Here’s a brand new (occasional) feature at monthly posts with MileNerd.
Let’s call it…
One-moment microscope.
You know the movie. Marty McFly goes back to 1955. Finds the younger version of his parents. His world hangs in the balance. And our world? Blown away. Still cheering it on 40 years later. No doubt you’ve seen it multiple times. But, today, I’d like to show you something for the first time…
We’re going under the microscope. To look at a single word from Back To The Future.
(Yes, literally one word)
For this story to work, we have to see George McFly go through a major change. Marty’s dad is a coward. An embarrassment. His arc becomes one of the great surprises of the movie. Remember the first time you saw it? When George finds his courage and stands up to Biff? The entire audience fills with joy. You, me, and everyone else. We get it. Lorraine falls in love on the spot.
Because he’s not just a doormat anymore.
He’s brave.
Oh, but he has to get there…
See, his journey from wussification to strength is a major part of the story. George can’t just have balls from the start. Otherwise, there’s nowhere for him to go. So, let’s say you’re playing the character of George…
Who are you at the start? What’s your relationship like with Biff? And with your family? Clearly, none of them have a ton of respect for you. You’re a man with no backbone. Right?
So…
The audience needs to see who that is. We need to see it clearly. To feel bad when George gets picked on. To feel bummed for Marty having a dad like that. It’s important. Because that’s how we’ll really enjoy the big moment at the end. When George finally gets his triumph.
Feel free to watch the whole thing – but we’re really going to focus in on the 2:10 mark.
There’s one simple-yet-brilliant choice I’d like you to see. It’s a very quick little moment. But it’s part of what makes this movie special enough to live on for 4 decades. The choice is this…
Deciding that George is so timid, so afraid of confrontations…
…that he struggles just to say the word.
He. Literally. Has. To. Whisper. It.
That one choice tells us exactly who George McFly is. It helps set up his huge arc. Allowing us to bask in his glory later – when he chooses to be a different kind of man. Someone who no longer accepts being bullied. See, there are dozens of choices even in that short clip. But our micro-breakdown is about this one single word. This whisper.
It’s such a clever choice.
In a sense, it sets up the entire rest of the movie.
You get to go on a ride – with a coward who becomes a hero. Sharing in his big personal journey. You’ve watched many other stories about time travel. So, why did this one capture the imagination for decades?
It’s in these little choices and moments.
Under the microscope, they add up to something unforgettable.
It’s with a deep sense of pride that I announce my candidacy. Yes, that’s right. I’m running for President of the United States.
Now I know what you’re thinking…
How could anyone possibly do it better? We’re already living in the golden age.
Fair point.
But let me ask you a question…
Shouldn’t we always strive for more? Or would you rather just rest on our (wildly impressive) laurels? Me, I believe in progress. And after carefully studying our society, it’s safe to say:
I know exactly what America wants.
Can I deliver this alone? Of course not. We’re all just flesh-and-blood individuals. But together we can be so much more. Please allow me a moment to humbly offer some new ideas. And if you share my dreams of a brighter future for our nation? Then maybe you’ll grant me the honor of your vote. Without further ado…
Here’s my five-point plan to make America kick ass again.
(pronounced MAKAA – say it loudly at the end, like a bird squawking)
1 – Heal the bickering
Does anyone enjoy our election season anymore? All the arguments. Endless noise. Going on and on for months at a time. Both sides agree – it’s exhausting.
Well…
If elected, I’ll finally put an end to this excruciating process. No more months of bickering. That’s right. You’ll be able to sleep soundly in peace and quiet. Knowing our constant fighting will be over. Because now we’ll have only one BIG fight that decides our elections. An extravaganza. Yes, you guessed correctly. I’m talking about a cagematch in Madison Square Garden. Winner takes all.
Two humans, one cage.
The victor gets the presidency. The loser surrenders. And gets deported, of course. It’s a can’t miss pay-per-view event. Limited tickets available on the White House website.
2 – Field experts, shmeild experts
Recently, I put a great deal of thought into this question – what is an expert? Is it even a real thing? Facts and “knowledge” get debated as much as opinions. There’s really only one thing we can agree on…
That our leaders always seem to be inept.
Aren’t you exhausted? I know I am. Why must we choose between two bad options? It’s almost like we’re being run by the worst of our society. Well, my government will be very different. With the best of us appointed to run America. That’s right…
I’m talking about celebrities.
