I had known about the Ghostbusters movies since early childhood. However, I didn’t watch them until I was 27 years old. This piece will be my recollection of the first time I watched the original Ghostbusters movie and other events that happened on that day. By the way, I happened to take a selfie later that evening and that is my featured image. I was living in the Sugarland Subdivision of Raceland, Louisiana.

It was a sunny and mild day in late May of 2014. I believe it was either the 21st or the 27th.

My then-wife now ex-wife was laying down in bed and sleeping. I was sitting in the living room, listening to music on Pandora when I got the idea to stream a movie on Netflix. So, using the Roku Box, I pulled up Netflix and searched for movies. Then I saw that the original Ghostbusters from 1984 was available, so I took a chance and began watching it. The movie had my undivided attention, which very few movies do. I turned off the lights and closed all the blinds and watched. As I watched, I had realized that I was watching it on the thirty-year anniversary of the film’s release. I also was amazed by the technology, which seemed advanced for 1984. And I was particularly amused at Egon’s fondness for junk food. I finished the movie in one sitting, completely satisfied. This is the exact reaction all movies should have with their viewers!

Around the conclusion of the movie, my then-wife woke up from her nap and reminded me that I had to drive her to her nephew’s baseball game which was being held on the northern outskirts of Houma, Louisiana. Well, I figured I could find something to do since I never did like sports.

It was starting to get dark after the conclusion of the game, so I went to a truck stop for fuel, candy, and drinks. My then-wife caught me checking out a plus-sized female security guard at the truck stop but she didn’t hold it against me. For the record, she checked out guys all the time and was even vocal about it in front of my family, which was totally embarrassing for me. I had purchased an iced coffee and a Mister Goodbar, two things I would frequently purchase at this truck stop until my peanut allergy became increasingly worse. I forget what snack and drink my now ex-wife purchased.

Dusk had fallen and it was getting darker and darker. We drove back home and were now in Sugarland once again.

A truck had veered off the main highway and into a ditch in front of Sugarland Shopping Center. I got out of my car and attempted to assist those involved in the incident. The sun had almost completely set by this point, but I was carrying a 2 AAA sized Mini Maglite LED which was rated for 84 Lumens. That number 84 came up again! Some items had fallen out of the truck but I was able to locate them in the ditch which was thankfully dry. Then another good Samaritan came with cables and pulled the truck out of the ditch. I lit up the whole operation with my flashlight and I also directed traffic around the incident. An impatient motorist or two cursed me lower than a dog and I won’t repeat what they said.

Once everything was back to normal, I got in my car and drove home along with my then-wife, now ex-wife.

At some point later that evening I took a selfie and posted it to social media. That selfie is the featured image for this post. I was 27 at the time but could have probably passed off as 17, you decide.

Later that evening I took my medicine and eventually went to sleep, happy that I would be getting paid in just a few days. In the next few months, I would come to write and purchase some wonderful things. I would also watch the 1989 sequel to Ghostbusters on basic cable at my now ex-in-laws place that summer.

Ghostbusters is definitely one of my favorite movies, though it took me so long to actually get around to watching it. I’m also wondering if it had any inspiration for Goosebumps since the movie reminded me of an adult version of the television adaptations. I also frequently watched those on Netflix.

Now, this, I guess, therefore concludes my piece detailing the time I watched Ghostbusters for the first time. I hope you, the reader, have been informed and entertained.

Thank you for reading!

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