SummerSlam just had another anniversary. 34 years ago was when Ultimate Warrior won BACK the IC Belt from “Ravishing” Rick Rude. I was beginning my senior year just like my daughter is now… No milestone with that number but the age of myself and now my girl sure is… This was another quick thought I had before starting today… So many S.S. dates lately, I should’ve used a pic from one but nope, time to begin..,
Maybe you won’t even notice but maybe you will. I’ll explain to those “perfectionist” types like I tend to be. Down below, you see a pic from Warrior prepping for his big HOF night of 2014. His black jacket looks a little darker because I edited like I sometimes do. Any shot I took had my blinds decorating his jacket. No matter what I tried they were there, so UGH~ had to do my best getting them out. Another point I’d like to make IS a milestone of last week. I’ve been so busy with my kids stuff, I forgot the debut of ***OWN*** as it just turned 25 marking the debut on WCW’s Nitro program. The One Warrior Nation is still going strong…
Having said both of those, let’s get into taking direction today.
My house seems so quiet with just me and the pets but back to a new routine it is… Ever since I had seen that part of the “Always Believe” DVD with Warrior and Vince rehearsing up on stage, it got me feeling a little bittersweet yet again. Vince was directing Warrior on all the stage etiquette of where to stand, here’s the mic, how it’s gonna go, and all that. Warrior’s response was: “Ok,… alright…” It so reminded me of years ago when being the Ultimate Warrior, he took instruction from Vince during promos or even matches. I remember seeing clips from the biography with Vince telling him very similar statements, only some with camera angles or shots. One super vivid with me was when preparing to shoot the contract signing between U.W. and Hulk Hogan for WMVI. What we have probably seen as the finished promo isn’t obviously how it began. U.W. yelling and then saying how the two belts will become one is what we see but of course, after much direction. Vince asked “Jim” for more intensity as he calmly looked a little frustrated (at least to me) while adding: “OK…” It was coming full circle and a little déjà vu mixed in only years later, as both of those topics have been written.
Warrior was still receiving direction from Vince yet again 24 years later just in another way and his response was the same. Obviously an entirely new meaning but taking that type of instruction to make something work. I thought of a few other references here that put a different animated yet funny spin on this topic. One of my favorite Christmas specials is the cartoon “A Charlie Brown Christmas.” I LOVE the Peanuts characters and even had bedsheets as a kid but NO~~~ not ready for that season yet! Do any of you know the scene when Charlie Brown becomes the Director of their Christmas play? You probably do. Lucy tries to keep everyone together with a speech by saying: ” You’ve gotta take direction. You’ve got to have discipline. You’ve got to have respect for your Director!” All this while Snoopy imitated her and licked her face. Yep, such a classic indeed as I have it all memorized! Vince was the “Director” with the WWF (E) guys back then like C.B. became the “Director” of his classmates only for differing circumstances for sure.
We do need direction in some areas of our lives, despite some of us resisting what the “boss” may think is right. You have to work together as a group, team, or whatever activity you find yourself in if everyone pulls their weight. If not, you are free to leave. You can still have fun to put on a good show, even a Christmas play or wrestling match. I’ll tag myself in here as I wanted to do this topic but needed my own experience of sorts. Most may know I sang in choir as my kids play instruments in band. Both still have directors and both need that discipline Lucy said almost 60 years ago. I was taught to look at our Director just like my kids. Yes, you need to listen to each other as I recall yet another favorite of mine which has been listed before. Sister Mary Clarence in the movie “Sister Act” (aka Whoopi Goldberg) directs the nuns in their choir and despite Whoopi not actually being a real Director, she plays her part well. She gets those women to work together. Sister Mary Clarence points to her cheeks in one scene before beginning with them as a reminder to smile just like my directors always did. She explains how you really need to listen if you’re going to be a group. Wise advice yet again. They were a church choir but it requires the same disciplines with direction. Another mention of her as I referenced the movie “GHOST” several posts back… What can I say? I love these movies (:
After all these years, I still (YES, I do) watch my kids band directors when they are all performing. OK, absolutely do I watch the musicians, but my eyes find themselves diverting back to the Director for cues as my hands move in similar fashion to myself. Would you expect anything less from this music girl? I get the direction from them as I received years prior from others. Does this happen to you? Yeah, yeah, I know what you’re thinking. Directing kids is different than adults but the mentality of learning is not. Our brains just process what is being taught regardless of our actual age. Do you find yourself ever in a moment when you took direction from another and then are in a moment similar years later? If being a parent, you have for sure based on what your own parents taught you in the past which gets handed down. Some ideas we don’t wanna replicate or redirect onto others and that’s OK too.
Taking direction can seem hard, but there are those more qualified than us who have been in our shoes (or boots) of a few weeks ago. Maybe not like Charlie Brown or Sister Mary Clarence as both were sort of newbies but with Vince, a different venue all together. Some crave direction from others as business demands but then later on we might become the directors of another and use our knowledge to teach. I certainly did as a preschool teacher and then having my own. We all need direction in many ways but need to pass it on well. You may not have sung or played an instrument or probably never wrestled, but be on your OWN stage receiving and giving. It is part of our evolution and what we must do…
P.S. SO, at the very 1st football game a few weeks ago, I happened to be looking into the crowd. I saw this guy wearing that blue U.W. shirt once again! You know, the one LeBron James made so popular! Oh my.., It was almost 2 years ago at my son’s senior night when I saw it last.. 💙🥹Get this— earlier that SAME day- someone in the F.B. U. W. group just received it in the mail and I commented!! Synchronistically lining up yet again….
P.P.S. My sincere condolences go out to the Funk family on the loss of Terry and to the Rotunda family on the loss of Windham ( a.k.a. Bray Wyatt.) Very sad news as we lose yet more beloved, wrestling superstars. 😓😓💔💔
mywarriorwritings.com 