We just filled up our car at the pump and paid a whole month’s rent doing it. Here we are near the end of the first decade of this fairly young millennium, reeling in one of the worst banking financial crises in almost a century. We are engaged in a precarious conflict with militants that have dragged on for years. Epidemics, starvation and environmental challenges are growing and killing millions on the planet. People are losing homes. And yes, then there are the gas prices…..
Sometimes, I think back to a simpler time when boyhood day dreams filled my mind. I especially remember a time being enamored with a certain flying car called Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.
A l little gem of a movie with the same name came out in December of 1968. It starred Dick Van Dyke as an eccentric inventor named Caractacus Potts. He had two children named Jeremy and Jemima. He had a dad who everyone called Grandpa.
There is story revolved around a magical car that Potts rebuilds for his children that flies, turns into a boat, and literally has a mind of its own. There is an adventure that involves a kingdom where children are hated and hunted down by an evil child catcher. There is a love story with a woman name Truly Scrumptious. She is the daughter of a Candy Maker.
It is a musical. It is a timeless story and Van Dyke steals the show.
It captured my imagination and spirit of adventure. It was a world where high gas prices did not exist. Where evil never wins out. Where cars can fly!
So now and then when modern worries are burdensome I pulled out the DVD and revisit that familiar boyhood neighborhood of memories.
Tasithoughts' Weblog 
Thanks for posting the article, was certainly a great read!
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Chitty Chitty Bang Bang is one of my favorite movie musicals! I love the songs and the fun and the adventure. A friend of mine told me a long time ago that he would have nightmares about the Child Catcher, with his costume and cages! Whew!
I find it interesting that CCBB was written by Ian Fleming, the creator and author of James Bond! How cool is that?
When you say you were enamored with CCBB, and the movie came out, does that mean you first liked the original book, with the smuggler’s cave as the plot, and then the movie came out? The book is so different from the movie in that aspect, and I prefer the movie’s story much more.
As a tribute to the book and movie, one day I am going to get a personalized license plate, if it’s available, GEN 11. We’ll see how many people know that is a reference to the movie and not Genesis 11. 🙂
You know Robert, I remember only having a cursory interest in the book. I just remember the movie. That is interesting about Gen 11, though.
Thanks, Josh. I am glad you enjoyed the my take on Chitty.
One of my other favorite parts of the movie is when the Baron and the Baroness do that maniacal musical number , Chu Ci Face. It is one of the most campiest, funniest, choreographed musical scenes on film.
You know Robert, I remember only having a cursory interest in the book. I just remember the movie. That is interesting about Gen 11, though.
Thanks, Josh. I am glad you enjoyed the my take on Chitty.
One of my other favorite parts of the movie is when the Baron and the Baroness do that maniacal musical number , Chu Chi Face. It is one of the most campiest, funniest, choreographed musical scenes on film.