I am already running late because... I was up late doing... research... yeah, That's what we'll call it...
The trip to the kitchen, accompanied by the checking in of the damn dog, "Ah... Cereal... Nothing for me... Made me get up for nothing... Thanks, Dick.", ended with disappointment.
There was just enough cereal, upon a casual glance, to not make it to the grocery shopping list... But come this morning, not enough to really make a satisfying bowl of cereal. It was like a "cereal tease".
The concept for this weeks offering was lain out Wednesday night. On weeknights, I like to watch a quick, twenty two minute (no commercials, ya know) sitcom, to numb my brain a little before drifting off to slumber land.
The choices were a plenty, but then I stopped on "The Office". The U.S. version. That series will always hit a spot. The writers crafted a beautiful arc for two of the characters. When they finally, really and truly are together, you pump your fist in the air. I would venture because if someone thought it... It could possibly happen. And if is possible, it could happen for me.
It got me thinking of other cinematic romances that have resonated...
Clarence and Alabama
"True Romance" (1993) was lot of people's unbeknownst introduction to Quentin Tarantino. The two characters are in over their heads. Waaaay over their heads.
The only thing in their favor... Each other.
The flick ends with a monologue from Alabama that will always strike a chord on the ol' heartstrings...
"Amid the chaos of that day, when all I could hear was the thunder of gunshots, and all I could smell was the violence in the air, I look back and am amazed that my thoughts were so clear and true, that three words went through my mind endlessly, repeating themselves like a broken record: 'You're so cool', 'You're so cool', 'You're so cool'. And sometimes Clarence asks me what I would have done if he had died, if that bullet had been two inches more to the left. To this, I always smile, as if I'm not going to satisfy him with a response. But I always do. I tell him of how I would want to die, but that the anguish and the want of death would fade like the stars at dawn, and that things would be much as they are now. Perhaps. Except maybe I wouldn't have named our son Elvis."
We all want to be thought of as "cool" by our partners...
Virgil/"Bud" and Lindsey Brigman
In the "Abyss" (1989), it showed what "til death do you part." means...
There is a scene, where he basically has to let her die. And NOT JUST watch, but look into her eyes as... Fuck.,.. It has been 27 some odd years and it still causes me a shortness of breath... Then he saves her... (Spoiler alert!)
When it is his turn... and he is alone... in the dark... falling farther and farther... All he has, is her voice.
"I know how alone you feel... alone in all that cold blackness... but I'm there in the dark with you. Oh Bud... you're not alone... Oh, God. You remember that time - you were pretty drunk, you probably don't remember - but the power went out in that little apartment we had on Orange Street? We were staring at that one little candle, and I, I said something really dumb like, that candle was me, and like every one of us is out there alone in the dark in this life... and you just, you just lit up another candle and you put it beside mine and said 'No! See, that's me. That's me'... and we stared at the two candles, and then... well, if you remember any of this, I'm sure you remember the next part. But there *are* two candles in the dark. I'm with you. I'll always be with you Bud, I promise that."
The point of being a relationship is not just "not being alone". It is finding that person who bolsters you.., makes it so you feel invincible and able to face things by yourself... but there is the added benefit of just being with them.
Lloyd and Diane
I remember the high school I graduated, albeit barely, from had flyers hung up for the showing of "Say Anything" (again with the 1989).
It was so good at capturing the meaning of relationships for young adults, that even the board of education was of the impression that these idiot kids should see it.
Theirs would not be a romance without trials and tribulations... At the "reunion"... Diane exclaims, "Everything else means nothing to me. If I hurt you again, I'll die.".
Lloyd, who all young men should want to be more like, and not so blinded that he is without a pinch of concern, replies, "One question: are you here 'cause you need 'someone', or 'cause you need 'me'?... Forget it, I don't care."
Okay... his cynicism lasted five seconds... Love is helluva drug.
The movie ends with perhaps what we all hope for. A flavor of optimism that only comes from when you are coupled with someone who is wholly and fully on your side... and you are fully and wholly on their side. It is literally you and them versus the world - and the world would tremble if it knew what it was facing.
Diane Court: Nobody thinks it will work, do they?
