Mirror, mirror, on the wall...

When you first read the story of Snow White, did you ever wonder what the mirror would say if you asked the question yourself? I've never considered myself beautiful--naturally, since I'm a man--yet, I always wanted to have the aspect of beauty. It seems like these days we hear so much about self image, self-love, and all about self. But, beauty isn't about any of that. Real beauty is generous and humble, kind and forgiving, loving and confident. Yes, beauty is far more than outward appearance.

 

Funny thing is, in the story the gorgeous (and evil) queen gets destroyed in the end. Sure, the story has a moral--it's a kid's story after all. Beauty is fleeting, like flowers blooming in a field. Even so, beauty is wonderful to behold. We naturally treasure beautiful things, create beautiful art, and love beautiful music. We are created to appreciate beauty.

 

So, why do we get so preoccupied with it? Why do we ignore the incredible beauty all around us? I suppose it's also in our nature to be blind to it. Funny that. I'm not the first to point out these things, and I have no doubt there will be plenty more books confronting the subject. In the end, we need to satisfy our longings with confidence and quiet assurance. If we chase the wind, we catch nothing. Take a breath and enjoy the beauty all around you. Stop and watch the birds, count the clouds, and listen to the trees. You'll find your confidence growing, I promise.

 

- M

The heavy weight of loss

It's a neat trick when a story causes the audience to feel the burdens of loss. Perhaps because a seriously bad event happened, something treasured was destroyed, or a beloved character died. Whatever the reason, the feeling of loss is powerful. Ever since we lost our first toy, we've been taught the agony of loss. It comes in a myriad of forms, yet it's always new agony. Perhaps we feel loss in a deeper way than other emotions? I don't know, but grief is a form of loss and when someone is grieving, all I want to do is take the pain away.

"Angel of Grief" by American sculptor, art critic and poet William Wetmore Story (1819-1895).

Of course, stories are either fiction or happened in the past. So, we know the losses we feel are not our own, though many times they sure feel real. We can turn off the television, or close the book, and return to reality. I believe that's one very big reason why stories are always desired. We can run through all human emotions within the safe confines of a story, then turn away and go on with our lives. It's escapism, happy relief, and fantasy.

 

So, if a story captures our interests so thoroughly that we feel a sense of loss, then that story was a good one. Connections are what binds us together, even connections to imagination. I never tire of sharing stories with friends, talking about things we did or read or watched. Common stories increase the bonds. Have you ever wanted a parent or uncle to tell an old much-heard story again? Why do we do that? Because we enjoy the emotions that come from it. It's like reliving the adventures all over, one more time. And, with the telling, a new generation of listeners enjoy the new connections.

 

- M

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving!

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Please enjoy the potatoes and stuffed ham! But, turkey isn't as tasty as people think. Try the dressing and jams instead!

Long distance travel

It was marvelous having my parents come over for the weekend. 15 hour drive. Ouch. And, yet, long-distance travel is a great business. We can wish for faster transport, but for now at least it's either car, plane, bus, or boat. If you're going a long way, then it'll take some time. And, we travel for fun and love and business. People travel all over the world, then turn around and do it again. Where are those teleporters we were promised?

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When we finally get into space colonization, it'll make trips around the world seem like going to the market for groceries. It's nearly impossible to comprehend the vast distances involved. Trips will take months and years. How far will we go? Can we make it to another star? Another galaxy? It's fun to think about.

 

What about travel underwater? Scuba diving doesn't offer much exploration of the vast oceans, and submarines don't have much of a view. Between space and underwater, I think my own romantic inclinations lean toward the water. Space is vast, yet empty. The depths are full of life, some yet to be discovered and others bewilderingly alien. Wouldn't it be amazing to be the first to see new life?

 

And, all that from simply traveling somewhere. Incredible.

 

- M

Animals in stories

Ever since "Watership Down" changed the way we see rabbits, and "Old Yeller" and "Cujo" made us doubt our family pets, animals have been important aspects of stories. Okay, I'm joking. Animals have been part of stories since human beings have been capable of talking. We love funny pets, curious creatures, and all sorts of animals. Some of the most popular YouTube videos are cat and dog videos. Yup, we love animals.

 

From an author's standpoint, having animals in stories allows for some really neat interplay and character development. We can determine a lot about a character simply by how they react to animals. Treat a stray cat nicely, and we know immediately that this person is trustworthy (not necessarily correct, but it leads us to the conclusion). Have a villain toss a bagged dog into a stream and it's either a horrid person or a very different culture than the one we grew up in (either way, it's doubtful the audience will trust the character).

 

Animals also reflect the people they are around, many times acquiring the personalities and mannerisms of their owners. Because of this trait, we can get funny little glimpses of hidden flaws and counter play between the animals and people. They also are capable of getting away with behaviors that a regular character simply couldn't accomplish. Animals are too cute to be ashamed. Unless it's a skunk, and those things shouldn't exist at all--(only kidding, I'm sure they have a good purpose).

