The Titanic & I

Yesterday on April 15th 1912 the Titanic sank. Yesterday, exactly 100 years later, my sisters, my dad and I went to see Titanic in 3D.

Ever since I can remember I have been fascinated by the ship, its tragic story and stories.

I can not remember when I first heard about the Titanic, maybe my dad told me about it (he is my very own hobby-historian) or maybe I saw a book about it on the weekly trips to the libary with my mom. Fact is when I was in third grade, I knew more about the Titanic than most adults do.

The first vivid memory, of my love for the ship is from over 15 years ago. When I was in third grade, our teacher had brought historybooks for kids to school and we were to choose a history project. Most kids chose the medieval times but I was thrilled to discover a book about the Titanic among the ones to choose from. I remember talking my friend into doing the project with me and told her all the facts I knew. That was years before James Cameron brought the Titanic back to life.

(I also remember that the book included this illustration. The illustration was also used as the cover for this teen novel that I read at least 4 times from the age 12 - 16. It follows 7 young adults and kids from different backgrounds onto the Titanic. Most characters are based on real passengers of the Titanic but only partly.)

I was eleven years old when the movie came out but I did not saw in the theater. The reasons are unknown to me now. I probably could not convince an adult to go with me (my mom still refuses to watch Titanic (too tragic) and my dad needed some time to be convinced that it is not just a romantic movie). I saw it later on VHS (oh dear, now I feel old) at a friends house any many times in TV since. But on sunday I got to see it on the big screen, in 3D, how magical...

James Cameron gave us Titanic fans an amazing gift, the Titanic back to life wrapt in a great movie. Not to mention I loved (love) Leonardo DiCaprio and since seeing her in Titanic I adore Kate Winstlet too. And is not it lovely that those 2 formed such a great friendship since working on the movie together? Watching Titanic, I can not help see Kate and Leo on set bonding for a lifetime in the cold water....but back to the topic...

I do not know why the Titanic is so important to me. Maybe it is all the stories, the tragic, the love, the hope, people risking their life for others or dieing for them, people surviving under the worst circumstances while so many were lost in the sea. They call her the ship of dream but lets face it, most of those dreams were drowned in the icy sea.

I will never not love the Titanic and all its stories. I will never not get goosebumps when I see the movie. I will never not watch all the other movies about the Titanic or any documentary or read about it. My future kids will get a crazy Titanic mom, but I guess they could do worse.

And last but not least one of my favorite quotes of the movie: "I figure life's a gift and I don't intend on wasting it. You don't know what hand you're gonna get dealt next. You learn to take life as it comes at you... to make each day count."- Jack

so true...so true...