Early Friday afternoon and I get text message from Sarah: Can you make a 7:30 movie at Arclight?

As soon as I get it, I call her back: Yes I can make it! We’re going to see Dark Knight with her Dad — key clue #1. Excellent. She tells me she is taking the train there — key clue #2.

So the day goes on, and I’m in a great mood. Grind out some work and then a little after 6, I head out. I have to make it up the 405 though Friday rush hour to the Sherman Oaks Arclight near our apartment. I battle traffic, busses, bikes. I don’t even get impatient, I’m just happy. I just know it will all work out just fine.

I just barely miss a traffic break on the ramp from the 10 to the 405. I’m the last car they let through. I’m so golden.

The 405 is slow, but with an inspiring regularity to the slowness. It’s like this all the time. I can count on its lurching plod through the Sepulveda pass and up over the hill. As every other driver notices, every other driver is a complete moron. But this time, for the millionth miracle, we all fail to crash into each other.

I exit Ventura, I sit through the 5th longest light in America. It’s 7:08. I’m feeling smooth and confident.

I get my ticket to enter the parking garage. The line stretches around the corner and up the ramp out of sight. And it ain’t moving. I don’t get worried. I’m listening to John Mayer. It’s all good. After two minutes thing get going. I’m up the ramp. I’m passing dozens of cars with their turn signals waiting for a spot, as I ascend to the much more sedate upper level.

I park.

I sit in the car waiting through the guitar solo in the live version of “Gravity.” I can afford it, it’s only 7:16! I can’t describe the feeling of things being right in the world. Great music, about to see my great girlfriend, and see an undoubtedly great movie. I get out and make my way. It’s a long walk through the Galleria to the theater. I decide to call Sarah and make sure she didn’t get stuck somewhere. She did say she was taking the train.

The train?

There is no train to the Sherman Oaks Galleria. I hadn’t really thought about it. Surely she meant the Orange Line bus that uses its own bus corridor. It’s very much like a train, doesn’t use the streets.

She picks up as I’m walking past Fuddruckers. She’s already here! Great! I’m almost there, I say, and hang up. I go past Ben & Jerry’s and the pieces all slot into place at once. There’s no train to Sherman Oaks, but the train does go to Hollywood, to the Hollywood Arclight. Her dad wouldn’t come up to the Sherman Oaks Arclight, would he? I call Sarah back.

Umm, what Arclight are you at?

Five minutes later I’m in line to exit the parking garage. It’s a long line and it’s not moving. I’m completely still. I’m experiencing a deep self-directed fury that rages in my center and causes my whole being to ache and spasm. But, on the outside I am a rock. I go home and take the dogs for a walk. A long walk.

Wow. I really liked Kung Fu Panda, and came out of the movie saying “skadoosh” every five seconds. I thought it was just me, it felt like an obscure takeaway that really was not a “catch phrase” or anything. I mean it was only used in the movie once. One time! That’s no way to coin a hip term.

But, I guess it resonated with more people than just me. Sometimes, something can enter the public consciousness that’s not the result of a deliberate marketing campaign. (Shocker!) And, that’s a bummer.  I can’t use skadoosh! mysteriously anymore. Everybody knows!

Skadoosh!is featured in The Boston Globe and then followed up in Language Log of all places.