Happy Halloween!

 

I hope you all enjoy a wonderful day of fun and candy! And, maybe a couple of birthdays ...

 

Happy Halloween!

- M

Are heroes necessary? Why honor them?

Heroes in life are rare. Typically you find them amidst great tragedy and suffering. But, what's really interesting about heroes is their courage. I don't suppose you could even be a hero without it. We honor them because we want people of such quality around us, and maybe even encourage more to develop. I think deep inside we all hope we'll show such courage if the time ever comes.

 

In stories, heroes are common. Many stories wouldn't even exist without heroes. But, with stories we can experience heroic deeds, fight famous battles, and whisk away the damsel in distress. Through stories we can tame lions, ride dragons, and become a hero in our imaginations. Heroes inspire and motivate, even from the pages of a book. Heroes are good for us. Yes, they are examples, but they also demonstrate the incredible levels of courage we can possess too.

 

We honor true heroes. We mourn when heroes pass away. We relish heroism and flock to movies relating true life heroes. The new movie, "Hacksaw Ridge" is a perfect example. Plus, the Marvel Cinematic Universe is proving that the viewing public has huge cravings for superheroes--a natural extension of real life heroism. It makes sense; heroes have existed as long as the art of storytelling.

 

 

Yes, heroes are necessary and we should honor their sacrifices and heroism. And, they should be remembered in our stories.

 

- M

Wanting to see a romantic movie? I've got an oldie and goodie for you...

 

"Forever Young" is a romance that somehow gets overlooked. I'm not sure why. It features popular actors of the day: Mel Gibson and Jamie Lynn Curtis (along with a very young Elijah Wood). The plot is simple enough: Love-struck test pilot suffers tragedy and impulsively agrees to becoming a human popsicle. Yup, pretty dopey. But, this movie is very smartly written. Every scene needs to be there, and so many things setup a nice payoff later.

 

What do you want in a romance? You want your heart strings tugged, you want to cry, you want to laugh, you want everything wrapped up in a wonderful way. "Forever Young" does all of that. My wife and I watched it the other night and she loved it. The characters feel real. The situations don't require much to believe them. Even the silly setup takes hardly anything to sink in, because the story doesn't focus on the situation more than allowing it to frame the overall story.

 

I think the best part of "Forever Young" is how the characters actively trust one another. There's no tomfoolery going on, no backstabbing, and you want the characters to succeed. Yes, the movie makes you love the characters! That's a real treat these days. This movie was made in 1992, so some things are a bit dated, but the story has aged remarkably well. It's an innocent romance, with a huge heart, and will genuinely affect you for the better.  Check it out.

 

- M

Where are you from? What's your hometown?

My hometown -- Telfs, Austria

At some point, we nearly always ask new acquaintances where they come from. Why do we care? Why do we want to know? Sure, we ask because we love connecting with people who are from somewhere near our own area, but even when that isn't true we still want to know. We learn about places we haven't seen, things we haven't done, and cultures we'll never be a part of. In that sense, we grow as citizens of the world. Human beings thrive on interpersonal connections, so it's only natural that we want to further it whenever the opportunity arises.

 

From a personal perspective, answering the questions offer us the opportunity to dig into our own memories and relive a bit of our childhood. I'll never forget the mountains I grew up around, or the walks through pine forests with dry pine needles cracking underfoot, or even my walk to school and the adventures I had (thinking back, I even remember my schoolmates giving me a gift LP album of the "Three Little Pigs" dramatized story--no idea what happened to that record, but at least I remember it). Those memories makeup who we fundamentally are, and it's a treat to share those with other people.

 

In the end, both sides of the question gain and improve. It's what's called a "Win-Win" situation. Plus, if you're lucky, you'll discover someone with the same hometown and you've made a quick friend. My wife and I met three states away from where we actually lived, and all because she wanted to know where I was from. Ah, the joys of asking a simple question!

 

So, where are you from?

 

- M

Movie adaptations of popular stories.

