Culture and the Movies

Posted by Thursday's Child on May 23, 2013
Posted in: Life. Tagged: , , , . Leave a Comment

12668631_sI had this post marinating in my blog post folder for some time, but since I had culture on my mind this week – I figured, why not. What brought about these thoughts? On Sunday, instead of writing, I curled up on the sofa, and spent the afternoon watching, Out of Africa. Just as I’ll also do when I find another one of my favorites being shown, Fiddler on the Roof. I will put everything on hold to watch – yes, for the umpteenth time. Yes, I have watched a movie or two in my life, but do we have to turn to a foreign film, or the Cannes Film Festival to find the culture any longer? My husband always has a difficult time understanding my junior and senior years of high school, because my classes, I guess, leaned more toward Liberal Arts. Why do I mention this?  Because I attribute those high school years to igniting the cultural sense that completes me. For instance, instead of Physical Education, I had Modern Dance where we learned interpretive moves to the music of West Side Story and Dave Brubeck’s Take Five; even though that composition hit the shelves as I gave up formula. From there I sauntered over to the music room. In there I began my love affair with strings in what they labeled, Music Appreciation. Finally, I had Journalism, which took me to the Associated Press Club, and Reuters; not so academic, but definitely preparing the mind culturally. I think back in the day, especially in the north-east, schools were big on exposing students in a way to enlighten and polish.

What do you think of when you hear the word culture? Does it bring about thoughts of your heritage. Nowadays, I guess it’s politically correct to proclaim ones ethnic background. I mean, celebrities do it all the time. My lineage is of African-American, Native American and Scottish descent. But if that had become public knowledge many years ago my grandfather would have given birth to a literal cow. However, it has never been something that bothered me. Why do I bring this up, and what does this all have to do with a classical movie? What you’ve been exposed to over time. When you settle in to watch a movie such as Out of Africa does that mean your nationality has to be one of European decent? I don’t believe so, but I do think what you’ve been exposed to over time, plus one’s background will produce such an end. But, for me, I would definitely have to attribute those beginnings to high school again.

Please forgive me if I’m rambling, I merged two different posts, attempting to make one point. Anyway, with all that said, I also caught The Last Voyage on American Movie Classics (AMC) not long ago, which is another fine Hollywood classic. Who do we thank for these wonderful works? The actors and actresses, the powerhouse directors/producers; the novelists/writers who gave birth to the book/screenplay? The three movies I mentioned earlier, definitely set my brain to recall the best of Hollywood. Yes, I love to read, but I love a good old movie as well as the next person, and especially if they’re classic. Because of my cultural exposure in school, I wouldn’t trade any of that teaching for anything.

Let me end by saying, the task of breaking down the best from the list did not prove at all easy, but I have noted a few of my all time favorites?  Okay, thirty. Are any of these on your list? And, let me warn you, I’ve reached way-way back for some:

  • Dark Victory - 1939
  • Wuthering Heights – 1939
  • Cabin In The Sky – 1943
  • Rhapsody In Blue – 1945
  • Mildred Pierce – 1945
  • The Big Country – 1946
  • The Best Years Of Our Lives – 1946
  • The Ghost & Mrs. Muir – 1947
  • The Snake Pit – 1948
  • Bird Of Paradise – 1951
  • Moby Dick – 1956
  • Carousel (Musical) – 1956
  • Peyton Place – 1957
  • South Pacific (Musical) – 1958
  • Imitation of Life – 1959 Version
  • The Last Voyage – 1960
  • Fanny – 1961
  • West Side Story (Musical) – 1961
  • To Kill A Mockingbird – 1962
  • What Ever Happened to Baby Jane – 1962
  • Lilies Of The Field – 1963
  • Fate Is The Hunter – 1964
  • Dr. Zhivago – 1965
  • A Patch Of Blue – 1965
  • Hush, Hush Sweet Charlotte – 1965
  • Bonnie & Clyde – 1967
  • To Sir With Love – 1967
  • Funny Girl (Musical) – 1968
  • Fiddler On The Roof (Musical) – 1971
  • Out of Africa – 1985

Haven’t we all watched a movie or two? After a look at my list, do you have any that I may have missed, and are your favorite?

