[Prudence]

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and The Sound of Music.

When I was younger, I had a strict bedtime. (Actually, this pretty much carried through until I was 18, but that's another story.) At the appointed time I had to go to bed, no matter what the occasion. Even on weekends. Those two movies ALWAYS went past bedtime, so I always saw the first half and not the second.

One weekend Chitty Chitty Bang Bang was on during the day. But I had the flu and strep throat and couldn't leave my bedroom with the humidifyer without coughing uncontrollably. So I still didn't get to see the end. Now if they're on I have to watch.

Also, I have read and re-read Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass: And What Alice Found There more times than I can count. At one point I had memorized nearly every poem in both books. I used to carry a copy around with me at all times -- just in case. I still read them every so often. I have a number of different versions -- my old, falling apart paperback, my complete works set, a version in French, a facsimile of the 1864 manuscript "Alice's Adventures Underground" hand-lettered and with illustrations by Carroll, and my best buddy gave me "The Annotated Alice" for my last birthday.

I am very nearly obsessed by Alice. I used to BBS under the moniker "March Hare." For my 30th birthday, spent at Disneyland, my husband had the guest services thing (official name escapes me) put together an Alice themed basket. The shopper went out for weeks trying to find things and came up with a puzzle, an ANCIENT black and white photo autographed photo of Alice and the White Rabbit, a mug, and a music box I've never seen for sale before or since. The shopper reported that there aren't too many Alice fans, but the ones that are out there tend to be fanatic. During our honeymoon trip, we came upon Alice, the Tweedles Dee and Dum, and the Queen of Hearts just inside the park. I asked Alice if it was her unbirthday and revealed that it was my unbirthday as well. She flung herself at me in a hug (we have a GREAT picture) and dragged me around to visit the Tweedles and Queen of Hearts and report the news. It was my most magical park experience ever.

I also read and re-read (only slightly less often) the whole Wizard of Oz series. I think those books are still at the 'rents somewhere. And Gone with the Wind and Jane Eyre. I read those books over and over again.