“PIRATES!!!” no really, pirates…

Posted on July 25, 2008

I fell in love with pirates when I was ten years old.  That’s when I saw Goonies for the first time.  From that point on, I knew that Pirates were the ultimate “bad asses.”  Race, age, sex meant NOTHING.  It was all about the “bling!”  They had their code, their mystery, and the fact that they could kill you just by looking at you (they could do that, right?)

I was ten when we moved away from a school where I had a lot of friends, and was technically considered one of the “popular kids.”  We moved into a huge (by my standards) new house.  My dad started a new job.  My brother, sister, and I started new schools and dance/karate schools.  On top of all this, my Dad bought a new car (I got my need for “big life changes” from him.)

That’s when I suddenly discovered the true meaning of “having money.”   In adult terms, we no longer had “expendable income.”  Suddenly, whether or not we could pay the bills and/or buy the latest and greatest in toys and fun, became an issue.  My parents were exceptionally good at hiding the stress.  But, as children often do, we picked up on it anyway.    I could relate with “Mikey” (aka: Sean Astin) when he thought that finding pirate treasure would solve all of his families financial burdens. I also had visions of stumbling on a treasure map or pirate ship hiding in a cave somewhere.  (Of course, I now realize that in Colorado, our only hope of finding real treasure lay in the hands of the Native Americans and/or the settlers that lived in our area.  Which had obviously already been discovered.)

But, the romance was there.  And when Pirates of the Caribean was released, I renewed all of my love, fascination and obsession with Pirates.  Dead Man’s Chest was the first movie I saw after Chloe was born.  (I went to it by myself, and I have to admit, I had a hard time staying awake.  She was only 8 weeks old and wasn’t sleeping through the night!!)

I found out that one of the themes from Chloe’s Gymboree summer program was “Pirates.”  I got a wee bit excited.  I was thrilled when I discovered that the Little Einsteins did a Pirates episode, and I bought the dvd of the Dora the Explorer episode where she became a pirate.  I found pirate coloring books, pirate outfits, and pirate bath toys.  Then, Ellen and I stopped in at Starbucks before seeing Momma Mia this weekend,  and I found an advertisement for The Real Pirates exhibit at the Franklin Institute which is the only verified pirate booty of record.  Serendipity!  I understood that a majority of the content would be above Chloe’s head.  I just didn’t care.  This was one of those rare times when I was doing something for ME!.  Although, I do have to admit that I probably would have waited if it didn’t fit so well with her Gymboree theme.

I FREAKIN’ LOVED IT!  Although, my joy was slightly dampened by the fact that Chloe wouldn’t cooperate.  There was a LOT of reading.  So, that part bored her.  There was a mock up of the captain’s quarters of the  pirate ship, which she obsessed over.  She didn’t understand why we wouldn’t let her ring the bell (that was submerged in water so it wouldn’t disintegrate.)  And, they had a sign for “The Frogs Inn” but there wasn’t a frog to be found.  Ooops.  All in all, she loved the canons, got a kick out of the pirate ship, and was excited by the pirates’ treasure.  I just hope she will remember all of this and take it with her.  (Although, I understand this is unlikely, considering she is 2.)  I just gotta say, PIRATES’ CHESTS FULL OF TREASURE!  And yes, they had that, too.

HOW FREAKIN’ COOL WOULD IT BE TO FIND PIRATE TREASURE.  I mean, seriously.  The whole time I was there, I was imagining myself on the boat or underwater while they were uncovering the canons, or the gold coins, the pistols or the FREAKIN’ BELL!  It just blows my mind.  How many pirate stories have we heard as kids and thought when we got older, “Oh, Pirates and hidden treasures are as realistic as mermaids, or deep sea monsters.”  And yet, HERE IS ACTUAL PROOF.

Can you tell I am excited.

Ok, so the entire Franklin museum was cool.  And, I would recommend it.  But, because they don’t let you take pictures inside any of the exhibits, this is all I got..ahem..from the gift store.  Obviously that’s where they make their money.