They say you always remember where you were when a piece of history is made. People say that about JFK's assassination; I was trying to think of what events in my lifetime have had a similar effect on me. You might be amused by what events seemed important enough to my subconscious to merit a permanent place in time, space, and memory.

I was watching a Saturday morning cartoon starring Godzilla when Reagan was shot. I must have been about six, maybe seven. I remember being pissed, because the episode I was watching was the best one yet, and they preempted it to deliver the news. They finally went back to the cartoon — just as the credits rolled. I couldn't figure out who the hell thought that the assassination of the President of the United States was more important than Cartoon Godzilla.

In sixth grade, I came in from recess briefly to get something out of my desk. As I was walking into the building, Jon Nichols stopped me and said that the Challenger had exploded. I thought he was pulling some kind of practical joke on me, and spent a few long moments trying to figure out why he'd make that particular story up. This is the first time that I can remember the feeling of disbelief in the face of tragedy.

I remember meeting Laurel. She came into the theater with two other people that I knew and sat down right in front of me. I introduced myself, she said hello, turned around and didn't say another word. I had no idea how significant we'd end up being to each other.