I watched one of my favourite movies this past weekend…You’ve Got Mail. It’s not my favourite because of the acting or the intricate plot line or even for its creativity. In fact, I just like it for its simplicity. Like a good friend, it’s just easy to be in a room with!
The first time I saw it was purely by accident. It happened to be playing on tv on night and I had it on in the background as I went about doing other things. Pretty soon though, I found myself distracted enough to finally sit down and watch what was left of it. I’ll be the first to admit…it’s a corny little romantic movie that would likely never happen in real life but, who’s to say that the world couldn’t use a bit more of that?!?!
I think, more than anything, I just loved the setting of the movie. It takes place in New York (I love New York!), mostly in the fall (I love the Fall!) and usually in one of two place; either in front of their laptops (I love my laptop!) or in their bookstores (I love bookstores!) with a never ending soundtrack of jazz (I love jazz!) playing in the background…so really, I suppose what I’m getting at is that I wish it were me in that movie frolicking through the leaves at Thanksgiving along Fifth Avenue, laptop in hand on my way to a bookstore!!
There’s one part in the movie when Meg Ryan’s character begins to wonder about her life and what lead her to where she is. She says “so much of what I see reminds me of something that I once read in a book, when shouldn’t it the other way around?” As I browse through Facebook and see where so many of my high school acquaintances have ended up (in rather lavish and exotic lifestyles)…I often wonder the same thing. Have we ended up here because we wanted to or because we weren’t brave? Like anything else, life is what you make of it but, it appears that some of us have an easier time throwing ourselves off the ledge of uncertainty than others.
Yesterday afternoon I sat in the big leather chair next to our fireplace, with a blanket and Tugger curled up on my lap while I started a new book. As I looked out at the dark clouds rolling in, I thought to myself that I couldn’t really imagine wanting to be anywhere else but here. Of course, I know that there are people who would cringe at the very thought of our semi-suburban life that we’ve begun to create but, it’s safe and it’s friendly and it leaves room for growth and inspiration. Of course, there is restlessness of a different nature too; the restlessness that has far less to do with where you are and more to do with what are you. I’m quite certain that is the monster that I wrestle with more often than not.
At one point in time, Ryan’s character is struggling with trying to keep her little bookstore, which has come to be her purpose and livelihood, alive. Every time I see it, I get little pains of sympathy as I always seem to find myself on the other end of the spectrum; trying to bring life to my writing instead of trying to prevent its heart from stopping. While she’s mourning the potential death of something she once loved, I’m still trying to give birth to something that I have yet to create.
I often catch myself wondering who really reads this and if it ever means something. I wonder if it will ever amount to anything other than one more occupied corner of cyberspace or one more outlet where words get taken for granted. Today is one of those days!
All this while still trying to have a good hair day and find time to stop for coffee!
Simply maddening!
The first time I saw it was purely by accident. It happened to be playing on tv on night and I had it on in the background as I went about doing other things. Pretty soon though, I found myself distracted enough to finally sit down and watch what was left of it. I’ll be the first to admit…it’s a corny little romantic movie that would likely never happen in real life but, who’s to say that the world couldn’t use a bit more of that?!?!
I think, more than anything, I just loved the setting of the movie. It takes place in New York (I love New York!), mostly in the fall (I love the Fall!) and usually in one of two place; either in front of their laptops (I love my laptop!) or in their bookstores (I love bookstores!) with a never ending soundtrack of jazz (I love jazz!) playing in the background…so really, I suppose what I’m getting at is that I wish it were me in that movie frolicking through the leaves at Thanksgiving along Fifth Avenue, laptop in hand on my way to a bookstore!!
There’s one part in the movie when Meg Ryan’s character begins to wonder about her life and what lead her to where she is. She says “so much of what I see reminds me of something that I once read in a book, when shouldn’t it the other way around?” As I browse through Facebook and see where so many of my high school acquaintances have ended up (in rather lavish and exotic lifestyles)…I often wonder the same thing. Have we ended up here because we wanted to or because we weren’t brave? Like anything else, life is what you make of it but, it appears that some of us have an easier time throwing ourselves off the ledge of uncertainty than others.
Yesterday afternoon I sat in the big leather chair next to our fireplace, with a blanket and Tugger curled up on my lap while I started a new book. As I looked out at the dark clouds rolling in, I thought to myself that I couldn’t really imagine wanting to be anywhere else but here. Of course, I know that there are people who would cringe at the very thought of our semi-suburban life that we’ve begun to create but, it’s safe and it’s friendly and it leaves room for growth and inspiration. Of course, there is restlessness of a different nature too; the restlessness that has far less to do with where you are and more to do with what are you. I’m quite certain that is the monster that I wrestle with more often than not.
At one point in time, Ryan’s character is struggling with trying to keep her little bookstore, which has come to be her purpose and livelihood, alive. Every time I see it, I get little pains of sympathy as I always seem to find myself on the other end of the spectrum; trying to bring life to my writing instead of trying to prevent its heart from stopping. While she’s mourning the potential death of something she once loved, I’m still trying to give birth to something that I have yet to create.
I often catch myself wondering who really reads this and if it ever means something. I wonder if it will ever amount to anything other than one more occupied corner of cyberspace or one more outlet where words get taken for granted. Today is one of those days!
All this while still trying to have a good hair day and find time to stop for coffee!
Simply maddening!
2 comments:
I love that God provides people to sharpen us. Sometimes - rarely I dare say - He gives us someone completely unlike us to totally rock our comfy little world. More often, I think, He gives us people quite similar to ourselves in a lot of ways...and just different enough in a few ways to nudge us along. Close enough to call friend; someone you would want to be with. Different enough to make you think about things in a way you hadn't seen before.
Darling woman - I rarely am inspired enough to comment, but I truly do read every word! Okay, I didn't end up reading about your trip - I think computer time was awol around then. But every other post. Seriously. And I'm not even a stalker. You just inspire me. Is it weird that sometimes it feels like I could have written what you did?!
Please, keep writing, keep challenging. Keep being authentic. You never know how far the ripples reach from one tiny pebble dropped into the water...
And then there's the people that God sends us to make us blush ;)
Thank you Melanie!
Post a Comment