My Life With Mel

Almost twenty five years ago I was very pregnant came home from work early, flopped on the couch and grabbed the remote. Was there a remote then? Anyway, I do know that we had HBO because that's where I caught the movie "Tim" and saw Mel Gibson for the first time.

I had read somewhere that it was based on a book by Colleen McCullough who also had written "Thorn Birds". As a matter of fact the child I was about to give birth to was going to be named Megan if a girl. A variation of the name I first heard when when I read the book for the first time and later saw the mini-series. It is hard to believe that just twenty-five years ago, I was about to give birth and did not know the baby's sex.

Anyway, "Thorn Birds" had one of the most passionate love scenes I had ever seen, years later it would be eclipsed by Jack and Rose in "Titanic". Those are my top one and two. Number three would have to be Mel Gibson and Piper Laurie in "Tim". The movie was incredible through exceptional supporting parts and this breathtakingly handsome man I first saw that day.

I had a crush on Mel. Later I sat through the "Mad Max" franchise, "Brave Heart", "The Patriot", et al just to see him. Fell in love again though "Lethal Weapon". I can honestly say I have seen 90% of every movie he ever made.

I loved him too because he was my age, married to a woman named Robyn, a variation of my name, happy and had lots of kids. I forgave him for his DUI's and tirades. It all changed a couple of years ago when he and his wife split. He went on to find a new love and father yet, another child.

I knew that things like this can happen too and I just sat back to see what great movie he would make next. Now I wonder if I've seen my last Mel Gibson movie. The episodes of the past week of his scary behavior made me feel like I was watching a very intense movie. There are always two sides to every story and we've only been privy to these hateful rants. What ever happens, thank you Mel for twenty-five good years.