Sunday, November 1, 2009

Jonny Quest Moments




An adventure filled life. Don’t we all want that? I don’t know about you, but when growing up Jonny Quest was high on my Saturday morning agenda. I’d sit glassy-eyed in front of the TV watching the Quest team explore the globe, using Dr. Quest’s particular brand of scientific genius to flush out Monsters and madmen. Remember Dr. Benton Quest, ten-year-old Jonny, Race Bannon, mystical Hodji, and the extraordinary adorable Bandit? Maybe, uh hem…if you are old enough, we shared those same lazy Saturday mornings.

This cartoon never played down to children. You could sit cross-legged in heart or bunny pajamas, climbing up sharp mountains of political intrigue in places you only drooled about in history books.

Now I’m not saying you must be a globe-trotting world explorer to snag adventures. My thoughts on this are as ordinary as a summer’s day, which isn’t ordinary at all when you really experience it. Every day is a adventure as long as you’re alive.

Sigh… now isn’t that great news?

Now if you do happen to be a writer like me, who has yet to visit most of the intriguing places the Quest team frequented, the news is not horrible. We have harnessed something that doesn’t require the almighty dollar or the tick of time to claim. As kids we already figured this out. Writer or not, if your imagination is keen you still travel right alongside Jonny, holding your breath when Bandit barks at shadows. You are right down the Nile River, fighting off unseen watery forces. A blooming imagination can and does take you places. And don’t look now, but one day, when you have college tuition payed off, and if you’re lucky enough to still see, hear and walk, you might visit those places yet.

What I’m really getting at here is we make our own adventures. When we’re knee deep in dishes and laundry, kids rampaging through the house, or sassy pants teenagers claiming we know zero about life, all while spending our last dollar for clothes, flat irons, etc… it’s hard to yank up those adventures. But I swear, if you examine things closely enough, you’ll find them right smack in the swirl of activity.

13 comments:

  1. I didn't get to watch Jonny Quest, but I understand the call to adventure completely. (I do remember a time when cartoons were only available on Saturday mornings.) You're absolutely correct that we make our own adventures. What a great reminder, Dorraine. And bonus! I have a sassy pants teenager at home too! That brings a sense of adventure to just about any task, now doesn't it? :)

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  2. Yeah, Stacy, you were probably too young for Jonny Quest. And there was something about only having the cartoons on Saturday morning that made them magical.

    Those teenagers keep us on our toes, but they are fun when they're not being being a sassy pants!

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  3. Oh, I did. I watched it with a passion and I loved Hodgi! I most certainly wished my dog was as smart as bandit. You are so right, our lives our every bit an adventure if we just took the time to notice.

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  4. Okay, it is Nov 1 8:33 pm. I posted my first comment. Will be back later to check if it is still here. Happy All Saints Day.

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  5. I have the same attitude, that everyday is an adventure and every place can be the center of a quest. Right now I'm in India and finding a resturant is an adventure here! Eating gorgeous ice cream (so cheap it's almost free), taking coach trips up mountains, riding on scooters without helmets - it's all adventure here!

    Jai

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  6. Hi Ronda,

    Bandit was charming. I'll bet every kid on the block wanted him as a pet. I know I did. But we had our French poodle, Peppi instead, and he was a pill too.

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  7. Jai,

    I can only imagine the adventure you're having right now. Sounds like you're making lots of splendid memories. Cheap ice cream-we gotta love that. And be careful on that scooter!

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  8. Great post, Dorraine. I never saw Johnny Quest, but I do know that life goes flat pretty quickly if we don't keep an eye open for adventure.

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  9. That is does, Yvette. Okay, then, bring on the adventures!

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  10. Dorraine, I only ever get on a scooter when I have no choice. Relatives, you know. I'd rather walk. But it can be alot of fun the way they take those corners and zip around cars and cows.

    Jai

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  11. You know, that sounds like fun. But still, be careful, Jai! Can you see me pointing my finger, scolding you? Can't help it. I'm a mom.

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  12. Too funny. We had a French poodle named Pepe. He was a pill too. More like a kill pill to flies.

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  13. Well, what do you know! Not sure who came up with the spelling of our Peppi. It's the non-French, hillbilly version.:)

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