie can stick with me all these years.

And you thought I was just a dumb kid who was trying to avoid his homework.

Day 56