It’s Totally Brendan Fraser’s Fault

I’ve just spent the better part of seven days in the Canary Islands. I went from a consistently overcast, persistently windy, unnecessarily frigid London climate to that of blue skies, sunshine and balmy nights. I went from deciding, “Just two jackets today? Or three plus a scarf?” to wondering, “How do I get sand out of my sandals without getting it all over the floor?”. To say the least, I was ecstatic to be in Fuerteventura.

Perhaps another day I will tell you of everything I learned in Fuerteventura - all the things seen and explored. But it occurs to me that only one thing is on my mind right now, and so, I must write it.

On the plane ride back to London yesterday afternoon, my travel companion Avery put on a random movie. She had downloaded it on her ipad because I mentioned I loved the series as a kid and she was curious to see what all the fuss was about. But in watching Avery’s first reactions over her shoulder (she put on subtitles just for me - what a queen) I realized that I was so ready to be back in London.

The movie Avery put on was the 1999 classic thriller The Mummy, starring Brenan Frasier and Rachel Weisz. Now, say what you will about the actors in this movie, or the props and special effects, or the writing, yadda yadda yadda. But be careful how you say it around me. This movie was my everything as a child.

Back in Texas, we had The Mummy and The Mummy Returns on good ole VHS. On long summer days, when I was alone or bored, these movies were my go-to companions. If you aren’t familiar, The Mummy is a goofy, action-filled, historical fiction in which a group of treasure-seekers and historians accidentally unleash a mummy on the world. The mummy itself is loosely based on true Egyptian figures and places, but this is meant to be a scary, heart-pumping version of events (a.k.a. - not grounded in reality but VERY fun).

Some of the fondest memories I have as a child are waiting for my family to be out of the living room, throwing one of these movies on, and then standing back and jumping on the furniture while imitating the fight scenes and reciting the lines by heart. I made up my own characters to insert as “comical relief” as well, from time to time. I found a sense of creativity and pure, unadulterated, childish joy.

Now, as a 26 year old woman on a plane ride back to London, I found myself watching the movie over Avery’s shoulder and unconsciously mouthing the lines from memory again. It brought back that childish sense of joy. And sharing the film with someone new, who knew what a dork I was for this series, was so sweet to me.

After watching the movie and giggling over the dumb jokes and how jumpy Avery was everytime the villain appeared (I hadn’t been afraid while watching that movie since before I was ten years old), I turned to Avery with an epiphany. “You know,” I started hesitantly, “I think The Mummy Returns began my obsession with London.” It’s true! The Mummy Returns begins in London and ends its London scenes with a car chase over one of my now favorite monuments - Tower Bridge. And I am very aware of how American or immature that whole revelation may sound. The reason I moved to London for six months in my late twenties was because of a movie that only has a 47% on Rotten Tomatoes?! Well, no, not exactly. But this movie did capture London in a dramatic and romantic way for me, between its rainy London cobblestones and Tower Bridge lit up against a cloudy sky. And the writers truly intertwined suspense and history in a gripping way which began my love for historical fiction. All of this, however insignificant they may have seemed back when I was ten, helped shape me into who I am now.

There’s no grand reveal to end this story. I was away from London for holiday and it was absolutely stunning. But upon returning, with the help of a piece of media from my past, I felt like a part of me was returning home. A sense of imagination was rekindled, a need to keep exploring London like I was back at day one. But what’s more, a sense of understanding came over me. Moving to London, though intentional and heavily planned, has always felt just a little random to me. Why this city? Why now? Why six months?

I don’t know the answer to those questions - not fully. But I know, if I had the chance to return to ten years old e, take her hand and show her where we are now, she would be so proud. So I’m doing this, in part, for that piece of me. Maybe it’s my childish side? Maybe it’s the side of me who likes to explore and has been traveling to Europe since before she could drive? Maybe it’s the part of me that, after three years in college, learned she had “accidentally” minored in history?

My past has helped shape me, my fears, my motivators, my dreams. I’m just proud as hell that I’ve listened to whatever in the past is drawing me to future opportunities. I wouldn’t be in London without it.

Go watch The Mummy and The Mummy Returns. They’re genuinely dope movies.

e