Photo courtesy of 123rf.com

Saying Goodbye

Posted by Thursday's Child on May 17, 2013
Posted in: Life. Tagged: , , . 2 comments

Nicky. Cropped

I am certain I have mentioned somewhere along the way, how much of a private person I am. But, I have this need to pay homage, publicly, to a god-daughter that is seriously gone to soon. Although, we cannot question why God moves His hand, or why He chooses to do the things He does, life becomes extremely puzzling when a young person is laid to rest before their parents. With that said, we lost our beloved god-daughter, Nicole Courtney, in the wee hours of last Friday morning. In fact, my sister-in-law called my husband on his cell phone while we were driving in the car. And, can I add, thirty is way to young. In my mind, I just assisted her with a letter to the Dean at Rutgers School of Law in Newark, New Jersey as to why she wanted to transfer from Hofstra in Long Island. It is devastating to lose a loved one at any time, but for a mother to lose a child on Mother’s Day weekend, puts that mother to a test of strength that can only come from One source.

I recall this bundle coming along right at a time when I, myself, dealt with an experience that would stay with me the remainder of my life. Therefore, this little girl brought us much joy. Many days and nights were spent enjoying her company as we watched her grow into the young woman she had become. As a little one, and since her parents lived only a few miles away, we were fortunate enough to have her with us maybe as often as her parents. In my mind’s eye, I’m watching a three-year old reaching and saying, “I want more,” when we introduced her to clams on the half-shell. Then, by the time she started school we didn’t spend as much time with her. After that, the teenage years hit, and you know what happens with that. But, when she turned sixteen, we all vacationed together. In fact, right here in the town we now live. On one of those days, we walked in to a seafood restaurant, and her mother asked her what she would have. Her response, “I think I’ll just have a bucket of clams.” My husband and I snapped our heads around to stare at each other, because we had, not a clue that habit had taken hold.

It’s been a rough go for both my husband, and myself since we relocated to this state. We came here in August of ’04, and from January ’06 until now, we’ve lost ten people – both friends, and family. Then, just as you think things have calmed down, a call comes that my last aunt is having challenges. If you’ve been reading along, you already know that. Now, five months later, and we get this phone call, which raises the number to eleven. I heard a renowned minister say not long ago, he and his wife’s family went through just this type thing at one time; all very close together. He admitted that he prayed, and repented for everything he could think of, knowing those things must have brought about such misery. But then, he had a revelation – it had nothing to do with any wrong doing on he or any family member’s behalf. This is life – this is how it happens at times, and there is nothing anyone can do to make it stop.

Because of all of the above, and by Sunday, even though I knew we had to make the trip home, I decided, I just couldn’t. Honestly, both my husband and myself are still dealing with much of what has transpired since we’ve been here. But, on Wednesday the family said their farewells to yet another who is gone to soon, leaving all of us with a large hole that she once filled.  And, there is nothing else for anyone to say but, sleep on angel’s wings baby girl. You will be missed by so many.

Bunker Bay 22 – Zone 5

Posted by Thursday's Child on May 8, 2013
Posted in: News. Tagged: , , . 6 comments

10185340_sDid anyone catch the survey on MSN? “Would you ever apply to live on Mars?” Well, 16% of earth’s population – last I checked – said, “Absolutely, it’s an adventure,” 79% said, “No way, I’m staying on earth,” and 5% were not sure. So, if you’re interested hurry on over to Mars One and fill out the application. The window is open, by the way, until August 31st of this year.  My first question is, what kind of address would one have on Mars: Bunker Bay 22 – Zone 5, Republic of Mars, The Universe, or would all the mail be marked, c/o Mars One (the organization putting this together)? I must say, when our government scraped the space program, I reacted badly. Think about it, we are the most powerful country on the planet, but we have no space anything. Hello? But, with that in mind, no one would find me hurrying over to this website to add my name to that list; I’ll take what I know. Anyway, plenty of adventure came with my move here from New York, thank you very much.