 

- M

Singing in the shower

from "Ferris Bueller's Day Off"

Do you sing in the shower? Many people do. It's a great echo chamber, so your voice will sound much fuller and richer. Plus, you're in a place where you're virtually guaranteed to be alone. I love singing in the shower, or in the car, or in my room. Pity my vocal chords won't take the strain for long--no, I'm not awful, I just don't have a strong throat. Maybe I can strengthen them somehow, though I've never tried.

 

Like any kind of entertainment talent, if you're really good then you can find a tasty career using your ability. Or, you could simply entertain yourself, since there's no special rule that you must use it for other people. I'll even bet professionals sing in the shower. It's just a fun thing to do. Hopefully nobody catches you singing, and even worse ... dancing.

 

I think we naturally try out new things by ourselves. Most people I know dislike practicing in front of others. It's not because of nerves, I don't think, but more about being really terrible at the beginning. Music is especially that way, since we know what it's supposed to sound like and when we're the ones producing it, it's painfully obvious when the sounds aren't good. When my children were young, it was fun watching them learn basic skills. They didn't like being corrected, though eventually realized that teaching does involve pointing out mistakes and how to fix them. It's a blow to your pride to have your errors pointed out, so it's good to learn early that you have to swallow your pride to grow up.

 

See? All that came from singing in the shower. Go do it!

 

- M

Romance to last a lifetime

I really enjoy taking my wife out on dates. We talk and laugh and look in each other's eyes. There are many times when I feel we share each other's heartbeats, and breathe the same breaths. It's wondrous and surprising, bewildering and enchanting, magical and completely real. In her, I see all my dreams come true. Yes, miracles do happen--she agreed to marry me, and amazingly still appreciates my company. I can't imagine life without her. She's my soul-mate.

 

 

When I was a pining teenager, yearning for the tender kisses of love and finding them only in books and music, I comforted myself with the promise that someday my day would come. Funny thing is, I never saw it coming. Actually, when I met her, she fast became my ... best friend. There wasn't any romance in the relationship at all. We talked about everything and nothing at all. I wanted her insight and wisdom, and I revealed things to her I've never told anyone else. We got to know each other and I liked her a lot. I trusted her completely.

 

Sometime in the mix, friendship moved into something much deeper--love. I still can't place my finger on the exact time it happened. Actually, I'm not even sure I understood what romantic love was, but I was willing to take the risk with her. We prayed constantly and took it slow. She was much more eager, but never pushed me. Our friendship changed to love and deepened every day. Our love for each other is still maturing, each day. I can hardly imagine a richer love, yet I know in 25 more years it will be far beyond what I understand today.

 

Like I said, miracles do happen.

 

- M

Forced to do dumb things

People do dumb things all the time. In stories, however, when characters do ignorant, dumb, stupid things it rips the audience right out of the story and they collectively sit back and groan. A few examples from movies I've recently seen include: a cab driver still driving (and weaving wildly) after someone falls onto his roof and grabs on by sheer accident, cops shooting at a fleeing suspect while on a crowded street, cops shooting a suspect while the bad guy holds a baby hostage to his chest, security guards firing into a crowded boardroom to stop a loose animal, and the ever popular scared person investigating a noise without any weapon at hand. I could name the movies, but these choice moments are multiple offenders and are seen all over the story map.

 

You see, the problem with these dumb acts isn't so much that they're stupid and wrong. No, the problem is people simply wouldn't do them without very precise motivation underlying their actions. The writer wanted tension and so forced the characters to behave unnaturally. The audience will notice and will immediately pass beyond the story, criticizing it rather than enjoying it. It breaks the implicit trust the audience has made with the author. All of my examples could work fine, but only if the characterization had a good reason. Normal people would pull over (or slam on the brakes) if someone fell on their roof. Cops certainly wouldn't endanger innocent lives by firing wildly at a fleeing suspect (and, many times the suspect hasn't done anything worth dying for in the first place). When you're scared you won't blithely investigate suspicious sounds without arming yourself, unless you have no other choice.

 

Audiences are enjoying the story to escape reality for a time. That's the goal. It's basic escapism. Even history is a way of leaving the present behind and leaping through a time portal. They want to connect with the main characters. So, when the characters behave unrealistically it pulls them away and causes the audience to moan in frustration. The desired tension doesn't develop because the audience isn't connecting with the characters any more. The trust is lost, and it might take the rest of the story to get it back. Why lose it in the first place?

 

I often sit back and wonder, "Would <place name here> actually do this? Or am I forcing them to do something stupid?" If you have any doubt, then the answer is likely, "yes," and you need to do some re-writing. It's well worth the effort.

 

- M

Friends and Friendship

When I was a child, there was a saying I heard often, "If you want a friend, be a friend." The idea being that friendship starts with being friendly in the first place. It puts the onus on myself and not others. I need to initiate. Of course, if everyone is doing the same thing then it's easy to make friends. These days I see far too many people with scowls on their faces, clearly not interested in talking with anyone, and it's rather difficult to engage a sour attitude with friendliness. I still try though.

