Maybe you’ve seen it. Me? Oh, probably a coupla dozen times or so. It’s without question my all time favorite coming of age movie. Plus, the director is an old family friend and it’s based on some of his college experiences where I also happened to attend, so lots to love. And there’s the quotes…
*PHIL: “Where’s your car?”
GARDNER: “You’re drinkin’ it.”
PHIL: “You mooned my parents?”
GARDNER: “They’re from New Jersey, Philip… they’ve seen butts before.”
GARDNER: “Como se llama yo mama…”
PHIL: “You are the most irresponsible person I have ever met”
GARDNER: “Well, somebody had to be.”*
This past week, we did the spring break thing near Big Bend in a sleepy little town most have probably never heard of, Lajitas. My buddy and I used to party in Lajitas when there really was only two buildings, so it’s grown a bit, but still is just as rugged and beautiful as ever in that marvelous, high desert way.
Extra special though is that a mere 13 miles to the north lies the Gruvers destination in the show.
I figured the time was right to take the wife and daughter over to visit the shrine, althought I had some real reservations, some real fears that, given it’s a bit of a cult movie, there was a chance the place would be as covered with graffiti as Jim Morrison’s grave. So, with a bit of trepidation, we followed the Rio Grande and FM170 north out of town.
I am very pleased to report, fellow Gruvers, that although there were several well worn paths from the road, all obviously from adoring fan traffic, there was not a speck of paint nor trash to be found. All there was was the rock, the loose dirt beneath where he was first buried, and a newer 1985 Cuvee Dom Perignon box reinterred by a more recent visitor.
We left a cork of our own, albeit Korbel, and though I scampered out upon the thin, high ledge from which Gardner launched his bottle, just reflected a bit, enjoyed the spectacular scenery and carried our bottle out with us. T’wernt no place to litter.
So, if anyone’s interested, yeah, Dom’s doing just fine. As Dorman might say, he’s having a nice life… a very nice life indeed, the old brut.