Lloyd Dobler: No. You just described every great success story.
Wesley and Buttercup
I mean... c'mon... "The Princess Bride" (1987)...
The absolute surety... The zero faltering delivery of the line, "Hear this now: I will always come for you."
Buttercup, having been through some turmoil, questions, "But how you can be sure?"
Westley, THE MAN!, comes right back with, "This is true love - you think this happens every day?"
It is abundantly clear that while I enjoy the ren faires for a multitude of reasons, this flick has a lot to do with it as well... The air of chivalry... The fair maiden... The pirate... Oh, yeah...
And I swear to all that is holy and unholy... If you want to win the charms and affections of a lady or gent - About every fifth request from them... Throw down the line that, for close to three decades, has been code for three other little words...
"As you wish"
You're welcome.
Jim and Pam
As stated earlier, sitcoms are my wind down. I need to not think or care for a bit. I need something humorous to end my day.
I knew as soon as I started "The Office" (for the third or fourth time now), I was in for the emotional roller coaster that is Jim Halpert and Pam Beesley.
One episode they just look at each other for almost 30 seconds.. Not saying anything... but conveying a metric fuck ton of emotion. It should not work or have a place in a show, a comedy even, where they only have 22 minutes... But it is the moments like that make you give a damn about the characters. It "endears" you to them...
Jim loses a major sale... one that he states is 25% of his commission... But, since Pam fell asleep during a meeting and laid her head on his shoulder... He decrees it a "good day",
The best moment... The PERFECT moment... is at the very, very end of Season 3. The series had a pseudo-documentary feel to it. The scenes would either begin or be ended by an "interview", one on one with a character.
Pam is being interviewed, and she is asked a question... Jim steps in, interrupts, apologizes to the documentary film crew, and asks Pam if she is free for dinner.
Visibly taken aback, but quick with the "Yes" answer... She turns back to the camera, and in five seconds, with tears of unabashed happiness welling in her eyes, her face expresses a joy and a light that capture "love". Jenna Fischer knocked out of the fucking park in that scene...
I would make the suggestion that one regularly make the effort to see their partner "for the first time" now and again. Stop taking them for granted, and when they walk into a room, look at them as if you have not seen them for a month.
You're welcome... again.
Mom and Dad
Nothing beats the real thing, baby... or so the songs say.
Being inundated with the concept of love and romance, as interpreted by Hollywood, is neat and all. It gives you an ideal. It is engineered to make you have all the feels. That is their mission.
Being inundated with two people who love each other, every day is better. Through the grind. Through the routine. Through the monotony of life. THAT is the best gift I can never have. For the most part, I am okay with that fact... They have their thing... It works for them...
On certain aspects of their thing though, I am, as the title states, gloriously envious, of what my parents have. To me, it is the "freedom from uncertainty".
Dad KNEW... KNEW that everyday when he left for work... He kissed my Mom. In doing so, he said, "I am fairly positive I will see you again, but just in case, I want this to be my last act with you."
Ah... but why "fairly positive"??? Does that not counter your "freedom of uncertainty" statement???
No... And allow me to explain, ya doubtful galoot.
If something were to befall my Father at work, or on the way to or fro... He was certain that his wife, the woman he loves, had ZERO doubts as to his love for her... and THAT was his freedom from uncertainty.
Dad also KNEW that without FAIL... His wife, his love would be there to kiss him upon his return.
Pretty sure that would make any grind, any routine, easier to process. The job would be just a "thing to get through" in order to get home... and get that kiss.
After retiring, my Mom "Strongly Suggested" that Dad get a part time job... She mentioned missing kissing him when he got home... She essentially missed missing him...
Say it with me, "Awwwww"
_______________________________________
I know a lot of the examples listed are fairy tales. Some of them even made it to TV and cinema. It is easy to be envious of the kind of loves expressed and the actions, driven by said love, that our heroes an heroines undertake.
I guess I just want someone who would remember to get me some cereal for my Sunday mornings when I forget.
See you on Aisle 6,
d
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I think I just fell in love. lol
ReplyDeleteIn the absence of a new blog entry, I reread this one. Still my fave.
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