You’re nodding your head furiously, right? Bingo. Who needs “knowledge” when you can have starpower? And we’re already off to a great start. After meeting with Tiger Woods over the weekend, he’s in negotiations for a role on my staff. I told him go ahead and pick any job. But, to me, Director Of Transportation feels like a great fit. It’s such a bland position. We need a superstar behind the wheel of it.
Fingers crossed.
Like me, you’ve always dreamed of seeing A-listers in charge of our government. We know them. We trust them. Obviously, the rich and famous are well-suited to be public servants. Stars, they’re just like us. For months, I tried to think of a good Director Of Intelligence. Then boom, a bolt of lightning. It came to me. We’re all thinking the same name, right? Because who doesn’t love Britney Spears? In retrospect, our smartest decisions always turn out to be the most obvious. This entire country wants to see her succeed. So, why not show our trust…
By handing her the keys to our nation’s security.
“Let me spread my wings and I will fly.” -Susan Boyle, American Idol
3 – No new taxes
The dreaded “T-word.” Gross. Yes, taxes suck. Objectively. It’s not exactly a controversial take. But what if I told you I was planning to lower them? Oh, right. Everyone says that. So…
Why don’t I just go ahead and ELIMINATE all of your taxes?
You can go ahead and save the date for my parade. I mean, who needs taxes anyway? Not this guy. And not my America. Sure, you’ll end up paying a bit more than you do now. But I’m officially changing the name to “citizens are awesome” donations.
Way nicer ring to it than “taxes.”
Doesn’t it feel great to be complimented? You are an awesome citizen. And we sure do appreciate your financial contributions. Keep on keepin’ on. By that I mean please work a bit harder because we need more of your money.
But never forget…
We think you’re awesome.
4 – Fix the news confusion
Are you fed up with all the misinformation each day? People trying to trick you. Messing with your beautiful mind. It’s like living in a spider web of confusion. How can someone know what’s fake anymore? Or if anything is still real? Just no way to tell. Your mind stays restless. On high alert.
Until now, that is.
From this day forward, ALL news will be fake. It’s the first thing I’m signing into law. You no longer need to bang your head against the nearest wall to figure out what’s true.
Because nothing will be.
Breathe a giant sigh of relief. Exhale. Your daily confusion is gone. Everything you read or watch will be total baloney. A big, steaming pile of poppycock.
Except for what I tell you.
Which is always 100% true.
You’re living in the era of TMB. So, just do the T. And I’ll be the M.
Trust me bro.
5 – Put an end to wars
What’s up with all the fighting? Missiles and bombs everywhere. Day after day. Can’t we all just get along? Yes we can, Rodney.
Yes. We can.
Wouldn’t you love to live in peace? I sure would. And our answer is crystal clear…
We must blow up all the other countries.
How did all of our past administrations drop the ball on this? They totally fumbled the rock. We’ve finally solved our constant fighting. Thanks to a perfect solution. With no other nations, how can there be wars? Quick, hand me a microphone to drop. At long last, you’ll have peace. And, in my second term, maybe we’ll blow up the immigrants too.
(Oh, actually, there won’t be any left)
Best. Prez. Ever.
Small fyi…you’re all needed in the military for this last war. I call it Project Elimination. Might only take a few months to wipe out these other pesky countries. I know what you’re thinking. And you’re right. Some of you probably won’t make it out alive. But, hey, thanks for your service.
This is quite an occasion. Sure wish you were here. How on earth did I get to my 100th birthday? An entire century in the books. Been sitting here dreading some big fuss. You know how I am. Thankfully, people nowadays tend to be very busy. Phones and whatnot. There is a beautiful cake here, though. Worth putting the teeth in for.
I really miss you guys.
Wasn’t it just yesterday I hopped off the school bus and into our house? Backpack heavy. Eager to dive face-first into the plate of snacks mom used to make. As if I hadn’t eaten in years. Same level of hunger each afternoon. Guess it takes a lot of fuel to run around like a maniac until sunset.
I still smile at those memories.
Everything ahead.
All of us overflowing with time.
Those days of running have long since come to a close. Not sure I could even remember how to hop. It seems like my finish line is just about here now. Hourglass down to its last few grains of sand. On this occasion, I can’t help but peek back in the rearview…
Was it all sunshine and rainbows? Not really. Am I the best version of me I could’ve been? No. Did my childhood dreams come true? Oh goodness, no. But do I at least know who I am?
