Love Notes

There's a moment in the Disney classic, Cinderella, when the ragamuffin heroine lays claim to her wayward glass slipper and Prince Charming adoringly sweeps her into his arms and waltzes her away. It's a scene that draws longing sighs from every woman who watches it.

Why? Romance. That's what it's all about.

I've often wondered how that intangible sense of true love and devotion makes the leap from celluoid to reality. I know it happens. I've been around couples who have been married for decades and still glow when they sit side by side, hands lovingly intertwined.

However, I also know that the course of true love never runs smooth. In fact, Rocky Road might better entitle the majority of marriages I know.

But, last week a friend of mine told me a little secret. A tale of love that brought tears to my eyes and I must admit, a little envy to my heart. ;)

Her story wasn't about the latest piece of jewelry that her husband gave her, or the flowers that he sent. For my friend's husband passed away two years ago, just short of their wedding anniversary.

So now at the age of seventy, she is alone. But, thanks to her loving spouse, not always lonely.

For tucked away in drawers and cabinets throughout my friend's home are love notes scripted by her husband. Terms of endearments that he planted as romantic surprises for her during the course of their marriage.
Over the years, she saved his sweet inscriptions, often leaving them in their original hiding places. His loving sentiments tenderly playing anew with each re-discovery.

Now that he is gone, her life is a daily challenge of loving memories and sad yearning for this romantic man with whom she shared almost a half a century of life.

But in her indomitable way, my friend is continuing on with determination and enthusiasm. She is healthy and strong and lives each day with an interest in the world around her. She is surrounded by family and friends who support her and a community where she is acknowledged and respected. But most of all, she continues on with the inner knowledge that she is loved. Truly and totally.

And any time she thinks otherwise, all she has to do is open a kitchen drawer or look in her bedroom nightstand for a little reminder.

But somehow I think she knows, even before she opens that drawer. :p

Immortals 2011

I didn't want to see Immortals because it looked like 300 or Clash of the Titans, but rather because I wanted to see the future Man of Steel, Henry Cavill, in a heroic action role to get an idea of how he might fit in his upcoming, iconic role. Well, not only was I pleased with what I saw of him, but I was also pleased to find that this was a movie that exceeded Clash of the Titans (not hard to do), had the same artistic aesthetic as 300 but a little more refined (like the difference between a graphic novel and a painting), and some surprisingly awesome action. In short, it was a fun time at the movies as long as you aren't expecting anything of Oscar caliber

Overall the story of Theseus is fairly simple revenge tale. King Hyperion wants revenge on the gods for letting him down, Theseus wants revenge on Hyperion for killing his mother. The rage in both characters is what drives the story forward, but fortunately both leads give nuanced enough performances that it doesn't feel shallow. Rourke gives King Hyperion some gravitas with his ruthlessness that's driven by rage, sorrow, and disappointment. Cavill portrays a hero who wants revenge, yes, but also doesn't want to lose himself in the pursuit of it because it's not just about revenge; it's about justice. It's truly the light and the dark drawn from the same source but colliding together, and their final confrontation is as satisfying as it is brutal. Most of the other characters are serviceable, but the other stand-out is Luke Evans as Zeus, a god who is obviously conflicted but wants to do the right thing and help humanity stand against evil.

Speaking of the gods, much of this movie is driven by them... or rather one's belief and disbelief in them. Both Theseus and Hyperion share a common trait; they feel that the gods, if they are real, are capricious, unreliable, and certainly didn't ever do much to help them in their time of need. So many discussions center around this disappointment with the gods that I started to wonder why humanity is so quick to get angry at the divine. Even in our modern society, we still have people who trump reason over the myths of God, saying we should rely on ourselves and not childhood tales of faith. One of the common roots of this belief comes from some sort of disappointment. At some time God didn't live up our expectations of what he is supposed to do for us. Our pain, our hurt, our disappointment is his fault and because of that we'll choose to believe either he isn't real or doesn't care.

We are quick to consider all the ways God disappoints us and doesn't live up to our expectations, but perhaps we should stop and consider whether or not we are living up to his expectations or if we are disappointing him. Theseus eventually learns to view things from this different perspective while Hyperion never does. One of them is destroyed and one of them prevails; I'll let you take a guess as to which is which. ;)

Immortals was more a curiosity than anything else for me; I was curious to see the future Superman. However, I was pleasantly surprised to find a fairly enjoyable movie here as well. It's certainly better than Clash of the Titans (I know, that's not saying much) and at least on equal footing with 300 (although that film had a more lyrical quality to the dialogue whereas in this movie more often than not it's rather clumsy). Cavill makes for a fine leading man, Rourke is an imposing villain, and climax of the movie which involves a fierce battle between titans and gods plays almost like God of War the Movie. With the few mentioned caveats (it's bloody and people do get naked for no reason at one point), Immortals is a fun mythology-filled action film that just may get you thinking about your own disappointments with God[s]

Make a Difference

You don't actually have to take the quiz. Just read straight through, and you'll get the point, an awesome one. .....
Take this quiz:

1. Name the five wealthiest people in the world.
2. Name the last five Heisman trophy winners.
3. Name the last five winners of the Miss America contest.
4. Name ten people who have won the Nobel or Pulitzer Prize.
5. Name the last half dozen Academy Award winners for best actor actress.
6. Name the last decade's worth of World Series winners.
How did you do?

The point is, none of us remember the headliners of yesterday. These are no second-rate achievers. They are the best in their fields. But the applause dies. Awards tarnish. Achievements are forgotten. Accolades and certificates are buried with their owners.

Here's another quiz. See how you do on this one:

1. List a few teachers who aided your journey through school.
2. Name three friends who have helped you through a difficult time.
3. Name five people who have taught you something worthwhile.
4. Think of a few people who have made you feel, appreciated and special.
5. Think of five people you enjoy spending time with.
6. Name half a dozen heroes whose stories have inspired you. Easier?

The lesson: The people who make a difference in your life are not the ones with the most credentials, the most money, or the most awards. They are the ones that care.