I'm sure if it's a modern trend, but it sure seems like we see a lot more retellings of famous stories. Movies remake old movies, comics become movies, oral folktales show up in theaters. Yes, it's easy to take something which has already survived the test of time, yet it feels somehow cheap to do so. I love a good story, no matter the medium, and so I approach them all with an open mind.

 

 

"X-Men: Apocalypse" is a recent one which takes the wildly popular Apocalypse storyline and puts it on screen--with mixed results to be sure. I enjoyed it for what it was--a popcorn movie where you put your brain in a jar and enjoy the antics in front of you. We are heading toward the "Infinity Gauntlet" story in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, which will be in two movies, and I can hardly wait to see them. Another movie, which is a retread of a whole movie series, is "Godzilla" from 1998. Yes, that Godzilla movie. I enjoy it for what it is--a goofy, utterly silly, monster feature.

 

Why does the source material have to be taken seriously? Yes, it is popular and well-received originally, but if you simply retell it the same way then what have you accomplished? Stories need to find their own voices, even when that voice is from something already told. Think about any modern story and I'll bet you can find influences from other stories which came before it. We tend to build on what's been successful in the past. It's only natural. But, make sure to find something original within it. Make the story your own. If it excites you, then your audience will feel it in their bones. And, who doesn't want to be thrilled?

 

- M

Let's debate!

To be fair, it does take at least some concentration to debate.

Well, now that politics have thrown debates into common vocabulary for a little while ... why is debating such an uncommon practice? I'm not talking about arguing without any hope of persuasion, but providing reasoned arguments either for or against a topic. Schools have debate clubs, and there are national debate teams, yet few people ever learn how to debate at all. Mostly, it's just arguing and calling names. We can use fancy words to describe debates, but in my mind debates are a form of persuasion where you provide your view in the hopes of changing opinion.

 

I've tried to teach my children how to have a civil disagreement (sometimes loudly) without moving beyond arguing varying points and into abusive attacks. Yes, it's okay to disagree. Actually, tolerance is defined by having someone you disagree with and letting them carry on disagreeing. Debates hopefully clarify the pros and cons to any particular subject, so reasoned thought can determine which is best for you. Bickering and finger pointing does nothing to persuade anyone, and it only causes strife.

 

I'm the first to admit my emotions get enflamed when people loudly disagree with me. Still, why should such disagreement be shut down? It's good to be challenged in your own beliefs. In fact, I'm a big believer in facing challenge because it's only then that you find out just how firmly you hold your views. If you can't back up your viewpoint, then you probably don't have much reason to believe it, do you?

 

Aha! Suckered you into a debate, didn't I? Yup, I'm sneaky that way.

 

- M

Surprise! Happy --- something or other...

image credit

Have you ever been the recipient of a surprise party? Birthday, work, award, or whatever? Was it really a surprise, or did you already know? The better question is, would you let anyone do it again if you knew in advance?

 

I've only had the pleasure once, at work. They got me good. I never saw it coming, nor even suspected--no easy feat for those who know me. It was at work, on my last day at a job. Everyone was there to wish me well. After the initial rush of surprise and embarrassment, I felt deeply honored. Yes, I wanted to hide from everyone's eyes, but my gratitude overcame my reluctance. No, I wouldn't ask for it, yet I can't say I'd never like to feel that way again. It was ... extraordinary.

 

Why is it we love to surprise people so much? I think we get just as much pleasure when we give the surprise. It's like a present for everyone involved. And, there's the fact of a party being involved. Even if the person isn't surprised, there's hopefully a lot of fun and joy. After all, I doubt people plan surprise parties to irritate and annoy ... well, at least not if your friends like you.

 

- M

Choose your own adventure

Did you ever read any of those "Choose your own adventure" type books when you were young? I always marveled at the variety and scope of them. It still fascinates me how these are created, because it seems like there's endless possibility and fun with every page. The process of writing those books must be like creating a complex maze, with twists and turns and dead ends aplenty. Yet, in the good ones, there's still a story to tell despite all the weaving about.

