« oh, frustration: the dew dudes vs. palestinian suffering | Main | "If My Uncle Mark were an Action Figure..."/Going All Live Journal »
January 31, 2007
I Know My First Name Is Cory
When I was in 3rd Grade there was a weekly TV mini-series called, "I Know My First Name Is Steven". It was based on a true story about "Steven Gregory Stayner (April 18, 1965 – September 16, 1989), a U.S. boy who became famous after he was kidnapped and held captive by his abductor, only to be reunited with his family years later."(wiki). I'm not sure how many people remember it, but according to the VHS case, "It shook the nation", so I assume that means some of you. I know it shook me. Everyday after I got out of the bus I imagined the entire scene. I would be walking along, a car would slowly pull up, a man would offer me a Super Nintendo...would I take it? Of course not! I've been watching the mini-series!
Still, I had a new thing to add to my long list of things to fear. I would often worry about my friends who walked home from school, and picture them getting into the car for Ring Pop's or Crunch Bars.
The scariest part is, weeks later (or years possible, but for the sake of this post and drama, its weeks), a black car was spotted circling the neighborhood are school was in everyday after school. One girl claimed the man in the black car talked to her. Everyone was pretty alarmed, and I remember them making annoucements on the loud speakers urging kids to walk home with someone or get a ride from their parents.
Nothing really came out of all the excitement. I don't think anyone was arrested and no one was ever tricked into jumping in a car for a bag of Blow Pop's. It just faded away. But the story of Steven has never faded from my mind (especially the groady scene with the nude polaroids). I'm not afraid of being kidnapped anymore, but every now and then I imagine the scenario where someone is chasing me with a knife (I think about this a lot at church). I usually look at everything available. What could be used as a weapon? Are those speakers heavy enough to break a skull? Would a chair slow them down? Could I jump up on that beam? How easy would that window be to break? Could I jump that?
I really don't know the purpose of this post. I have just been thinking about Missing People. I have an idea for a story. Online Brainstorming I guess??
Oh, also, if anyone has any idea where I can see/buy/download "I Know My First Name Is Steven" it would be appreciated!
P.S. Am I the only blog on G-Rad who doesn't use Verdana, Arial and Helvetica?
Posted by cory at January 31, 2007 9:49 AM
Comments
sorry cory, but serifs are so 1890.
Posted by: kyle at January 31, 2007 10:29 AM
It's not that they're 1890, they're just less readable on-screen in smaller sizes. Most blogs on G-Rad use tiny fonts, so they must use sans-serif. Furthermore, george designs a lot of them and george re-uses design elements in them, particularly on fonts.
Posted by: michael at January 31, 2007 2:12 PM
you think such violent things during church. i learned how to move the muscles in my lips ever so slightly.
Posted by: kevin at January 31, 2007 3:28 PM