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Twice Bitten by La La Land, Love & Regret
Forget the singing, the dancing, the sets, the terrific, catchy music, and the fantasy of La La Land. What remains at the core of this award-winning film is character development and a love story that viewers are intentionally swept into from the opening scene of this boy-meets-girl movie romp that harkens back to old-time musical storytelling. If you haven’t seen the film yet, first of all, shame on you, and second of all, stop reading here, because I’m going to dissect the guts of the plot and meaning as opposed to an overall review. I honestly don’t want to spoil it for you, so if you haven’t watched it, close…
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Why We Love “Follow Your Dream” Stories
* Last night, while on vacation in Hilton Head, our waiter, Michael, still with a heavy accent originally from Queens, NY, told us how he came to live on the island. “I was working in construction, and in 1991, Hilton Head was booming. After vacationing here, I packed up my stuff, moved, and did pretty well here. And, I’m still here all these years later.” We all love these types of stories—stories of people who just decide to follow their dream. A former student of mine, Jen, just recently decided to make a move to Florida. She got a job and has left Maryland for the Sunshine State. Another former…
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I Totally Missed It
You’re supposed to remember the dates of big anniversaries. I didn’t. I totally missed it. Monday marked the one-year anniversary of the publication of my novel. It wasn’t even a blip on my radar; I am wrapped up in other things and didn’t take a moment to reflect on the last year. Anniversaries are for remembering. For reflecting on what has happened since you embarked on whatever it was: marriage, children, jobs, schools, a project come to fruition, etc. I’m still the same old person I used to be (and I do mean old). I go about my daily routines in the same way I always did. I take care…
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On Being A Dreamer
* * * DREAMS by Langston Hughes Hold fast to dreamsFor if dreams dieLife is a broken-winged birdThat cannot fly.Hold fast to dreamsFor when dreams goLife is a barren fieldFrozen with snow. * * * I remember reading this poem as a teenager. My mother had this book of great literature and poetry that sat around the house, and I frequently looked at it. It had short stories like Shirley Jackson’s “The Lottery,” and Edgar Allen Poe’s classic “The Raven.” And while those two are legendary in their own right, it’s been Hughes’s poem that I keep in my head and my heart. I love every word of…
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What Dreams Mean…
Last night, my friend Jenny and I got together for a night out on the town in Baltimore for what we call our annual “Fa-la-la-la-la Night Before Christmas.” We exchanged gifts and indulged in some wine and delectable food. At the end of the evening, she gave me a bag of gifts. I love them all, including the beautiful, handcrafted pink necklace she got for me from a local boutique. However, the gift that’s intrigued me the most is a book entitled “10,000 Dreams Explained: How to Use Your Dreams to Enhance Your Life and Relationships” by Pamela J. Ball. I am digging this text. I’ve always been fascinated by…
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The Wonderful Thing About “It’s A Wonderful Life”
For years, watching “It’s A Wonderful Life” has been part of our family’s tradition. It started when I was a teenager and lived at home with my parents and brother, Glen. Even on occasion now, if we have an early snowfall prior to Christmas, my father will call and say, “It’s time for ‘It’s A Wonderful Life.’” I’m happy to report that the tradition of incorporating this film into my own family’s repertoire happens in my own home now, as my husband, daughter, son and I all snuggled up together last Saturday night and indulged in its brilliance. There’s a lot of Christmas spirit in this house, but it kicks…
