LAST LINES AND A THREE-FOR

GOOD MORNING WORLD

I suppose if I was going to be very honest about the start of this post I would have to go to the picture that one could have taken of me last night as I leaned on the ironing board with tears streaming down my face at the end of a movie.  Third ending I caught yesterday of three of my favorite movies.

Do you remember last lines?  If I gave you the last lines of these three movies would you know the name of the film?

Movie 1 ending was “Thank you boys. Thank you.”

Movie 2 was, “Shall we?” then she said as she looked at him, “Sam.”

Movie 3 was sung, “To love another person is to see the face of God.”

It all started when I decided that Sat. afternoon I was going to get all my ironing done.  Once again the basket, that I swore would not ever get large again to all of you dear readers long ago, was overflowing.  I knew I was in for a long 3+hours at least.  I took ibuprofen so my knees would not ache.  I set forth to my task willingly and almost a bit excited.  I found an indie movie to watch which was cute.  When it was done I had to find something else to watch.   As I skipped through the channels I saw nothing that was intriguing yet I saw three movies that I adore.  I thought to myself if I play this right I will catch the endings, which are the best, of all three.  So I began.

I wonder what it is about the ending of a movie that lets us not ever forget it.  Much of “Gone With The Wind” is forgotten yet we remember the last scene of Rhett in the door saying , “Frankly my Dear I don’t give a damn.”  To which Scarlet replies as she stands by the stairs,  “Tara. Home. I’ll go home, and I’ll think of some way to get him back. After all, tomorrow is another day.”  The last line being “After all tomorrow is another day.” is not ever forgotten and much misquoted.

The last scene of another of my favorite movies ends with “…..there’s no place like home.”

Another last line from a movie I really like is, “You wanna have a catch?”  “I’d like that very much.”

[Of course as I wrote this it now had me going all over the web looking up last lines of movies.  The best site was the one from “AMC filmsite” which is written and edited by Tim Dirks.  He even has them listed by decades.  It is quite site for last lines.]

It was an interesting afternoon and the ironing got done on top of it all.  So the answers to the queries above?

Movie #1 was “Dead Poets Society”.  I am always – I use that absolute absolutely – touched when Todd Anderson stands on his desk and says “Captain my Captain.” and turns to face Robin Williams playing  Mr. Keating leaving the classroom.  With each additional boy that ascend to the top of his desk the music builds and my heart swells.  These boys are taking their whole lives in their hands, as the school Dean is telling them to get down, with this literal stance.  They are defying the rules and showing respect for a man who inspired them to think for themselves and out of the box.  This to me is the epitome of inspiration and courage as you look at Todd Anderson through the legs of another boy as the camera fades out to the end.

Movie #2 was “Sleepless in Seattle” as Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks leave the Empire State building.  There is no major epiphany here.  This is simply a sweet movie with a nice ending of love found.  I am an easy target for chick flicks.  The other thought could be that I lost my mother when I was young and my dad had a few sleepless nights I am certain.  As I think about it this may touch another cord in my being perhaps.

Movie #3 was “Les Miserables”.  I adore this movie.  Then again I adore musicals in general.  This one touched me more than most however.  When our kids were in their teens we took them to the theatre to see plays.  Their mother liked them so we went!  “Les Mis” was one of my all time favorite plays.  It was a dark play and I was fascinated by the barricade and how they made it all turn in and out and around.  Having been the kids stage mother for their school plays I knew a bit about scenery and this barricade was terrific.

The movie got really good reviews and deserved them all.  The actors sang their songs as they played the parts instead of having them dubbed in and this was new for on screen musicals.  Knowing this gave me great appreciation for all the actors as I watched the movie the first time.  I thought them terrific and it is an all time favorite of mine.  I cannot ever watch it without tears especially at the end.  I find that scene done so very well and hope that is how we all go to heaven actually.

So there I was leaning on the ironing board sobbing away as Jean Valjean tells the truth about his theft and jail time and escape to his soon to be son-in-law.  Then Fantine comes in with that scalped hair to take him home to heaven and my face is soaked.  Then the last line,  “To love another person is to see the face of God.”  More tears.