Don’t you think, living on this planet is difficult enough? There are a ton of us who can’t even get our lives to work here.  But, I must say, it gives a whole new meaning to: a night out at the movie, a trip to the market, or going to dinner. Now, mind you, this does not involve a two-week stay, or even a two-year hitch. This is FOREVER – a one way ticket, my friend. And, what about your family? Really? Give up everything I know for a big fat question mark? Although, I know there are some families, people would pay to get away from. How long would it take that card to reach Mom for Mother’s Day? And, before making a decision such as this, I’d hope you’d consider giving up what is so familiar: blue skies, freshly fallen snow, taking in a brilliantly lighted night sky, the seductive waters of the Caribbean. To name a few earthly wonders of which we have been blessed.

Yet, there are still more questions. Would you have the capability to use that digital camera outside? I guess then, e-mail, twitter, text messages – all of that as well takes on a completely new significance. Am I right? I believe I’d have so many questions, I’d miss the 2023 launch date, and have to remain on earth, anyway. Can anyone, with good conscience just raise their hand, and shout – “Me…me…take me,” without eleven (11) years worth of questions? That’s the one extra year of inquiry that would cause me to miss the blast-off – deliberately. When you get to the Mars One site, there is a little quiz they give relating to the folklore of this star, which tells me that on top of everything else, they want to comfort you in to making a decision to go. They do this by showing you all the myths connected to this planet. Like I said, if you can’t get it right here, running off to outer space, for sure, won’t do it.

I guess I could liken this to the first person on line to buy that new Betamax, or VHS. How about the first Walkman, or Portable CD player. Or maybe not, I mean, that stuff didn’t leave the ground. As for my house, and I may have mentioned this before, but we are never the first for anything.  Mars One has received applications from over 120 countries. This, supposedly, is a mission to represent all of humanity.  Bas Lansdorf, Co-founder of the organization said, ” Mars One is a mission representing all humanity, and its true spirit will be justified only if people from the entire world are represented.” What do I have to say about all of this? Well, if you can’t get it right here, how on earth – excuse me – how off earth can you get it right in space. Sorry, Mr. Lansdorf.

Image courtesy of 123rf.com

Titling Your work

Posted by Thursday's Child on May 1, 2013
Posted in: Writing. Tagged: , , . 1 comment
Vintage Printing Press

Vintage Printing Press

Over the last week or so I’ve been consumed with thoughts of book titles. I remember a Chapter meeting some time ago where we discussed changing the name of your protagonist or “killing your child.” If you’re a writer reading this, then you should be very familiar with that phrase. I don’t think, however, there is a term or phrase labeling the act of changing the name of your novel. Although, it is the same premise. Recently, I located an off the wall website called Titlescorer. What features are offered at this website? For one, it rates the title of any work by giving the percentage of chances it will publish with that current heading. I’m just mentioning this in passing, I haven’t been sold yet. Personally, I don’t know if I’ll ever be won over. In any event, I placed my first work there, “A Mother’s Prayers,” and got a score of 10.2% – meaning that is the chance of that book being published if I kept it that way. I then added my second work, “The Wrought Iron Bridge,” and got a score of 20.2 – somewhat better. Mind you, I stopped right there, and didn’t bother assessing anything else. I’m not one who’s sold on these type things.