Also no.
At a certain point, we get too old to lie. Even to ourselves. No more energy for that. I think time just got away from me. Weeks disappeared. Then years. Remember my graduation day? From high school? Feels closer to 8 years ago than 8 decades. This tornado of time. Pulling everything into the blur. Do you remember how all my friends would pass around their yearbooks?
They all wrote, “Never Change.”
Pretty much the nicest thing a teenager can say. Imagine if we really had that pause button. So nothing would need to change. Keeping the youth. Our endless energy. That hourglass full of sand.
I’d still be hopping off the school bus.
Knees and back feeling fine.
We’d sit down for another meal. My old appetite. I’d catch a glimpse of you. Not as a distant memory. But together in a room again. Chatting about nothing in particular. Laughing with ease.
“Never change.”
If only.
Where does it go? A lifetime. Just one blink of the eyes and it’s in the past. Now standing at the finish line. Wishing I could express what you mean to me.
Do you really know the impact?
I still see you all the time. It’s part of me. Mom’s eyes and dad’s mouth. It’s on my face. And in my heart.
You taught me how to walk.
How to think.
You live in my sense of humor and wrote my sense of morals.
From the way I cook my eggs,
To my choice of religion.
More than just my strengths, it’s in the weaknesses too. Dad’s struggle to show his feelings. Mom’s temper. Both of you with two left feet.
All of that absorbed. Like a human sponge.
You brought me into this world.
Then built mine.
It’s harder without you here. This hole inside. But, looking back, I guess I never could let you go. Not for a day. Or even a thought. I hold you so close. Reflected back in my mirror. But did I learn the wrong lesson?
“Never change.”
There it is. My big mistake. Why couldn’t I grasp the depth of love? How that word means so much more. You didn’t need me to think like you. Or be like you. Didn’t even want that. Just lacked the words to say…
“Change.”
There’s no way around it.
Find yourself, not in us.
But in you.
I couldn’t see it. Didn’t get it. Just sitting there for me all along. Your limitations didn’t need to become mine. You didn’t want your box to hold me too. How could you know the power you held? Without a crystal ball to see my future.
Now I’m the one who sees. As clear as day. How hard it is to leave home. Because the physical part is easy. The rest is what takes a lifetime.
If I concentrate, it’s almost like being back inside the old house.
Scent of fresh-baked cookies floating through the air.
Soundtrack of laughter from the living room.
It really was the best, huh?
Weirdly, never a question we ask ourselves in the moment.
Yup, turns out I pretty much had it all. What more could anyone want? Well, maybe just a pair of clear eyes. To snap all the mental photographs. Because, looking back now, those days were my overflowing cup.
Warm blanket vibes? Check.
Silliness and fun? Absolutely.
House that felt like a home? Big time.
Strange how we always need to lose something to see it more clearly. Why do we all need that trait? In fairness, it’s possible the “good old days” are just a figment of my imagination. We all romanticize the past. But looking back at it now…
I think maybe I was special.
Yeah, yeah…I know.
Sounds like an arrogant thing to say.
And, to be clear, I don’t feel the same way now. But, back then? I think maybe I was. Because everyone who came into the house seemed to smile differently when they saw me. All of them. Embarrassing to admit? Sure. But it almost felt like people would gather around me. As if I grabbed their attention. They’d make some comments about my looks and whatnot. The kind of thing we take for granted in our youth. Because it all fades so fast. Somehow…it kind of just felt like I made them happy. Like maybe there was something about me. Oh, and I’ll never forget the flashy ways they helped dress me up. With such care. They made me shine so bright…it almost felt like I was glowing.
Or maybe this is all just my imagination…
The thing is, it feels so real. Deep down, I know it was. Just gets camouflaged by the fogginess of doubt which comes with age. Our weird justifications. Because I’m torn and tattered now. Trying to convince myself that maybe life was always this hard. As if that will ease the sting of disappointment. Ease the longing.
But here’s reality…
It wasn’t just special. Those days kept getting better and better. So, do I wish that could’ve lasted? Oh yeah. Being adored. It almost started to feel like I was the star of the house. Possibly even the reason for their smiles. Come on…did I really think it would stay that way forever? Doesn’t matter now. Because time moves on. And I guess it was just a season. A glimpse that’s almost too good to be true.