As I write this and think of the last lines of my favorite movies [the other two that I mentioned being “The Wizard of Oz” and “Field of Dreams”], it occurs to me that most last lines are filled with hope of some kind?  At least the last lines of my favorites are.  I may have to look further into this at another time.  Hope is a good thing!

Today by the way is Hugh Jackman’s 46th birthday.  I am a huge fan of his and have seen most of his movies.  As old as I am I am not dead and appreciate the physical attributes he displays from his physique to his dance moves to the grace and sexiness he eschews.  It was quite an awakening when I realized that having been married 46 yrs I could be his mother.  So much for thinking of him as a sex symbol!!!

…..ONWARD TO MORE MISADVENTURE…

T-SHIRT AND A SMILE

GOOD MORNING WORLD

Did you ever walk down the street and see someone dressed in a way that makes you say to yourself, “What were you thinking when you got up this morning?”  You watch them come toward you and pass and may even shake your head.  There is a place on the internet where one can go to see pictures of clothing that is worn to go to Wal-Mart to shop.  Or lack of clothing in some cases.  How we present ourselves to the world is important I suppose.

It used to be that I would not go out of the house without lipstick on.  That was drilled into me from the time I started wearing any sort of make-up.  At least have lipstick and you will look put together.

Well in my whole life I can probably count on one hand the times that I have looked “put together”.  One of those of course was my wedding day.  The reason for that was my step-mother who made me sit down and finish the sewing of my gown.  I made my gown, covered a hat to match, made her dress and covered her hat to match as well.  She told me that unlike a number of other times – this one I would not go out wearing pins to hold the dress together!!!  Truth hurts and so did the pins if not placed right.  I once had a scar from a pin that kept hitting my knee as I walked.  Should have finished the sewing of that hem.

I rarely wear T-Shirts.  Certainly not outside the house.  I wear cotton shirts that have a v-neck or a u shaped neckline.  These are cut differently and made of a softer cotton and have no words on them.  I rarely wear T-Shirts with words on them either.  Though I do have T-Shirts from the OCS (Overly Comfortable Spa) with the name of the Spa on them.  Come to think of it when I put those on I am infused with energy.  Maybe I should rethink this no word T-Shirt policy?

So here is the real story of the T-Shirt and a smile.  A couple of weeks ago I was working around the house and in a tizzy to get to the store run some errands and get home.  I was on a role and wanted to capitalize on that energy.  I had no idea what I was wearing and have long ago forgotten the lipstick thing .  Off I ran to Wal-Mart.  Little did I realize that I soon was going to become a WAL-MART PERSON!!!

I was racing through the store and people were smiling at me.  One lady said I like your shirt to which I responded I do too.  Another smiled and gave me a thumbs up.  Before I entered the store I realized that I was wearing my pink work shirt.  It has words on it. Then a third time someone smiled and said they liked what it said to which I responded “I do too.”  I have decided that this shirt is an ice-breaker and no longer needs to only be kept in the house.  After all what it says is terribly true about me – just ask my husband and kids.

I AM “The Queen of Absolutely Everything” as my T-Shirt said.  At least in my own mind and world!!!

…..ONWARD TO MORE MISADVENTURE…

 

ODE TO OCTOBER

GOOD MORNING WORLD

It is the season of change.  The fall brings about a myriad of changes.  The leaves turn color and oh how glorious that is to see.  I am in awe that each tree has its own color.  Each tree has within it the necessary nutrients to create a specific color change.  Did you know that?

The red maple’s leaves turn red which is great as it is named that way!! From forest.about.com I grabbed this short paragraph of information.  I will provide the link as it has great information if you are interested.

Red maple, along with sugar maple, scarlet oak and sassafras are abundant in anthocyanins that produce deep wine and red colors. (1)

Hickories, aspens, birch, cottonwoods and some sassafras  have lots of carotenoids so their color is yellow the article goes on to say.  Sycamores and oaks go from green to brown quite quickly.  This was described as bland yet I think when mixed in with all the other colors it comes to life as completing a palette.

In fall the breeze can pick up and help the leaves so beautifully colored begin to leave the tree.  They drop off much like we drop off to sleep.  One minute they are on the tree and the next they are fluttering to the ground.  Silently falling to then dry and be crunched under foot by children playing.  At least if I were a leaf I would look forward to giving someone that fun.

