Remembrances

I thought I'd write again since I've pretty much "confessed" all of my changes lately. I want to say that I appreciate the love from everyone. I'm sure that most who are LDS do not agree with me - that was expected, but I'm glad I'm still loved. That's all I ask. The other day I was watching television, or should I say, channel surfing and found an old favorite was on..."Steel Magnolias". This has to be one of my favorite movies EVER. I know it's a chick-flick, but I don't care. Growing up in the South and knowing how people can be, this movie makes me a bit homesick. We are headed back to Virginia this week for a family reunion - my mom's side. We have been really blessed that some of our family has decided that is was important that we be there so they are helping us with travel expenses. Being out of work for the last 5 months has definitely kept us within a short distance of home. It will be nice to have a change of scenery. I will miss our kitties, though. I love them so much and they are such a huge part of our lives. Timi is going to check in on them periodically so they will get some attention while we're gone. She's a wonderful niece. We are lucky to have her in our lives.

So, back to "Steel Magnolias". Unfortunately with everything going on in my life, I have to say that my emotions have been pretty close to the surface. For those who know the movie, the ending is pretty sad. I lost it! I was like a baby who was starving. I just couldn't stop crying. Then, the part where Shirley McLaine's character, who is a grouch by the way, gets shoved towards a crying Sally Field and Olympia Dukakis says..."hit Ouiser! Knock her lights our M'lyn. Half of Chickepen Parrish would give their eye teeth to take a shot at her!" I know the spellings are off, but you get the idea. It was hilarious - althought not to the Ouiser character. At that point, everyone starts laughing and Dolly Parton says something to the effect of, '...laughter through tears, that's my favorite emotion!'. I concur. This movie has it all - funny one-liners and tearful moments. I have to say that I have added a few of those quirky one liners to my own vocabulary over the years. Here are a few for your own consideration...

1. I'm not crazy, I've just been in a bad mood for 40 years! (you can substitute any number to fit).

2. You are a boil on the butt of humanity!

3. You are a pig from Hell!

4. You got a reindeer up your butt?!

5. Pink is my signature color! (again you can substitute your own favorite color here)

6. If you don't have anything good to say about anyone, come sit by me! (I have heard that this comes from Dorothy Parker, but it's a good one!)

7. That which doesn't kill us makes us stronger! (This one has become my own personal mantra!)

8. That looks like 2 pigs in a blanket fighting!

9. I'd rather have 3 minutes of wonderful than a lifetime of nothing special.

10. I don't worry because I know you're worrying enough for the rest of us!

There are many more and probably some I also use that didn't come to me while writing, but you get the idea. This movie came out while I was still at BYU and living in Provo, Utah. Cindy and I would go to the dollar movie and watch this and "The Little Mermaid" many times over. They became our "soothers", if you will. So, there are a lot of fond things associated with this movie for me. Besides having a great cast, it just hit home. Literally.

With things being in such upheaval in our lives lately, I wanted to share something a bit more personal and less religion oriented. This is who I am. I am finding myself again after many years. Watching this movie reminded me a bit of who I used to be and who I can still become. I'm not sure why all the changes now? Maybe it's a mid-life crisis? I think I've been having one of those for the last five years then! ha. Whatever the reason I'm glad to be going home this coming week and soaking up some of that good 'ol Southern culture again. I miss it sometimes more than I think. I guess we all need to get back in touch with our inner child sometimes and figure out just what we want out of this old life. I've done a lot of things and been a lot of places since I left home for the first time 27 years ago. WOW! Has it been that long? It has. I've met and be-friended some of the best people. When I moved to Indiana in 1993, I felt I had come home again. I'm so glad for the friends and family here. So, one last quote from "Steel Magnolias". As they are at the home after the funeral Annelle has decided that her new baby will be named "Shelby" after Julia Roberts' character who has just passed away. Truvy asks her what she'll name the baby if it's a boy and Annelle says..."Shelby, I guess." Sally Field looks wistful and smiles and says...'that's as it should be. Life goes on.' And so it does...