Aging Gen-Xer reflects on Bill and Ted

Theatrical poster for Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure

I learned a moment ago that Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure debuted in theaters 30 years ago today. As someone who saw this film at the movie theater in Fairlane Mall shortly after it came out, I suddenly feel very, very old.

The movie was, without a doubt, hilarious and inspiring. I've seen it a dozen times since it first came out. I enjoyed it on each occasion and frequently saw things in it that I hadn't noticed the first time.

Moreover, I spent much of the spring and early-summer of 1989 working Bill and Ted quotes into everyday conversations - a fact that annoyed more than a few college classmates as well as my friends and family.

Ed Solomon, one of the co-writers of the Bill and Ted script, posted images of the original, handwritten first draft to Twitter earlier today. The words that he attached to this thread are, in my opinion, powerful and poignant. Therefore, I want to share them here.

Writing it was never anything other than a pure joy. It was hard, when in the mindset of these guys, not to feel the kind of ebullience and generosity of spirit that they embody. And we knew absolutely nothing about so-called "rules" of writing. 2/ pic.twitter.com/OafxFGCT90

— Ed Solomon (@ed_solomon) February 13, 2018

And of course, George Carlin, who we all so dearly miss. To me, the fans of this movie are like family. We never thought it would even get MADE, let alone find a home with people. 4/ pic.twitter.com/jBC6p7qWFB

— Ed Solomon (@ed_solomon) February 13, 2018

Chris and I have often said to each other: if all we did in our career was put the phrase "Be Excellent To Each Other" out into the world, that wouldn't be such a bad thing. Sometimes when work is tough, or things don't land the way I'd hoped, I think about that and feel ok. 5/5 pic.twitter.com/GQ5Y3jDFDU

— Ed Solomon (@ed_solomon) February 13, 2018

Anyway, aging Gen-Xer things aside, I want each of the people who follow my writing know that I love each and every one of you. Be excellent to one another, Detroiters!