Happy Memorial Day!

We remember the fallen!

Tomb of the Unknown Soldier

 

Happy Memorial Day!

Awesomeness squared! Family reunion combined with vacation!

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Vacations are always fun, but join that together with a family reunion and you have uncaged madness! It was a blast! And, of course, the purpose for doing all these things is to make memories which last a lifetime. Yup, that happened ... a lot. And, I promise to only remember the best parts. Honest. I will never ever recall the time my brother poured maple syrup all over himself, or when my dad fell asleep in his oatmeal... Okay, maybe I'm using a bit of poetic license, but I'm sure my brother did something goofy at some point in the week.

 

The truth is, we had a fantastic time together. All of our families enjoyed each other, and we forged new connections and deepened our relationships. It was great seeing my brother again, and his family. Wow, have his children grown! It reminded me that we don't live in a vacuum, in our own little universe, but rather in a world of wide wonder and surprise. It was like being a kid again, as though we all had never split off into different parts of the world. The bond of family endures and is far stronger than distance or time. That was the most wonderful part of it all--family.

 

My wife and I loved the vacation too. Our kids had a blast! We saw a neat theme park, went on rides, bought some stuff to put on shelves, watched a Chinese Circus, saw incredible vistas ... and on and on. We won't soon forget this trip, I assure you. It just goes to show you, it's well worth the trouble to get a vacation planned and executed. The end result is a raft of memories you'll cherish for the rest of your life. That makes it triple the value!

 

- M

 

ps. Sorry my blog didn't post on Monday or Wednesday. I think Tribbles were in the wiring again...

How did we end up here?

When I was younger, I would go to the end of a book and read the final sentence. I wanted to see if I could figure out the story by only knowing the beginning and the end. I'd stop when I found a book with an ending that made me ask, "Wait, so how did they end up there?" That's the one I'd read. You see, it isn't the plot that captured my attention, it was the journey. Maybe that's why I rarely read the anti-climax portion of the final book in the trilogy of the Lord of the Rings ("Return of the King") when Frodo and company return to the Shire and have one final adventure. I didn't like ending where I'd started.

It's still exciting today to find stories that have huge leaps in character development, especially when the ending makes you scratch your head and look back at all the events in retrospect. Those are really good stories, and I treasure them. They become fast classics to me. I think such stories are the biggest reason why I enjoy character driven stories the most, because the audience witnesses major changes and growth spurts. Those endings move me to deep emotion, and that's what it's all about, isn't it?

Professors always drummed into me the classical philosophies of writing, and I can see their points, but style is always changing. I'm glad we don't have many people putting out Shakespeare-like material, because people just don't think like that anymore (debatable if that's good or bad). Stories are meant to be understood and enjoyed, otherwise why tell them? There's a touch of magic in tales that touch the heart, stir the soul, and bring on flights of fancy. Give an audience something to believe in, for a little while, and leave them gasping for breath ... always wanting more.

- M

Catharsis--getting it all out in one quick blast of emotion.

There are many words that have fallen out of use these days. Some should remain. Among them is "catharsis," which means: "the process of releasing, and thereby providing relief from, strong or repressed emotions." For example, thinking your child is lost and then finding them sleeping behind a tree. There is a burst of emotion quite unlike anything else. In fact, this emotion is so powerful that it can easily transfer to witnesses of the event. Humans love to share, don't you know.

 

Any good study of emotion will include this area. It's especially powerful when it spans a significant time. The movie, "The Game," highlights this particular emotion very well. In it, a successful businessman has a tragic past (his father committed suicide), and the businessman is now the same age as his father was then. The setup is a game that happens in real life, but you only discover the rules as you are running around town. It was a concept actually attempted years ago, but never caught on (I can imagine it was insanely expensive). Anyway, the story is ridiculous, the game is beyond comprehension, but the emotional impact at the end is enormous. Don't spend your time figuring how it was all done, because you'll go crazy; just enjoy it for the catharsis it provides.

 

A cute bunny, in desperate need of the cathartic removal of that silly outfit.
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I think we actively seek catharsis in many areas of life. We go to amusement parks and ride roller coasters to be scared witless and yet be alright. We see horror movies, to scream in terror, then walk out and discuss the finer points of hamburgers. We find ways to build up incredible tension, just so it can be released all at once. We feel better afterward. It's like a deep massage for the brain, or even the spirit. Try it ... you'll like it.

 

- M

Lessons from Peter Pan

Disney's Peter Pan

"Peter Pan" is a marvelous children's story. I've read it, seen it, listened to it, and thoroughly enjoyed it in every form. But, I think we have it wrong. It's not a children's story at all. It's a story for adults. You see, we all grow up eventually. Sometimes our body doesn't know it quite yet, and other times our minds conveniently forget. But, at some point we must make peace with the face that we will never again be children. Sure, we can act like kids, but we'll never be them again.