I have been listening to the breeze this morning.  It is gentle yet strong enough that I can hear the whoosh as it wends its way through the branches of the trees in my back yard.  Yesterday I suggested moving my desk so that I could look directly at the view.  I seemed to create more work than was necessary when I can simply swivel my chair.  The breeze is calming any urge to make those changes right now.

Yesterday I did go ahead and make a few changes.  It is fall and I am in the ‘nesting’ mode of the year.  The time when it becomes necessary to bank your home from the harsh ravages of the winter to come.  The winter may not ravage yet the work of banking the home still is necessary.

That is an interesting word – banking.  The dictionary references and even googling referred to financial use of the word.  Then under noun you can find bank referring to a ‘long pile or heap’ and under verb there is reference to ‘building up’ as in banking a river to protect the area around it.

We used to bank our house every fall with brush. First would go the tar paper to seal the foundation then the brush went on top.  I loved the look of it.  It was a green collar around our home like a scarf to protect us from the cold.   Further the short curtains of summer would come down and the heavier drapes would go up so that any air that would come through the storm windows that were covering on the outside could be stopped even more.  It was a snuggling in time for me.  It still is.

In an effort to reclaim our house from the disaster it has become I decided yesterday to tackle the kitchen eating nook.  In anticipation of this effort I decided to also do a small makeover.  Like in the magazines – “A MakeOver for Under $100”.  I did just that.  I have had a simple panel or nothing for curtains at this window all summer.  I wanted a change.

Window coverings have a personality you know.  Drapes, the more simplistic of the species as they are generally straight pieces of fabric, can be formal or country or contemporary depending on the fabric and adornment.  Cafe curtains (note the word change)  with short panels on top of each other for me bring about an image of a cottage or country log home or a cafe in a busy town.  Thus the name.  Sheer drapes create images of floating in the wind.  Sheer curtains evoke hominess for me.  It is the difference in the two words as well.

Then you have Priscillas.  Anyone who knows curtains or drapes know that a Priscilla is a curtain with a ruffle.  It can be sheer or solid fabric.  It will have a ruffle all the way around and it will also have a tie-back to pull the curtain from the middle to the side.  A full window will have two of these delightful panels and when the middles are pulled to the side you have the most wonderfully graceful opening to your world.  The world is no longer boxey as with a straight panel drape or curtain.  The world out your window is now framed with a fluffy edge.

I used to use Priscillas all the time.  I made them out of calico fabric.  I’ve made them out of muslin.  This time I bought them.  My sewing machine is on the fritz and by the time I figured out the cost of fabric it was not much different.  They arrived and sat for a week or so.  I was waiting for the right time for the house to tell me it is time to go to work.  Well actually the house has been screaming for attention, the maid has not had the energy.  The cooler weather has brought the two in sync.

I took the time to clean out and toss and put aside to go through later.  I polished the windows,  dusted the floor and shelves  and vacced.  I was a whirlwind.  I hung the curtains last.  The Priscilla took to the window as if she had been waiting for a long time to meet.  The corresponding valance on the slider was new for me and I liked the look.  The fall table runner that I quilted was added atop the table.  It was done and I looked and felt warmth creep through my body.  Let the snuggling in begin.

While I have more rooms to clean it is ever so rewarding in my being to see this space transformed.  I look at it and I am immediately calmed.  I look forward to a friend sitting on the other side of the table and sharing a cup of with them.

…..ONWARD TO MORE MISADVENTURE…

(1) http://forestry.about.com/od/fallcolor/a/fall_leaf_color.htm

UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES

GOOD MORNING WORLD

From where did, and when did, the phrase appear?  According to Mr. Webster a consequence is a ‘conclusion derived through logic’.  He also says it ‘happens as a result of a particular action or condition’.  He says it is ‘something produced by a cause following from a set of circumstances’.  This all sounds very deliberate to me.  So the question becomes where is the ‘unintended’ part in all of this?