 

Have you created your own? Maybe in the back yard, amongst the ferns and undergrowth? My brother and I had massive fantasy battles that involved all sorts of armies and enemies. I'm sure we created nifty stories about it all, but it mainly gave us an excuse to play with pretend swords. My imagination had no trouble filling my little place in the world with untold dangers and thrills. Children can turn anything into a marvelous adventure!

 

I think the reason I have such fond memories of the "Choose your own adventure" books is because I got to choose what to do. Sure, the choice isn't really a free one--as there are only a few options--but I made the books my own. I even read them over and over so much that I still have them packed away somewhere. They are fun even now. My favorites were a series of three spy adventures, and it was like being James Bond.

 

Reading should be fun--at least for fiction--otherwise why would you bother reading in the first place?

 

-- M

Fall Break!

Ah, the notorious Fall Break is upon us. As a kid, I was excited. As a parent, I'm thinking of what to ask my children to do--which, I'm sure my children thoroughly appreciate. I can't say I ever took serious advantage of the break myself. Most times I just sat in my room, reading, drawing, playing games, or generally doing as little as possible.

 

We take breaks as adults as well, though we generally call them vacations or holidays. Just like our kids, we do very little beyond sightseeing or having fun. It's a time to unwind, enjoy friends, and take life less seriously. I think we don't take them often enough. Even little get-aways are a good thing. It doesn't need to be a multi-week experience, but can easily encompass a single day.

 

I don't begrudge my kids settling back and taking things easy (so long as they get their chores done). Life demands so much of us in adulthood, it's hard to see beyond it. Maybe that's why Peter Pan is such a loved hero? A boy who can't grow up, and get's to play forever. Hmm, maybe I could get some tights and a little knife and a goofy hat ... all it takes is a happy thought, right?

 

-- M

Decorating your room

As a guy, my sense of decoration pretty much ends with having four walls. I put up things that interest me, rather than what looks nice. I suppose my writing studio has a certain dramatic style. My wife, on the other hand, has impeccable taste. She manages to bring life to our house in ways I could never have imagined before. It's magical how she arranges and tinkers and makes our home a place to love.

I would've loved to have this as a kid!
image credit

I often think about how things have changed as I've grown older. One that hasn't is the deep desire to make my room my own place of expression. We naturally want a spot that's purely ours, with our stuff and our toys. Maybe that's why showing someone your room is such a personal and intimate gesture? Certainly allowing someone to remain in your room for more than a little look is a special privilege. Is the same true across the world?

 

Watching someone decorate is like getting a peek inside their minds. Little children decorate drawing pages with swoops and swirls of colors, often with little regard to the overall look, simply because they enjoy the process. As we age, we put more meaning into our doodles, until we create our own signature style and flair. Maybe some never reach such lofty heights--I'm sure I never have--yet when we see what some people have achieved, it's jaw dropping.

 

- M

Understanding allegory: The Emperor's New Clothes

Somehow we have forgotten how to put our minds to work as we read. I'm not sure when it happened, but I've seen more and more confusion about simple children's stories. One such is "The Emperor's New Clothes," by Hans Christian Andersen. If you haven't read it, then follow the link and check it out.

image credit

 This tale spells out it's meaning at the end, but the value is far beyond the simple observations. The point the author was bringing up was how people are capable of fully believing a lie while at the same time knowing it as a lie. George Orwell does much the same in the book, "1984," with the concept of "doublethink." Put bluntly, the Emperor in the story is naked and is too proud to admit he's been fooled by devious tailors, so he only suspects he's naked and forces himself to continue the sham. Therefore, he is on display to everyone as naked and shamed. "The Emperor has no clothes" means it is fakery, illusion, trickery, and is in fact all lies.

 

How often have we, ourselves, done the exact same?

 

Fiction is typically written for pure entertainment, so doesn't have deep lessons to teach. However, authors are human beings and so imbed such lessons anyway, though mostly implied. "The Lord of the Rings" trilogy is chock full of lessons, despite being a great fantasy. When you read, take a bit of time to digest what you've read. Think about it. There's good stuff beyond the words on the page, and sometimes you'll find an even deeper story floating there. If you need a starting point, go back to "Aesop's Fables" and enjoy figuring them out ... yup, some are just weird.

