Feel-Good Friday, continuing with the Elizabethtown theme edition.

Again with the early FGF, but remember, I have to get up way early.

And again with the Elizabethtown thing. As I said, it’s been a while since I’ve watched it. I’ve been afraid I would be inconsolable for whatever reason. Tonight, though, it’s just what I wanted to see.

The movie hits me on so many levels. For one, I’m a sucker for a Cameron Crowe movie. His use of music is unparalleled, in my opinion. There’s no “Tiny Dancer” moment (like in his Almost Famous–a scene that will give me a lump in my throat until the day I die) in Elizabethtown, but in this particular case, it was almost as if he hand-picked every song for me. And those of my ilk. There’s Ryan Adams, of course, and Patty Griffin, and My Morning Jacket, and Tom Petty, and many other stars plucked from my personal favorite little niche of the music universe.

But it’s not just the songs. It’s the dialogue and the improbable love story and how very much I identify with Orlando Bloom’s character. And Kirsten Dunst’s, actually, in some ways. She’s been called annoying in this role, and I guess I understand, but I like her. She has some good lines and some fun little quirks that complement his character’s neuroses. And yes, I’ve heard the plot line described as, “I liked it better when it was called Garden State.” Again, I understand.

I still like this movie better than all of the above. Even with the unfavorable comparisons, even with all the holes in the plot (When did Claire have time to make the road trip map/mixtape? And why would you go north from Lou-uh-vul if you want to go to Elizabethtown?), it gets to me.

The portrayal of a big Southern family when there’s been a death is right on. Relatives and townfolk come and go, there’s LOTS of food and laughter and tears and grudges from years past, and loyalty and love are fierce. Those scenes remind me of when, for whatever reason, my family would converge upon my great-aunt and -uncle’s house in Alabama when I was a little girl. It was not unlike how the movie pictures it.

I’ve always had a special place in my heart for Louisville and that area of Kentucky, though I haven’t spent much time there by any means. I’ve mainly just driven through it on my way other places–but it’s always someplace fun with people I love. A year and a half ago, though, I did get to spend a bit of time there and fell slightly in love with it. Thus, those parts filmed in that area make me smile. For many reasons.

Augh, so much more, but I’m so tired and I want to just enjoy the last few minutes of it. I love the idea of a solitary journey of music and miles and meditation. I’ve taken a couple of mini ones myself, but one day I hope to take one like Drew’s.

One day I hope to find a real version of the movie love that Drew and Claire found. I empathize all too well with Claire’s classification of them as “the substitute people.” That part always draws a sigh. For a large part of the movie, they seem to be ships passing in the night–it’s perfect, but…not…going to happen.  That part hits home like never before tonight.

Until some fool decides to make me more than a substitute, I’ll just savor moments as they come, and maybe pantomime taking a picture of the most special ones sometimes.

Aaaaaaanyway, I guess I’ve combined my FGF with a totally gratuitous and pointless piece of ramble about a movie I like. But, to explain the video, it’s, of course, one of my favorite scenes. You probably need to see the movie to get the context, but it’s still pretty awesome.

Slow and soulful. Happy Friday.

Thankful Thursday

This…has been a long week.  ”Short” work weeks always seem to be.  So, let’s dive on into the thankfulness.

1.  Milk and cookies.  I shouldn’t be consuming either, but I stupidly decided The Best Idea Ever was to bake my kids cookies for Friday, so that’s what I’ll be doing all night tonight if you need me.  And I have some organic milk (the uber-low-fat kind that doesn’t upset my tummy), and it’s pretty blissful.

2.  I was part of a focus group this afternoon after school to help gather info that will make the Metro schools hiring process more efficient and pleasant.  It actually ended up fun.  I got to vent, but also rave, and there was free food and a $5 Staples gift card (paper clips!!!) for my trouble.

3.  Parents who help me out financially.  I cannot stress this enough.

4.  Not being miserable at my job every day.  Some days.  Not every day.

5.  Still having a job, as of right now.

6.  Spending my evening with this movie:

I’m sorry.  It’s a bad pic, and I don’t know how to flip it so that the title isn’t backwards, but it’s Elizabethtown.  I know it’s not a cinematic masterpiece by any means, but it’s one of my heart’s movies.  I haven’t been able to watch it in a while, but I couldn’t get it off my mind today.  It’s doing the trick.

Please have a good evening, Friday, and weekend.

***Late-breaking edit***  I’m also VERY thankful for this result.