It is pretty commonly known in the industry that a large publishing house will most assuredly change your original choice. But, a small house is more willing to let you hold onto it. I must say, for someone like myself who is aspiring, and have been for some time, that is a fairly scary thing. Meaning, what I already call my manuscripts have become like cement in my brain; changing them now would most assuredly bring on a tantrum. However, I made the firm decision to change that first manuscript, “A Mother’s Prayers.” Reason being – I already knew a movie existed with the same title. I didn’t know this though, until way after I had completed the work, and for so long I had a kind of stubbornness with regard to any alteration. Nevertheless, after some thought, and researching the issue I had a sort of epiphany, which gave me inspiration and the willingness to make changes. Subsequently, I actually became quite excited.

I’ve been thinking about Sidney Sheldon’s The Sky Is Falling and J. D. Salinger’s Catcher In The Rye. There really is no hard and fast rule when it comes to titling your book. Although, through the years I’ve learned it’s fairly common to use something from the language in the manuscript – be it dialogue or otherwise. If you’ve read the two books I noted here, then you’ll know these authors did just that. Personally, I like that process – that is, if you’re certain not to give away any clues on plots or the like. I’ve also realized you should put Google to the test, and then, make notes as to your results. This way, you can remember what you have to work with. Some time ago, when I googled that first manuscript – if I hadn’t entertained a new title, I’d deserve the sentence of working at that day job forever. But, how does one invest hour after hour – putting body and soul in a work, and then, have someone say, maybe callously even, this should be called whatever. On the other side of that coin, however, this is one profession that doesn’t fit with inflexibility.

So, after all of this, I refuse to walk around believing that a website can make a decision on my book publishing based on what I called it. Ten, twenty or ninety percent does not matter whatsoever to me. I’m one who believes you have to go with your instincts, and that holds true for book names, as well as genres and story ideas. I mean, if you’re going to bed and waking up with a specific idea in your head, and you know nothing has been done similar – go for it.  Now, since I like to share, tell me what method you like using when it comes to titling your work.

Image courtesy of 123rf.com

2125 Cypress Street

Posted by Thursday's Child on April 24, 2013
Posted in: Life. Tagged: , , , . 2 comments

Cypress 2 croppedOn the street in the picture, through the years has become more like an alleyway. Although, I’m certain, at one time it resembled any other city street – one with tall trees filled with leaves, but back in 1939 surely appeared as shrubbery. Now, you ask who lived at this address, and what significance does it have to anything? Again, if you’ve been following my blog for any length of time, you know I not only have a soft spot in my heart for my own African-American history – I also have this unusual pull to the accounts surrounding World War II, and Europe. Now, I’m confident you don’t need me to fill you in on the happenings in that part of the world during that time frame (1939 that is). With that said, I have to mention a remarkable couple who occupied that Cypress Street address in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Have you ever heard of Gilbert & Eleanor Kraus? Mr. Kraus, an attorney haunted by a mission took his compulsion, and his wife, leaving their two children behind while they ventured off to Nazi riddled Germany and Austria. Why, you ask? This served as his contribution, if you will – his way of liberating fifty children that he did not know, had never met; enabling them to taste freedom. And, although only a few met up with their parents later on, they were all given a sentence to live by coming to America. Also, only a small number of those children had relatives already here who could take them in, the majority were entrusted to foster parents.

Could I have – would I have been able to do such a thing? Who would have the courage to travel to a place ripe, and ready to explode at any given moment into chaos. I would think that travel by train through any part of this region at the time could be likened to, well….hell.  Now, the Kraus’ were elite – while they moved through the dark, so to speak to get the work done, they dined at the best restaurants, stayed in a high-end hotel, and traveled on the famed Orient Express. But, how would one pull that off? I can’t imagine spending any time in such a threatening place, during one of the most sinister periods in history. Which tells you the burning desire Mr. Kraus had to have had. I will always remember something my mother told me. I had this thing continuing to bug me for probably a two-year period. It would come to mind, I’d think about it, and say – I need to do that. But, I never did.  Now, it didn’t pester me constantly, but each time it came to me, it had more urgency than the time before. Finally, I simply had to succumb. So, I said to myself, “Self, you’ve just gotta get this done.” She explained, that when anything is bugging you like that, and won’t leave you be, you know it’s from God. She explained that’s how a man of God gets the call – God knocking on the door of your heart, as it were. Therefore, I definitely understand Mr. Kraus’ need.