Then it’s gone.
I was surrounded by so many gifts. Lit up so bright that you’d see me twinkling in the dark. Once upon a time.
And now?
Well, it’s colder out here. Feels a bit lonely. Almost starting to think I’ve been discarded. Look, I know all of us are decaying gradually. The thing is…
It doesn’t feel so gradual to me.
Been having a hard time recognizing myself these days.
But let’s not get all mushy here. Because there’s no way to possibly thank you enough for all those moments. I had it better than anyone. You brought me right into your home. Treated me like your most special guest. And it truly was the highlight of my life.
Thanks to big leaps in technology, I’ve been granted a gift. Frankly, it feels like a real-life miracle.
Without further ado…
I shall now begin a text conversation with my future self. Yes, you heard that correctly. I’m meeting me – exactly one year from now. How exciting is this moment? Very. But nerves are also a factor. Mostly, though, I’m just curious. What will the 2027 version of me be like? Having made my New Year’s resolutions today…how much will I have grown? What new wisdom will be shared? Well, no need to guess. Let’s find out from the source. Here we go…
——-
Hi there. This is so incredible. Is it really you?
Wassup dog.
There’s really no way to properly express myself right now. I mean, wow. Can you believe this is happening? How do we comprehend the gravity of all this? What a truly special experience.
I know, right…
Where do we even start? Tell me EVERYTHING. I still can’t believe I’m talking to the 2027 me. So, did we accomplish our goals? How did we do with the resolutions?
Hmm. Remind me of one…
Well…I mean…did we lose the 20 pounds?
LOL. Oh yeah! Twenty is a big ass number, dude.
Of course. Understandable. But did we at least cut down on our screen time? And all the social media?
Hold up, bro. Just seeing a funny post about this bear in some lady’s house.
Sure, but I really wanted to see if we cut down on the—
Gonna send you this clip. Bro, bears are crazy!
Yes, I imagine that’s quite a clip. Maybe let’s just move on to the next resolution. Have we deepened our relationships? Did I become a better listener?
Oh man, this bear is in the fridge right now WTF
Uh…hello? Can you at least tell me we’ve cut down on the politics. I hope we’re not still wasting our energy on all that dra—
–Yo. Are you trying to spar with me?
Wait, what? No, I am you. Why would I want to—
–Cuz I can spar all day long. You want me to burn this down? Oh, I’ll burn this fucker to the ground! These people are crazy, bro. CRAZY WITH A CAPITAL C. So don’t press my buttons!
Ok…um…did we actually make any progress? With any of our resolutions? I’m almost afraid to ask. But are we eating more vegetables?
No doubt. Got at least 3 or 4 mushrooms on this slice right now, baby.
So, we haven’t cut down on the pizza? Is that right?
Dude. You ever wonder if bears like pepperoni?
Indeed. Good point. So, out of curiosity, how many pounds did we end up losing?
NITUYTNKSNjnsa8
Sorry, I didn’t quite catch that.
My bad. Got a few suds on the phone, homeboy.
Wait, we’re drinking beer? Please tell me we’re not back to eating ice cream?
Cool, I won’t tell you. But the answer rhymes with FO SHIZZLE.
I guess it’s safe to say we didn’t get into therapy…
Bro. Reddit says mint chocolate chip is hella therapeutic.
I was really hoping we’d be on a keto diet by now.
Oh yeah, I tried keto. But then I found out the KEY to my happiness is pepperoni. And as far as the TOE part…just fyi…even our toes are a little chubby now.
This is unbelievable. You’ve accomplished none of our goals! Nothing. Zero percent of our resolutions have been achieved!
I mean, did you have a resolution about staying off the crack pipe?
WHAT??? NO!!! WE DON’T DO DRUGS!!!! ARE YOU CRAZY???
Exactly. See, things could be worse. You’ve got fat feet, not a crack habit.
Hmm…wait a minute. One of my resolutions is to look at the brighter side of life.
Boom. Mission accomplished.
Hey, by any chance, did we sign up for that great art class? Or the yoga one?
Gotta run, amigo. This bear is sitting in the chick’s hot tub!
Hold on a second. Just one final question. No offense, but…um…what happened to us?
Look, compadre. If you thought 2025 was a doozy? Better bring your best for ’26. Unless, of course, you want to end up like—