 

- M

Falling in love, again and again and again.

 

I hope I'll never for a moment forget the whirlwind of emotions of meeting my future bride. She is my best friend, my confidant, and constant companion. I can't imagine life without her. I never expected to find her and now see her everywhere. I find myself falling in love with her over and over. There are a million little things she does that make me grin. A single glance from her can send me into orbit. She has a smile that is mine, and mine alone. I always know I'm home when I see her face light up.

 

When I saw my children born, I experienced the surge of instant love I'd only read about until then. It's a different sort of love, yet every bit as strong as my love for my wife. The funny thing is, I find myself growing in leaps of love for them as well. I could never have imagined such depth even ten years ago, much less twenty. Children are a profound blessing.

 

I think we're hard wired to love. Look how easily we extend our love to the animals we choose as pets, or any animals at all for that matter. Loving is as natural as breathing. If I live to be a hundred, I hope I'll fall in love with my wife and kids a whole lot more.

 

- M

Stage Musicals from Movies

Back when the "Lion King" came out, and subsequently became a huge hit, I remember talk of turning it into a Broadway musical. I thought the idea absurd (hey, I was young and the idea seemed so crazy, and didn't realize there's a long history of that very thing). But, I've always loved musicals. I grew up with "Sound of Music" and "Fiddler on the Roof" and "Westside Story," so it's in my blood to enjoy them.

 

One I sadly just became aware of is the musical "Ghost," inspired by the movie of the same name. That movie had a singularly powerful effect on me: when it was over, I felt like the real world was a shadow and the movie was true. I'm aware such mental shifts happen, but hadn't experienced it before. It didn't last long, but the emotion was overwhelming. The musical surges with that emotion through the music. Likely I'll never have opportunity to see it, which is a pity.

 

What especially impresses me is how the music is created with such sensitivity to the source movie. I've never written music, so it seems incredibly hard and difficult work. Yet, there are a constant stream of such musicals, even with movies hardly dealing with music much at all--such as, "Bridges of Madison County" or "Rocky" and even "Carrie"). The variety is astounding. Hopefully I'll have opportunity to see some Broadway shows; high on my list are "Beauty and the Beast" and "Les Miserable."

 

It's well worth seeing a stage musical, and there's plenty to choose from!

 

- M

The Joys of an Accurate Narrator

Much of the time the narrator of stories is completely reliable, accurately describing events around them. The audience quickly gets used to it and so is easily surprised by twists and turns. I'm not sure why we usually trust a story's narrator, but I certainly do. Maybe it's because the story won't make much sense if the narrator is complicating things with all kinds of lies. That's the easy answer. I think audiences prefer not being tasked with deciphering the story they are enjoying. But, like everything in life, there are exceptions.

 

Sherlock Holmes and Watson

I think of the stories of "Sherlock Holmes" and the narrator, Watson. In this situation, the narrator is not the brilliant mind--though he is very capable himself--yet he is methodical in narration. In fact, the only doubt is on Sherlock's shoulders, as he is constantly obscuring information and coming at cases from odd angles. That's all in the fun of a "Sherlock Holmes" story though, and so we follow poor Watson in our own deductions. From a writer's point of view, having the narrator not be Sherlock makes it possible to point out facts without giving away the solution to the mystery--because Watson is prone to noting red herrings while ignoring items Holmes himself is examining.

 

A perspective quite a few stories take is the omniscient third-person narrator--which allows the audience to know the thoughts of anyone and the activities of anything. The all-knowing viewpoint. You can hardly mistrust anything presented this way. Movies are usually this format, since it's really hard to do it differently without narrowing the presentation to simply following the main character around. The downside is this viewpoint doesn't color the narration with any kind of emotion and relies on the characters and events to portray it instead.

 

Personally, I usually like accurate narrators much more than twisted or lying narrators. But, there are times when I long for a mystery and topsy-turvy joy.

 

- M