Welcome to my wizardly nightmare.
Several years ago, a student of mine mentioned that she had a "Wizard of Oz curse." In answer to my quizzical look, she explained to me that there is a random Wizard of Oz reference in her life every single day. I chuckled and thought, "Surely she is exaggerating."
The curse is contagious.
Since then, I have experienced some sort of Oz moment every single day. It is usually totally random - a reference on a television show, a blurb in a newspaper article, a few bars of a hummed tune in the line at the bank. Once, I even saw someone at a crowded festival who had the Scarecrow tattooed on his right calf and Dorothy tattooed on his left one. When I tell people this they usually react the same way I did - a dismissive chuckle and a metaphorical pat on the head. I have decided now to document my daily Oz occurrences.
Some self-imposed rules regarding my "Ozcurrences": if I'm in a bookstore, that doesn't count. If I am perusing Amazon or some other website that sells movies, posters, or classic Hollywood paraphernalia, I don't count that either. Halloween trick-or-treating and costume shops? No. I only count "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" if it shows up in an unexpected place, not a popular commercial or if I'm listening to movie soundtracks on XM radio. When possible, I will provide some sort of evidence, e.g., video or photos.
And be careful - Oz may be contagious. It will stalk you and drive you insane. So, let's drink to Frank L. Baum and start the journey into my own personal hell - paved in yellow bricks, of course!