Vacation

I recall the summer of 1981. My cousin Judy was getting married and we got to go. She lived all the way in California...just outside Los Angeles. We lived in Minnesota. LA was a different universe.

I recall this specific occasion because we seemed to do it all. Besides the wedding, where Dad gave Judy away, we did all kinds of touristy things. I was 17, Debi 16 and Keeks was 11 going on 12. One of the best times on this vacation was the visit to Universal Studios.

On the tour bus ride thru the studio we drove through a lake where Jaws attacked us, past the Bates Motel and the Norman's house, The Adams Family home, a flood with landslide, earthquake, several Cylons (from Battlestar Galactica...the original Dirk Benedict series) and one of my faves, between takes taping of Murder, She Wrote. I know I saw Tom Bosley and I (probably) Angela Lansbury. I love(d) that show.

There are two events that will NEVER leave my memory. The first, Debi flying with Superman and, second, she nearly became engaged to Frankenstein. The studio had characters wandering around the crowd standing in line waiting to get in. For some reason, Frank attached himself to Debi. Even when we thought he was gone, after we had gotten on the tram, he surprised her and stuck his head in her window...

I wonder what the studio does today. Who are the characters that would be wandering the waiting line? Do they still fly people with Superman, or is there another superhero they fly you with? Are they still filming TV series there? Which ones?

One day, I think it would be fun to go back and compare the two visits. Thirty years later, that might be a good time.