Frankenstein Had All The Fun

Tonight I went over to K&P's house to have dinner and watch Monster's Ball. Yeah, I know: it's not a new film. Truth is that I've lost my edge with movies. I used to be a gotta-see-it-in-the-theater kind of gal. Now, I tend to wait until it's available on Netflix. There are exceptions, of course, and some subjects just cry out for a huge screen. Mostly, though, home viewing is a happy thing.

I remembered, vaguely, that I wanted to see i>MB, but I didn't remember why or who was in it beyond HB. So, it caught me really unprepared. I have to admit that I nearly left during the first half hour; in the beginning there is a tremendous amount of pain and ugliness. I'm glad I stuck it out, though, because it turned into something wonderful by the end. One thing I liked in particular was that the characters' arcs were distinct from one another, even where there were parallels.

K put it best when she said that the one word that best described the center of the story was Acceptance. I'm inclined to agree. Also, if I had to bet, I'd say that the original format was short story. (Short stories often make the best feature films because there is more space, in my opinion.) I loved the fact that both main characters experienced empowerment after grief, liberation, and connection. The keystone was acceptance. HB did, perhaps, her best piece of acting in the final scene. Her face changed with such subtlety!

Out of respect for people who see things even later than I do (either by choice or because of geography), I'll not say more about it beyond affirming that I'm glad I saw it. I'd even watch it again.

Packing begins in earnest this week. My intention is to try and stay focused on keeping it simple. I have other priorities, too, like getting my piano sold. I think the key to this week will be to balance continued motion with alllowing things to unfold without pushing. Sounds simple when I put it like that, eh? HA!

Oh! Here's a funny thing. I had this idea that I wanted to be really comfy and snuggly when I went to K&P's, so I pulled the seafoam green dress with the hand-painted suns on it out of the closet. L gave it to me during the LoVePiLe weekend last August in that enormous bag of clothes she's out-shrunk. At the time it fit properly. I wore it again on Hilton Head in October when I was down there with my sister and two of her children, visiting my grandfather. It hasn't been warm enough since then. A very strange thing happened...

I don't know whether or not I've mentioned it here before, but I'm experiencing a strange phenomenon as my body gets smaller: I can totally accept and get that the number on the scale is in a steady decrease; I can even take in that I look different to myself in the mirror; I get thrown facing the fact that my clothes don't fit and that if I'm buying new ones, I need smaller sizes. I can't really relate to that.

Well.

I came out of the bedroom in my dress and Wolf said, "No offense, but you can't wear that." I was put out because I love this dress and was looking forward to its snuggly comfort. I may have looked a bit pouty. He said, "Look, unless you and K and P are planning to put you outside and hange ropes from your ears to stake into the ground, then you have to wear something else." I didn't get it. I wasn't being coy; I just knew he must be wrong.

He sighed and walked me into the bathroom. "Here's why," he said as he ducked his head under the skirt and poked it out through the neck where mine already was. Yep. We were both wearing the dress ... and it was falling straight down. He made his point. And you know, it was quite a thing. I don't think he's worn a dress since his high school graduation! Today he felt it was the only way he could make the point. I have to be grateful for a friend who will go to any lengths to protect me from my own mind. Heh.

OK. It's time for bed. Here's a wish for peace,

~M

Copyright 2004 Seasmoke All rights reserved