I have watched countless hours of documentary, as well as devoured page upon page having to do with this era. From Hitler’s taking of the government to the Einsatzgruppen paramilitary (the first method used in his twisted plan) to American and British POWs being held, and released from Colditz Castle. I’ve listened to Hitler’s personal secretary, Traudl Junge talk of her time with him. I heard her confess that if she knew what would happen, she would have never taken the job. I caught the story of the Kindertransport program (a movement that took Jewish children from Germany to foster homes in Britain). I’ve witnessed stories being told by survivors who had to assist in the clean-up; tales that choked them up as well as their audience. Through all of this I have always managed to keep dry eyes. However, this particular rendering struck at the pit of my gut, and moved me in a way that broke me, this time. Okay, all with the exception of The Boy With The Striped Pajamas – could anyone keep a dry eye while watching that movie?

As I think about it, maybe observing a senior break down as she explained how she remembered the day to look when she left, and then, tell of how she never laid eyes on her parents again. It could have been the intrigue of how they got the children out, like a great espionage building, and building to a final point where it’s such a great relief. It may have been thinking about the fact that they could then, go to school, have the freedom to move about as they wanted, yet all the while missing their parents. I really can’t say what did it. But, if World War II history interests you in the least or even if it doesn’t, you must find and watch, 50 Children: Rescue Mission of Mr. & Mrs. Kraus. Then, come back and tell me what you thought.

Image courtesy of Google Earth

Other links courtesy of Wikipedia & The New York Times

Heroes, Neighbors, Strangers

Posted by Thursday's Child on April 17, 2013
Posted in: Life. Tagged: , , . Leave a Comment

Boylston St. CroppedThis has been some start to a new week, huh? As I thought about the people injured, and the families who lost love ones in this most recent attack on our freedom, I had to write some type of tribute to the ones involved. As I work part-time, when I made it home from work on Monday, I began my usual routine before I climbed the stairs to my desktop. Before I could do that, my husband came in the door and advised he had heard the news on the car radio. We hurried to put on the television to try to find out what we could. As we got to the cable news station, 9/11 rushed back. We were physically not at the scene in Boston, but watching the smoke from the bombs, hearing the sirens wail, taking notice of the bloody street curbs, and observing people running hither and yon gave us both a sinking sensation in the pit of the stomach.

As we listened to the newscasters we heard over and over the phrase, “False sense of security.” Is diligence possible, while at the same time going about your business, not thinking about what could happen? It has been difficult for us as a people to go about, day after day with a sense of security after 9/11. American’s have not had to endure attack upon attack as in other countries, therefore we have not had the teachings etched in our thoughts. Yes, I remember the requests after 9/11, on being attentive. As a New Yorker, my friends, and co-workers did all we were asked to do during this time.  Then, four, five years or so go by, and those original demands fall somewhere to the back of your memory. It’s just not a process upper most on your mind. I do believe we are this way because we are America, and we have a difficult time believing one type of people would hurt another. I do believe, however, any disaster such as this, is all it takes to wake up that portion of the brain.

We must keep in the topmost area of our brain, as a country we are well hated by others. We all understand why. But, like the seriously injured on Monday said when they awoke from surgery, “I’m still alive?” Yes, they were still alive. We as a nation, whether from Oklahoma, New York, Virginia or Boston, we pick ourselves up and continue on with our lives.  Bostonians have the same tenacity as New Yorker’s, and there is no doubt in my mind, they too will persevere, because we are Americans – that’s what we do. Our enemy wants to tear a part our spirit, crush our chutzpah. But, that demon doesn’t have any idea what we are really like as a people. They’ve been so busy teaching their young to continue the cause, they’ve missed the fact that with every punch thrown we take a deeper breath. We rally together at a faster rate, stranger helping stranger.

