I had a friend
Her name was Joan
I was dating her son
I got bit by a dog
He took me to Joan
She scrubbed the shit out of my leg with iodine
I still have the scar
And I think of her :-)
I watched her make quite a change when I knew her
I was part of her life when she suffered great loss
I watched her make a beautiful transition
Because of her strength
She rose above her circumstances and got on with her life
Happy
With a new love and a new life
She was a role model
She was also my mother in law for about...mmmm....half a minute.
But I loved her
She made an impression on me
And it was all good
Rest in peace Joan :-)
Sunday, August 28, 2011
Monday, August 22, 2011
Gamma Rays in Oklahoma
I have been watching a lot of old movies lately. I recorded a movie made in 1971 called, "The Effect of Gamma Rays on Man in the Moon Marigolds". It stars the incredible Joanne Woodward. The movie is directed by her husband, Paul Newman. The movie wasn't popular, but the play; written by Paul Zindel, won the Pulitzer Prize. It's the text, and the rich message that made me watch it more than once....that and Woodwards performance. I LOVE watching an actor inhabit a character and I recommend the first scene of Woodward, trying on wigs as the first of many examples of this in this film. I just love the symbolism that Zindel, a former science teacher, uses to compare the family life to a science experiment. It's not a happy film. But it always makes me happy to observe actors at the top of their game, and Woodward delivers. Paul Newman said he thinks its his wifes best performance. I feel like I'm writing a movie review. I give it two thumbs up for serious actor types!
Speaking of actor types.... I am pleased that I have been cast in Performance Riversides production of Oklahoma! I am in the ensemble and I have been told that I will be in three or four of the production numbers. It is a true, old fashioned musical. FUN to sing the rich and robust music with a full cast! Ah, these things bring me joy. I am so happy that God still remembers the desires of my heart. This is the second time I have been cast with this company. I am thrilled to get the chance to do it again. My first rehearsal is next weekend and I can't wait.
Speaking of actor types.... I am pleased that I have been cast in Performance Riversides production of Oklahoma! I am in the ensemble and I have been told that I will be in three or four of the production numbers. It is a true, old fashioned musical. FUN to sing the rich and robust music with a full cast! Ah, these things bring me joy. I am so happy that God still remembers the desires of my heart. This is the second time I have been cast with this company. I am thrilled to get the chance to do it again. My first rehearsal is next weekend and I can't wait.
Tuesday, August 2, 2011
Redemption
I watched a movie today that made me think about a couple of things. The movie was Ironweed with Jack Nicholson and Meryl Streep. It is a story that is based on a novel of the same name. I have never read the novel but now I want to. The story is about a man, Frances, who is a bum and a drunk. He is returning to his hometown after 20+ years with his companion, Helen, who is also a bum and a drunk. Today we would say, 'they are homeless' because it's more politically correct.
We follow Frances and Helen around and watch them drink and freeze on the streets of 1930's New York. Helen seems sick. He takes her to a broken down roadster down by the tracks and tells her he'll find her tomorrow at the soup kitchen. She wakes the next day and starts what will become the last day of her life. This is when the story gets beautiful to me.
The first place she goes is a church. She kneels at the alter she prays for, of all things, forgiveness. She is so frail. She starts to get up and she finds a ten dollar bill on the floor. She starts to cry and say thank you.
She goes to get a cup of coffee and some toast. She takes one bite and starts to feel sick so she gives the rest to a lady at the counter and leaves.
She goes to the music store and sits at the piano and plays a beautiful peaceful song.
She goes to the bar and drinks. Then she goes to the library and sits by the fire. She falls asleep and is awakened by the librarian, who hands her a magazine.
She sees someone from 20 years ago. You find out that Helen used to be a singer, she used to go on tours.
She rents a room for 2 days and carries two suitcases up the stairs and unpacks a record player among other personal items; a hairbrush, a mirror, a picture. She takes a record out of her coat and puts it on the record player.
She bathes. She brushes her hair.
Frances comes back the next morning and finds her dead on the floor.
I can't tell you how beautiful the performance was. All I can say is, it was Meryl Streep so it was depicted so well. But the message is the most beautiful thing. It's a story of redemption. Or maybe redemptive suffering. It's mercy. It's grace. And it's Meryl Streep!!
But really, it made me think about homeless people in general, and how many of them have to deal with harsh assumptions that are being made about them. After constantly being labeled a bum, I would think a lot of people start believing it. They lose their hope. They turn into it. Identity transforms because of label.
You might think it's odd that I find that story beautiful. All I can say is I wish everyone could delight in God's presence in a story. Now matter how gritty and ugly and politically incorrect. God loved Helen.
Redeemed how I love to proclaim it
Redeemed by the blood of the lamb
Redeemed by His infinite mercy
His child and forever I am
We follow Frances and Helen around and watch them drink and freeze on the streets of 1930's New York. Helen seems sick. He takes her to a broken down roadster down by the tracks and tells her he'll find her tomorrow at the soup kitchen. She wakes the next day and starts what will become the last day of her life. This is when the story gets beautiful to me.
The first place she goes is a church. She kneels at the alter she prays for, of all things, forgiveness. She is so frail. She starts to get up and she finds a ten dollar bill on the floor. She starts to cry and say thank you.
She goes to get a cup of coffee and some toast. She takes one bite and starts to feel sick so she gives the rest to a lady at the counter and leaves.
She goes to the music store and sits at the piano and plays a beautiful peaceful song.
She goes to the bar and drinks. Then she goes to the library and sits by the fire. She falls asleep and is awakened by the librarian, who hands her a magazine.
She sees someone from 20 years ago. You find out that Helen used to be a singer, she used to go on tours.
She rents a room for 2 days and carries two suitcases up the stairs and unpacks a record player among other personal items; a hairbrush, a mirror, a picture. She takes a record out of her coat and puts it on the record player.
She bathes. She brushes her hair.
Frances comes back the next morning and finds her dead on the floor.
I can't tell you how beautiful the performance was. All I can say is, it was Meryl Streep so it was depicted so well. But the message is the most beautiful thing. It's a story of redemption. Or maybe redemptive suffering. It's mercy. It's grace. And it's Meryl Streep!!
But really, it made me think about homeless people in general, and how many of them have to deal with harsh assumptions that are being made about them. After constantly being labeled a bum, I would think a lot of people start believing it. They lose their hope. They turn into it. Identity transforms because of label.
You might think it's odd that I find that story beautiful. All I can say is I wish everyone could delight in God's presence in a story. Now matter how gritty and ugly and politically incorrect. God loved Helen.
Redeemed how I love to proclaim it
Redeemed by the blood of the lamb
Redeemed by His infinite mercy
His child and forever I am
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