Best Movie Preview Ever

We like to do a family movie over the Thanksgiving holidays, usually the Wednesday before. This year was no exception and we all went to see the "Deathly Hallows, Part 1."

It seems like there was at least a half hour of movie previews, the typical assortment of animation and action. Ho-hum.

Then a western scene popped up. A stagecoach is coming into town and the passenger, under guard, is......wait for it, my boy DANIEL CRAIG! Since his next James Bond flick has been postponed or cancelled, this ought to work for me. And then another scene with the sheriff, who is none other than HARRISON FORD.  It's not like I haven't watched these guys or anything.

The Daniel Craig character seems to be a wanted man who has lost his memory, and he has a funky wrist band on. Then there is another scene with a spacecraft blasting the town's main street with lasers while return fire from the wrist band defends the group. What!?!

"Cowboys & Aliens"

Coming July 29, 2011. Are tickets on sale yet?

They did it to me again

Feeling a little stir crazy, I joined the family for a trip to Tinseltown this afternoon. It's the rare movie that can entertain a middle aged couple, a twenty something daughter and a teenage son.

I'm usually so-so with animated films, but "Toy Story 3" was worthy of the 5 star rating it received from both the Dallas and Fort Worth newspapers. It is just the right mix of clever humor and a good story, laugh out loud scenes and misty eyed moments.

"Toy Story 3" is a good movie to see if you are sometimes dismayed by life changes or have a hard time letting go. Unlike "Up," it is semi rather than bittersweet, so I left the movie refreshed and encouraged rather than emotionally drained. I'll be sure to watch it again three summers from now, as Wiley heads off to college.

Thank you, Pixar, for a fun afternoon.

I do have one beef, though. One of the reasons I go to the movies every now and then rather than waiting for the DVD is to see the previews. That's how I fake my way through adult conversations later on. Today's previews were for "Despicable Me," "Tinker Bell and the Great Fairy Rescue," "The Smurfs," "Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga'Hooie," and "Cats and Dogs: The Revenge of Kitty Galore." I'd be golden if I had grandkids. I don't, but if you do, and need a heads up, let me know and I'll fill you in.

Favorite movie line of all time

"Do, or do not. There is no try."

- Yoda

It's hard to believe that it has been thirty-three years since I stood in line for two hours to be seated for "Star Wars." The tickets had to be bought days ahead of time to avoid a sold-out theater. No on-line ticket buying in 1977. Ricky probably remembers the details - that's the summer we dated long distance, and he came up to Oklahoma once a month.

A Star Wars marathon is running on Spike TV this weekend in honor of the 30th anniversary of "The Empire Strikes Back." That movie is on in the background as I putter around the house. As far as I'm concerned, Yoda's admonition is the silver screen's greatest truth.

Think about it. Think about how much time and energy is wasted in procrastination and justification. What a world we would live in if politicians either did what they said they would do, or admitted they did not or could not! We would live in a world of reliability and responsibility instead of blame and prevarication.

Consider how much energy you could redirect to worthwhile activities if you didn't spin your wheels backtracking from what you could not or did not do.

It's time to man up.

Pay attention to your Yoda, whispering in your ear.

Now go DO something this week!

Star Wars revisited

This picture brightens my day. Our puppy has eyes now, but no ears.

My boys think we're getting a baby Ewok.

Why do I weep?

As I sit working in my office all the day long, my Ipod shuffles through its tunes. Country, classical, Broadway, classic rock or gospel - they all sound good through the Bose speakers of my docking station.

This afternoon a very favorite song popped up. "Into the West" is the conclusion of the "Lord of the Rings" film trilogy. Our family saw the third movie together on Christmas Day, 2003.

After epic conflicts and heroic sacrifices, good triumphs over evil, and the characters go home to their "happily ever after." But Frodo, battle scarred and world weary, decides he must leave his home for a haven over the sea. At the last moment possible, he gently lets his friends know he is leaving them behind. "Into the West" is the chorus to this final scene.

I love this song because of the memories it evokes. I can't hear it without remembering my young, tender hearted son, who did not anticipate this twist to the story's end, sobbing in the movie theater at the friends' gut wrenching farewells.

I love this song because it is piercing and majestic and has a glorious french horn descant. I can't hear it without thinking of my daughter, a french horn player. In 2003 she was just two years past her final cancer treatment, far too soon for me to rely on remission. The song soars with the reminder that death's separation would be only temporary.

Here are the words to "Into the West."

Lay down

Your sweet and weary head

Night is falling

You have come to journey's end

Sleep now

And dream of the ones who came before

They are calling

From across a distant shore

Why do you weep?

What are these tears upon your face?

Soon you will see

All of your fears will pass away

Safe in my arms

You're only sleeping

What can you see

On the horizon?

Why do the white gulls call?

Across the sea

A pale moon rises

The ships have come to carry you home

And all will turn

To silver glass

A light on the water

All Souls pass

Hope fades

Into the world of night

Through shadows falling

Out of memory and time

Don't say

We have come now to the end

White shores are calling

You and I will meet again

And you'll be here in my arms

Just sleeping

Chorus

And all will turn

To silver glass

A light on the water

Grey ships pass

Into the West

This afternoon I listened to the song five or six times, each time louder than before, aching for the times I will be on shores opposite my loved ones.

Every now and then, for a brief moment, I wonder whether the ship will be taking me to my lover's arms or bringing him and my babies to mine. I tingle for the moment of greeting parents and grandparents, unshackled from my childhood perceptions.

I love this song because, when I hear it, I am encouraged. Whether it be in three years or thirty, when I am damaged or worn beyond endurance, there is nothing to fear, all Souls pass. The pale moon will rise, a LIght on the water, my ship will carry me safe.

That is the beauty of Faith. I weep for joy.

Breaking with tradition

A long standing tradition for me is to have the Oscars on while I work on tax returns, it being March and all.

This year I just can't do it. Of the ten Best Picture nominees, I've seen exactly........ two. Can you guess which two?

The drum roll please - and the nominees are "Up" and "Up In The Air." I would give Best Picture to "Up." The first twenty minutes of that movie, if you are married, have ever been married, or ever want to be married, will take your heart and turn it inside out.

The best marriage will be full of dreams deferred and dreams remembered, because living and loving gets in the way of dreams sometime. In the best marriage, you can share your dreams, always part of who you are, and be content with both the realized dreams and the fantasies that are there to flirt with.

Good night, sweet dreams.