With their burns, amputations, and shrapnel wounds, Bostonians have picked themselves up from Copley Square, hero upon hero, neighbor upon neighbor, stranger upon stranger, American upon American. They are returning to their everyday lives, and continuing forward as they were taught by their parents and their ancestors. Although, this is a warring planet – we have been since biblical times – no one wants it, if at all possible. Besides, aren’t we still trying to get our young men and women home from the last campaign? I think the enemy must learn from the past. Everyone knows the U.S.A. is a giant in any sense of the word. Therefore, they should listen and remember a lesson from World War II history coming out of the Pacific; simply tuck their tail, turn around and do not awaken the sleeping giant again.

Image courtesy of Google Earth

Ants In Your Pants

Posted by Thursday's Child on April 10, 2013
Posted in: Humor. Tagged: , , . 4 comments

iStock_000007904791_ExtraSmallIsn’t it funny how, if you are a writer, thinking about things always prompts some kind of rendering; novel, short story, poem or in this case a blog post. I guess I had ants on my mind as I sat with hands folded, avoiding my chores. It could have also been because of the onslaught of ant attacks on my desk at work, lately. But, these thoughts all went to how these creatures are always busy working – preparing for whatever. That, of course, took me right to my five-year old daughter who, back in the day, had a run in with these hard-working little bodies. As life has a habit of doing, we needed some serious R & R, and decided to take a jaunt to the tropics. Since my mother, like all other grandmothers believed the sun rose and set in her only granddaughter, she jumped at the chance to take care of her for the week. Late spring worked out better for our wallets, and allowed my daughter to spend lots of time outside playing with the other neighborhood children. Thinking back I realize time really does fly. Anyway, we dropped the little girl, visited with my mother for the evening, and the next morning we were off to Kennedy airport for our flight.

I checked in from time to time during the week, and closer to the end of that time she informed me she had some funny news to report when we returned.  First, let me explain my daughter. She has always been, and is still petrified of anything that flies or crawls. But, no one knew until this particular incident that she held homage for one group of insects.

On a bright, and sunny day, my daughter spent most of mid-day in the front yard, and on the porch with the other children – playing in the dirt. Sometime in the early afternoon a family friend stopped by and asked my mother if she wanted to take a ride with him to Brooklyn. My mother let a couple of the other mothers know she would take the children with her, gathered them all up, including my daughter, and ushered them in to the back of the car.

Now, as she’s telling me the story, I interrupted, and asked, “In her dirty clothes?”

“Sure,” she replied. “We were just riding there and back. We weren’t getting out of the car. So, halfway there, I could tell Jim was watching the children in the rear view mirror. And, Erica is fidgeting more than the others. But, we kept talking, and yes, she kept squirming. He finally laughed, and jokingly said to Erica in the mirror, ‘What’s the matter with you? You have ants in your pants or something?’ Then, we all just laughed it off.”

As they returned to the house, everyone crawled out of the car. My mother took Erica in the house, and asked, “Come over here, do you have something in your pants? What’s the matter?”

Needless to say – yes, she did have a problem. Only a truck load of ants; crawling up and down the inside of her pants, on her skin, in her underwear; everywhere on the bottom portion of her body. She had evidently sat on an ant hill or picked them up from somewhere in the yard. My mother, clearly disgusted, rushed her outside where the pants stayed, and from there this child hit the tub for a thorough scrubbing.

In asking her why she didn’t say anything, she simply replied, “Nana, they’re just ants.”

Go, try to figure children, and especially one who while terrified of everything else in the insect world – wouldn’t lift a finger to harm one of these little guys. So many years later, and we still have to laugh about that.

Photo courtesy of iStockPhoto.com