I remember my chemistry class.  I was not great there.  One quarter I got and E and then a D for the whole course.  It was my junior year in high school and I had other more fun things to attend to I believed.  Luckily I had studied some for 2 quarters at least.  Our teacher, Mr. Furtwengler, kept cautioning us about procedure and safety.  The consequences of our experiments were known.  If we did them correctly we would get the expected results.   In this case I can see where mixing the wrong chemicals could bring about unintended consequences.  The question at this point becomes why would you do that if you know the best way to create a successful lab project?

Back to the phrase above ‘unintended consequences’.  It sounds to me like this comes from a time or place or action or situation that no one pays much attention to such that they are not certain of the results.  Without clear thought and understanding why would one consciously make a decision or choice or choose a direction that would give them unintended results?

Oh I hear you out there the naysayers – what is this aging woman yacking about.  Has she not ever fallen in love?  How do you know the results of that?  Well of course this can be a fair question.  I fell in love many a time when I was in school.  Fun and free and not forever.  At the time I did not care about the consequences.

The part of this discussion that is missing and according to Mr. Webster, is that consequences come from logic, actions and conditions.  In the case of a chemical experiment you know when you mix a with b you will get c.  In the case of love while you may not know the consequences you do know that your actions can influence them.  Looking back 46 years, the spontaneous marriage in November of 1968 of two kids who just met in February of that same year, was not a bad thing.  The consequences while not known were ever influenced by many positive actions in a fertile condition that had us wanting to remain together.  While we had no idea we would be happy, we planned to be, worked toward that and the resulting good life has been intended through our actions.

All of this prefaces the real point of my post this morning.  We got a call to pray for again for a child who spoke about suicide.  I’ve written about this before.

I am not a stranger to despair.  I know the depths to which our detachment and isolation can lead us.  I know the hole that death can leave on our personhood.  I know the destruction that can come from all of these.  I know the black.  I know the silent.  I know the sensation of screaming with no sound coming out of your mouth.  I know the rage that wants to rend apart everything in its path.  I know the edgy, the jittery, the cold of your body when it is hot outside.  I have heard the raging sounds of water in your head when no such thing exists outside of it. I know the begging to God for something to change only to hear little response.  The emptiness.   How do I know all of these?  Does it matter?

Unintended consequences?  This sweet young child is in a mental hospital.  What is the life situation that brought this thought? Did they think that was going to happen when the words were expressed. Or were they simply just said with no thought?

I have no answers.  I have not lived a perfect life.  I am figuratively, since the dawning of age and arthritis, on my knees daily in prayer.  I am a stream of consciousness pray-er.  As I said I woke up with this request in my mind and heart.  I prayed last night when we got the call.  I will keep this child in my heart, as I move about the day, along with all the other people for whom I have committed to pray.

Unintended consequences – what are they really.  Perhaps it is simply living life not knowing all the answers.  If in fact that is it, then we all must expect them and are they really unintended?  For every action we take there will be a consequence.  I know that when I pray I will not necessarily know the answer.  What I will know is that I have spent some time in the quiet of my heart thinking of someone or something else in hope that the prayer is answered as they want.

…..and there it is…..hope.  Even in my darkest times and the tragedies that have come into my life, in the end  I have not ever lost hope.  The spark of hope may have been covered in dust and in the shadows yet there it glowed every so steadily.  The proverbially one candle in the room that overcomes the darkness.

How can I pass this on to this child who wanted to end their life?  How can I let him know that there is nothing – I mean NOTHING – in this world that cannot be forgiven and overcome.  I might come in different ways to different people yet the consequence of hope is simply a ray of light to lead you out of the shadow in which you find yourself at the time.  How can I let him know that life IS worth living? I can’t.

I can only write and share my musings.  I can dare hope that someone who reads this may find something for which they can share with others.  I can pray that people think before they make choices that effect others.  With hope comes choice.  I will continue to pray for this family.  If you read this additional prayers are invited.   The consequences of all of this?  People praying for others.  Doesn’t sound too bad to me.

Perhaps the best words for hope and consequences were spoken through the pen of A.A.Milne when he had Christopher Robin tell Winnie the Pooh…..

“Promise me you’ll always remember: You’re braver than you believe, and stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think.”

…..ONWARD TO MORE MISADVENTURE…