 

Why is "the boy who never grew up" such a classic character? I think it's because he represents the desire we all have of capturing the innocence, fun, and playfulness of our youth. He's a prankster, adventurous, unafraid, and has a magical fairy friend. Everything he does is exiting. He can fly! Peter Pan incorporates our wildest dreams, plus he never has to worry about getting older. He even has an arch enemy he regularly duels and defeats! How fun it would be to win every fight.

 

The thing is, though, at the end of Peter Pan, even that magical boy is slapped in the face with reality. Wendy grows up, while he remains a child. The biggest lesson is that being a child is simply a stage, one that must end as we mature. Sure, we have wistful dreams of our youth, but I would never exchange that for my wife or children. I'm glad I grew up, and I'll wager you are too.

 

- M

Classic stories we should all read ... but haven't.

I'll be honest here. I've never read "Moby Dick." I know I should, but my experience is the Cliff Notes and movie variety. Also, I haven't read James Joyce's "Ulysses." "Anna Karenina," "Doctor Zhivago," or "Pride and Prejudice." I have read "Les Misérables" though, so I can still clap myself on the back. But, I haven't read "The Right Stuff" or "War and Peace," so I won't make much show about it.

Morgan library in New York

There are so many classics to read! Sometimes I wish we all could have a few repeating days, like in "Groundhog Day," so we could read all those books we never had time for. Or, I could learn to speed read, since it is possible to teach yourself. But, I love taking my time and allowing scenes to develop behind my eyes, so I basically chew on the words. To me it's more about the journey than the facts and details of the story. So, I'll sip a little now and again to keep my bucket list of books from overflowing.

 

Do you have any books you wish you had read, but haven't? Hopefully there are a few classics in the list. Well, even if not, reading is good for you. The more the better. Actually, it's amazing there's so many stories out there. I wonder if anyone's counted them? I'll bet it's more than 10, or even 50. Millions? Wouldn't it be amazing to read them all?

 

- M

Never give up

Winston Churchill made a very famous speech where he said, "Never give in." That was it. Most take it as "Never give up," and I think that's in keeping with the message. The question is, why was that so fundamentally important? Two things stand out to me. First, make certain that what you are working toward is a goal you actually want and will invest yourself into. Second, once you commit, don't ever back down.

 

Opportunities are everywhere. Sometimes it doesn't feel like it, and in that case you need to pay more attention. For instance, did you know that when the motion picture camera was invented that the general consensus was it was a neat invention, but had no use. People tended to film and show only a single uncut scene. But, once editors came into it and spliced together various points of view to create something beyond actual life, only then did the magic of cinema begin. Opportunity was there for anyone to see, yet only a few actually acted upon it.

 

The same thing happens around us all the time. There are unending examples. It's up to us to discover them. Part of never giving up is keeping your mind open. It's hard to find anything worthwhile if you stop looking. Actually, I'd bet a lot of our own problems stem from giving up. So, cut it out. Get moving. Find your dream, chase it, and don't stop!

 

- M

Funny animals being cute and adorable, no matter what they do

We humans love cute animals, and let's just admit that any baby animal is cute, fuzzy animals are cute, and happy animals are cute. So, why are videos of animals being jerks so popular? Or, why do we seek out videos of adorable little kittens being scared silly? Can dogs flopping down a couple stairs be funny? Yup, indeed they are. This is all naturally assuming nobody gets hurt. Animals can't help being cute.

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There you have a goat chewing on a fence, yet when you take a picture it transforms into a hilarious and goofy looking animal. It made me smile. I can imagine the goat making all kinds of goofy noises, snorting, and stamping around. Maybe there's also a parade going by that it can sing along with. One can only hope.

 

Scientists have studied this, and have decided that we humans are programmed to love and adore "baby-like" faces (big eyes, small faces, roundish shaped heads, etc.). Recent studies have also proven how watching these animal videos improves overall workplace moral and efficiency. So, go right ahead and view those cat videos your best buddies send you, because your boss will then happily enjoy your profound productivity! See, you get all sorts of helpful advice here.

 

- M

Happy Mother's Day

To the special mothers in my life: Margaret (home with our dear Lord), my wife, Beth, and my own mommy. Love you all!

Happy Mother's Day!

Captain America: Civil War ... movie review (zero spoilers)

 

"Captain America: Civil War" came out this week. I'm sure the entire world gasped with excitement. First question: would I recommend it? Absolutely! It was everything I'd hoped it could be, and the mega-story Marvel is telling is finally showing real fruit. We already know the backgrounds of the characters, already sympathize, and already understand the stakes. So, things get rolling right away and wow does it keep moving. "Civil War" is definitely a movie you'll want to see more than once--I'm sure I didn't catch all the subtexts this first time.

 

Previews to "Civil War" asked us to pick a side, either Captain America or Iron Man. But, this is really too simplistic. There are huge issues at stake. Are superheroes free to do whatever they want? If not, then who should watch over them? Like all good stories, this one is filled with issues we can relate to: friendships, loyalties, fear, hope. There is significant impact in the final scenes--power that only comes from going through a long journey with close friends.

