Old Yeller

     In December of 1957, A Disney movie, Old Yeller, hit theatres.  I was in the fifth grade at the time.  My  teacher was paying for all of her students to go see the movie.  Things were a little different back then.  The class sizes were so small that the fifth grade and sixth grade were in the same room with one teacher, so both grade levels were going. Going to the movie was an easy sell to my parents as they weren't expected to pay for anything. All they had to do was sign a permission slip. On the appointed day, we all loaded onto a school bus and off to the theatre we went. 
     I assume this movie was to be some kind of teaching lesson.  It was treated as a field trip.  And after all these years, I believe it really was a teaching lesson.  I remember so well watching the movie and crying in the closing scenes when Old Yeller died.  Perhaps it helped develop in me my love for dogs that I have today.  We can get so attached to our pets.  I have that movie in my own DVD collection today.  I even loaned it out to my daughter for her children to watch it.  I have been known to watch it several more times myself.  I cry every time I see them put Old Yeller down.  I wonder how many of my old classmates remember the afternoon we went to see that movie.  After all, who could forget it? The lyrics to the song in the movie are so catchy.  I am hardly a film critic, but I highly recommend seeing it if you haven't.   I consider it one of the best movies I have ever seen. 
     With access to the computer, I went online and listened to the song once again.  The song says, "Old Yeller, come back Yeller.  The best dog gone dog in the west." I really didn't need to listen to the lyrics.  They are embedded in my memory from those days gone by, "Old Yeller, come back Yeller."