Tag: nostalgia

That time SpongeBob threw a dig at a competing network, only not really

So I have a longer post about SpongeBob in the pipeline, but that’s still in development. Anyway, I just remembered this scene my siblings and I always thought was a fourth wall break or metacognitive brag.

Season 3, Episode 53a, titled “New Student Starfish,” follows SpongeBob and Patrick at a day in boating school. Initially, Patrick was eager to go jellyfishing, but SpongeBob had to attend class. Patrick is upset, so SpongeBob decides to allow Patrick to shadow him for the day at school. Mrs. Puff greets Patrick when they arrive and encourages him to introduce himself to the class, Nervously, he blurts “twenty-four!” The class laughs, but the lesson quickly resumes. SpongeBob, meanwhile, is still amused, and retorts to Patrick in a mock-whisper. “Hey, Patrick. I just thought of something even funnier than twenty-four…. Twenty-five!” Patrick, who’d already been snickering at his pride for his funny remark, then laughs harder, and SpongeBob follows.

I’m sure everyone is familiar with the scene, but I wanted to explain why I thought there was another layer to this joke. Twenty-four is pretty random for Patrick (although in a deleted scene this isn’t quite so, his eyes wandered around the class when he saw the page in the daily calendar was turned to 24). The other students laugh for their own reasons. Probably as background characters, they don’t give much thought of how they fit into this narrative. SpongeBob, however, does. He’s the titular character and wants to ascertain his dominance. In some metacognitive, denting-the-fourth-wall kind of way, I felt he knew 24 was the number combo used to select Disney Channel on our television remote. Of course, he too, still laughed at 24, because some Disney Channels shows are decent. He is a friendly competitor. However, he had to literally one-up this. He had to bring in a number that was better, funnier, and had more program selection. Thus, 25. But what is 25? Why, it’s the number combo used to select Nickelodeon on our TV remote!

I thought this joke was a shot at Disney Channel, how it’s comfortable and gives sizable amusement, but Nickelodeon outlasts this.

But as I got older, I realized the writing crew would never really do this purposely. When the episode was released, and increasingly more so today, the TV channel numbers vary widely. Disney Channel and Nick might have been 24 and 25, respectively, in my household, but they could have been 39 and 42 at my friend’s house only a few blocks away. They are programming details; writers don’t give them much mind. I don’t even know how vast my particular channel numbers spanned, but I know it wasn’t very much. I don’t think this joke was written specifically for viewers in this tiny suburb just south of Boston. Not to mention in this suburb with our particular cable package, providers, wiring, brand, or whatever other variables.

Still, at the same time, I like to think the hidden meaning was written just for us. This little coincidence made me think we were acknowledged.

Dedicated to someone

A year ago today, you told me that you loved me, and I said the same. I was surprised that I was brave enough to admit it aloud to you and myself.

Now, you haven’t talked to me in several months, and denied me any access to reaching out. I was very depressed and confused about this at first, but I think I understand now. My love is very intense, as is my trust and reliance in you. It can be very intimidating and overwhelming. You cherish it sometimes, but other times it is too much for you to bear. You don’t have all the answers, you can’t mend the source of my upset into a tidy, compact package of resolution, and neither could I with your problems. But I admitted it. You sometimes get tongue-tied and feel neglected, but aren’t honest enough to admit when I intimidate you. I wish you could, and you worked on it for a while, but it seems you’ve given up once more. At least as it relates to me. I hope you can develop the decency to be transparent in all your other relationships.

The distance is also a pain. I’m sorry for seeking your captivation at unusual hours when you are unwilling to entertain my banter. Again, please tell me when you are uninterested in talking. I would understand.

I hope we meet again one day and are able to talk cordially and kindly like we used to. I know you want me to forget you and move on, but I still love you. But I recognize the burden my love may bring. I know it’s a lot to process, but please know that I don’t say it to pressure you into confronting it now. I just say it out of my heart. You, of course, are still unsure. You don’t seem to know where exactly you want to reside, what exactly you want your career to be, or how exactly you want to care for your emotional wellbeing. Please take some time to discover yourself. I love you always. Good luck and God bless you. Happy new year.

Looking under my bed

I woke up a few days ago and the pendant on the chain around my neck fell off. It was on when I went to bed, so I know it’s tucked away somewhere in the vicinity. So I checked underneath, amid cobwebs and dusty clothes.

I couldn’t find the pendant, but I did find some old notebooks. Sort of diaries, but not strictly so. Stories, poems, songs, streams of consciousness, etc.

I’ve always been a good writer (and illustrator,as there were a few doodles), and maybe the stuff I saw showed some promise, but they just seemed so nonsensical at times. I was so emphatic. I understand, young Sheila! This character is enamored with another character! This story is set in the 1940s!

Don’t get me started on the needless cussing. I thought goddamn swear words made you sound fucking grown up. Maybe in some parts, but once I realized I could swear and nothing earth-shattering would happen I started doing it too much. Swears become so weak if you use them often.

Once I’ve become a more renowned writer to a broader demographic, I want to share my mediocre work as well and make good edits. It would be a neat educational adventure. I think it will be best executed either in audio or video show. Whenever it happens, you’ll probably be able to find it on my SoundCloud or YouTube.