Reckless Turns 20

More Reckless reflections...

With our 20th anniversary coming up this Thanksgiving, we've been collecting remembrances, reflections, and musings on the life of Reckless Video by those who look fondly upon us:

Reckless Video is part Community Center part Video Store.

--Bea

 

      As a little kid, a trip to Reckless was about as great as the thought of becoming a princess or getting to eat as many chocolate chip ice cream cones as possible. My parents would pull up to the sidewalk and quick as I could I would scramble out of the car, streaking towards the little blue building that held so many treasures. I would open the door to see the thousands of movies just waiting to be watched. Of course at that age my section was the back room full of adventures, mysteries, comedies, and sing-alongs. I would find a comfortable area and plop myself down on the floor, proceeding to pull down as many movies as possible. In the end I would have to pick just one, maybe two if I was lucky. Handing my selection to the few my parents had chosen we would then walk to the register. Even before I could see over the counter it would be me the employee would talk to, asking about the movies or my day, and then for my phone number. Almost as overwhelming as getting to choose my very own movie was being able to yell out those seven digits and feel about as adult as I could imagine.

      Not much has changed over the years, my trips to Reckless, more frequent than ever, still feel like little trips to a treasure island. One difference however is that instead of sitting among those hundreds of kid movies, dazzled at the amount of stories waiting to be watched and plunking movies wherever I want, I am now one of the taller people who come behind those kids sighing and smiling as I replace the movies back into their rightful homes.

--Molly McSweyn

Needless to say, Reckless means a lot to me.  It started out as a means to an end: a way to make some income while I worked on the plans for my own business.  It became community, and family.  Nothing made that more clear than the Thanksgiving Reckless burned.  The devastation was felt immediately, and word of the fire spread like, well... fire.  Mike's response was immediate, and an outpouring of kind words and support followed.  That Thanksgiving, I hosted a meal at my house- 3/4 of the Reckless staff were present- Zoe, Jonah, and myself.  Close to dinner, Mike called, and seeing his name on the caller ID, I responded instinctually- answering "Reckless Video".  We all laughed at the slip, but in a way it was an acknowledgement that Reckless was still there, for all of us.  Months of work followed- cataloging, buying, stickering, bickering, and a whole lot of inside jokes.  And then, open doors!  I am honored to have been a part of the process, and am still proud to be: Reckless Family.

--Elthea Farr