 

 

The glory of friends is you have someone to talk to who has expressed interest in you and hopefully wants to help you succeed in life. Moving to close friends and there you have someone actively wanting to help and who will be there for you in times of difficulty. Friends make life more rewarding. Personally, I have only a few close friends, though many general friends, because it's kind of hard to fully open up to anyone. Close friends know who you really are and still accept you.

 

To anyone struggling to make friends, I offer encouragement. Keep trying. Being friendly is a skill, and like any skill there are some who do it naturally and others who learn it through sheer hard work. You'll find someone, in this wide and wonderful world. Even total goofballs make friends. Cheer up, smile, and get out there. Don't give up, keep trying, and open your eyes. Sometimes all it takes is a happy face finding the eyes of a tormented soul, and if you let it, then a fast friendship can blossom.

 

- M

Medieval weapons ... romantic or brutally effective?

I collect swords because I find them beautiful and I enjoy slicing potatoes out of the air with them. Yup, I really do that. And, anyone who visits gets to do it too. It's kind of a thing we do at my house. I've also collected a few other items, like a battle axe, a mace, and a flail. One thing's become crystal clear regarding these weapons: these things are ruthlessly effective instruments of war. These things don't play around.

Castilian Sword from Museum Replicas

You've probably seen movies where the hero gets smacked in the face with a mace. What's not shown is how the hero wouldn't have a face left afterwards. For a long time I wouldn't display the flail (which is a spiked ball on a chain, attached to a long handle) because it's the single most brutal weapon I've ever seen. The thing is, when these weapons were created they weren't for play or beauty; this was warfare and not games. But, with the comfort of many intervening years, these items become less utilitarian and more curiosities.

 

I wonder if today's weapons will have the same fate? Will people many years from now look at our guns and tanks and think, "huh, I could put those on my wall." Maybe. There is something to learn though, and that's how incredible our concept of beauty is. Just think about. Technology is a sort of art. It follows that war technology would eventually fall into the same category. Catapults, once used to destroy castles, are now being used to throw pumpkins! (Punkin Chunkin') I think it's a testimony to the resilience of we human beings how we can turn what once took lives into something new that creates joy and pleasure. As a side note, there are two pumpkins on our porch that desperately require a few good slices to fit into the trash cans... hee hee.

 

- M

Movie review: Doctor Strange

"Doctor Strange" is the new Marvel movie and I loved it. One thing you should know before seeing it: this movie deals with other dimensions and head-trippy visuals. This is the first movie I've seen where I think seeing it in 3-D is worth the added depth, because it's useful and adds to the experience. Anyway, the story concerns an arrogant self-important neurosurgeon who has his whole world turned over. This movie brings the concept of magic to the Marvel universe (though, they actually spend a bit of time saying it's really just a different kind of perception and not hocus-pocus). Because of that setup, there is plenty of zipping around and time distortion and all kinds of monkey business.

 

The story is a fairly simple reluctant hero. There's the wise old teacher, embittered outcasts, helpful students, and plenty of tricks. I feel they didn't spend much time on the training scenes (mostly because what does it matter really) so they could get to the meat of the plot and let the bad guy do his thing. I'll admit I was honestly surprised at the method used to win, and was happy it made sense within it's own world building. With a story this weird, it's pleasant to see it following it's own rules.

 

Most important for a movie, this was fun! I had a blast. There weren't any times I wanted to break for the bathroom, or check how much popcorn was left. I was engaged throughout the whole movie. More importantly, I found myself reacting viscerally at many times--two words: car crash--and felt a sense of leaving a breathing world behind when I left the theater. Yes, there are plot holes, but why focus on those--especially since nearly any story has them--when there was so much fun in this movie? I loved it. If you enjoy the Marvel superhero movies, then you'll enjoy "Doctor Strange."

 

Go see it!

 

- M

Remember to "Fall Back" this weekend, for Daylight Savings Time.

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This weekend we get to set our clocks back an hour and sleep in. Yippee! Of course, that means we will be dreading "Leap Ahead" day at the other end of the equation where we lose an hour of sleep. To me, this is a dastardly plan to cause jet lag to an entire nation all at once. Nope, don't like the concept at all. My wife tells me I'm being over-dramatic--she's probably right--and that it's not such a big deal. It's been going on for a long time, and I doubt it'll change.

 

Technically, in the Fall we enter Daylight Standard Time and in the Spring we move to Daylight Savings Time. A quick perusal of the Wikipedia page demonstrates this concept is quite old actually, and various countries around the world use it. Generally speaking, the idea is supposed to save energy use (as the sun is shining, so less energy is spent lighting working areas). Of course, modern society doesn't behave the same as older ones, and we sure don't use gas lights or candles much either.

 

However you feel about it, it's the way things are around here. I don't suppose a one-person strike will accomplish much, so I will be complying with the rest of them. I will thoroughly enjoy an extra hour of sleep this weekend, and I am certain to be fully rested and eager to meet the day's work. Or, I'll just hit the snooze a couple times less. Either way, I appreciate having more time for once ... actually, what happens to that hour? Is it in limbo during half of the year and brought out to stare at the rest of the year? Hmm, I think scientific inquiry needs to be done to find out what happens to the hour in question.

 

- M