I was blessed with a wonderful experience that for me marked a full circle moment in my life. I have always had an unexplainable connection and interest in Greek mythology. When my sons were young, the three of us went to movies on the weekend and Jason and the Argonauts directed by Don Chaffy (1963) was one of our favorites. Ray Harryhausen’s genius in animation design of mythical heroes and monsters, as well as the wonderous strength of Jason, Hercules and the other Greek heroes and villains were brought to the screen in magnificent color.  Before our eyes Mr. Harryhausen’s brilliance brought to the screen the bedtime stories that I read to them – the words became action and color arousing even more excitement in three pairs of eyes. A seven year- and four-year-old with a just beyond mid-twenties mother whose interest in the mythology of the gods of Olympus passed on to her children in real time.

This past week my sons treated me to this full circle experience. The two of them invited me and escorted me to see Christopher Nolan’s “The Odyssey” in IMAX 70mm. It was an experience I will never forget. Me sitting between my two sons in the magnificent Regal theater in Dublin, CA (one of three theaters in the greater Bay Area screening the film in the format that Mr. Nolan shot the film). I sat mesmerized for three hours as I sipped on the Moscow Mule ((Vodka, ginger beer and mint leaf) they brought to me from the theater’s full-service bar. Me, my sons, the movie as I experienced old age pleasure.

D, Me and T in the afterglow of The Odyssey

It wasn’t an easy date night to plan. I rode BART from Antioch, CA to Bay Fair (San Leandro), to meet my youngest after his workday. The two of us drove to Lodi, CA to meet my oldest son who had driven from Elk Grove (Sacramento, CA) to meet us.  The three of us, with me in the back seat for comfort, drove back to Dublin to the luxury Regal theater for the 10:40 PM showing of the movie. It was worth every mile.

The three of us – no spouses, grandchildren or great grandchildren watched in awe as the two senior citizen men high-fived each other at various times during an exciting scene or another throughout Mr. Nolan’s version of Homer’s epic poem and classic.

The fully enjoyed, easy thrill of the ride home. The three of us rode back to Lodi fully reliving and discussing the film. Then two of us from Lodi to Antioch with safety check calls during the early morning hours as each car separately arrived home. But more exciting, the three-way phone calls the day after fully connecting and fully loving. The joy in the photos of the three of us in the theater will remain forever indelibly etched in my memory. My sons honored me with long past experiences brought forth into the present as fond remembrance relived.

Lesson learned: In raising my children, I did somethings right. Both my sons learned to read (before entering school) during my reading those bedtime stories of heroes and heroines. Their eyes, big and wonderous, followed my fingers and voice as I relived my interest in Greek mythology. Zeus and his cronies painted an exciting backdrop of adventure as well as historical reference in the classics that resound today bringing past to present in our shared enduring love of Greek mythology.