The fanboy in me is freaking out a little. I feel like I have know Sean my entire life. He is just barely two weeks older than me, so as I have watched him in movies I have been able to relate to him on several levels. He has played the quiet hero in many ways. Leader of the outcast goonies as they discover themselves and the town's history to go on an adventure and save the town.
The best sidekick and wingman who cannot bear the ring but can shoulder his friend Frodo's burdens as they venture to save middle earth.
A long shot football player that beat the odds to get into Notre Dame as a student, barely makes the practice squad on the football team and ends up playing only one series of plays in his football career. A leader and hard worker on and off the field who tried to keep his dreams alive. The only player carried of the field to this day.
All of Sean's roles from Stranger Things to 50 First Dates have helped me to learn more about myself and the role of friends and family in our lives.
I do not think that I have been more excited for a speaker at RootsTech. I was thrilled to see Laura Bush exit the Marriott and be whisked away in her convoy of black vehicles.
The trekker in me was brought to tears by Lavar Burton and his emotional reaction to the family history that was presented to him after his keynote.
However, I am more excited to see Sean Astin than to be back in person at RootsTech. I feel giddy.
I know better but I wish my co-workers at RootsTech would get me a signed Funko Pop or something.
My wife is an influencer at RootsTech, I not so secretly envy her, but if she gets to interview and/or meet Sean Astin I will be so jealous. The ride home that day will me more energized compared to the complete exhaustion we have experienced in years past.
A more tender memory for me is that Sean Astin the actor reminds me of my boyhood friend and next-door neighbor Murray O'Dell. Their physical attributes and sense of humor are very similar. Murray was always at my side, we were goonies, underdogs, and he was a friend to the end. My teenage years were not easy both from circumstances beyond my control and poor personal choices. I feel like I survived those years more than lived them. As we got older a distance grew between us. We both worked together at our first few jobs. He was always my friend even when I did not treat him like I should have. After high school our paths diverged and I went off to college and Murray joined the Marines and fought in the Persian Gulf. I met my wife and settled in our college town and Murray returned from service and lived in his parents former home and also got married. We kept in touch in those days before social media but not as much as I would have liked or should have. I would tell my children about the adventures that Murray and I had in our youth. I must have talked about him quite a bit because on November 11th, 2005 my mother-in-law was watching the news and heard Murray's name. She called me and I turned on the TV to find that Murray was involved in a semi-truck collision and was killed instantly. I still know Murray's parents home phone number and I quickly called his mother to confirm the story. We cried as we spoke on the phone, she consoled me and loved me like no time had passed. I still morn the loss of my friend Murray. I also morn because I didn't take the chance to fully mend our relationship. I didn't know how much I valued him in my life until it was too late.
I have been thrilled to see Sean Astin in roles after 2003 when Return of the King was released. The movies before that time reminded me of Murray and the person and friend that he was. The movies after that give me a small glimpse of what Murray could have been like. Sean, like me, now has what my kids call a dad bod. His character Bob in Stranger Things was not perfect, a little nerdy, but stood up for those he loved. Bob also remembered the past but did not let that change the way he interacted with people from his past now. As Dr. Julian Echo on Young Rock, he is in the future but holds a grudge against his childhood rival Dwayne as he runs for President of the United States. Murray and I competed in debate with and were in the same high school graduating class as U.S. Senator Mike Lee. They were not rivals but in this age of social media I would have loved to see how Murry would react to current events now.
Thanks for the memories to both Sean and Murry. Welcome to Salt Lake Sean, it will be a pleasure to see you.