 

One aspect I particularly enjoyed was how convincing the plights of Captain America and Iron Man are. They are both fiercely loyal, yet see things from different perspectives. Iron Man is a haunted man, while Captain America is an idealist. But, they both want to make the world a better place. They demonstrate that alternate views aren't necessarily bad things. Yet, circumstances can quickly spiral out of control when someone throws a wrench in the works. <No, I won't give away any plot details, but a story isn't a story without conflict and this movie has plenty of conflict.>

 

Back when Marvel announced its multi-year, multi-movie, story it was considered a really risky maneuver. Now, I think it's safe to say they've been proven correct. People want bigger stories and worlds that continue between movies. Audiences expect huge stories in television, so why not movies too? I wouldn't be at all surprised if other studios follow the same path.

 

Go see "Captain America: Civil War" before your friends ruin it for you. Experience the story yourself. I loved it.

 

- M

Rainy Days and Sweet Sunshine

My lovely wife has taught me to truly enjoy rainy days. I've always enjoyed the sound of rain, but now it's something that puts me at peace with the world. Watching her face glow, as she listens, is beyond what mortal hearts can bear. I think it's a reflection of something so magnificent it can only show a little without burning our minds to dust. That level of beauty isn't an illusion. It's not subject to decay or breaking. It's true beauty. And, I get to see it on my wife's face every time it rains.

 

Sunshine is another thing that catches my imagination. My children, when they were young, would rush out to greet the morning light and spend all day playing outside. It was magical. The feeling of warmth that the sun provides on my skin will always remind me of my children's smiling faces. You see, there are some memories which will never fade, no matter what happens to me or how much time lays between events. Those happy smiles are with me forever.

 

Sometimes I wonder if I've had a similar effect on other people. I hope so. At least, if not me, then the stories I tell. As a writer, I'd actually prefer for people to remember my books with such fervor and love. That's the gift I feel I have to offer, and I hope I'm using it well. Maybe you'll curl up by a warm fireplace, open a nice book and fall into a flood of sweet memories. That is a terrific thing to do. Why don't you do it now?

 

- M

Old photos of yourself that prove you really are ... copied by a gawky robot.

As I've grown older, one thing has become very obvious. Old pictures of me are a conspiracy. Those couldn't be me. They're some sort of alien, or robot, or clone. I refuse to believe I was ever that skinny, or narrow, or ... erm ... good looking. Okay, that last bit was actually true, but how is it possible I was ever that person? It just isn't possible. The only explanation is a goofy robot was put in my place, and I think I'm being generous. 

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I do realize we change and grow and spread out, but sometimes it gets a bit ridiculous. I look at my wedding pictures and wonder who I'm looking at. Only my wife is recognizable. I don't know who the weird bloke is beside her. And, how dare he kiss my wife! Furthermore, why do I have a picture of him doing it?

 

Maybe it's an alien? Could be. I'm a bit foggy of that day's particular events. I truly only remember my wife's face. (Hint: that's a great brownie-point technique for when we men do something awfully wrong, like forgetting a birthday or not buying flowers for our anniversaries.)

 

So, by extension, I think it's safe to say we've been invaded by alien robots. Even worse, the conspiracy is they take our places in photos for the devious purpose of making us doubt our own existence. What could be more horrible? I think we need to round up all our old photos and burn them, yet can't quite get myself to doing it. It's possible it's not a conspiracy--

 

- M

Letting the cat out of the bag.

Right now I'm on a kick of finding my own verbal crutches and overused phrases. It's surprising and a bit disturbing to find trends in my vocabulary. If you're not sure what I mean, think of the word, "Like," that gets used so much in regular talking. Take this sentence for instance, "I wanted to go, like so bad." The sentence doesn't need the word at all, but it's stuck in there just because. While speaking, many people will use a variant of "um" to fill in awkward gaps.

In editing, these things are taken out, to make written sentences more readable and kind on the ears (I can't be the only one who reads out loud in the confines of their own head). I've read a few stories which attempt to capture actual spoken words, in quirky dialogue--can't say I'm a fan of this technique--but it does demonstrate how badly we all talk. I do find it interesting how uncomfortable this is to read, while it's fine in a movie. Well, there's a big difference when we're forced to interpret the words ourselves, rather than hearing it spoken--at least, that's my current theory.

And then we come around to phrases. Every culture has sentence fragments which encapsulate entire conversations in spare few words. For anyone within the culture, this makes communication easier and quicker. But, outsiders are clueless--"out in the dark" is how my culture says it. So, it can be dangerous to include these in stories, yet also obviously should be included to match the setting. It's a difficult task to juggle, and is one of the hallmarks of great storytellers.

So, let's see if this lead balloon can fly and knock out two birds with one stone...

- M