I’m oddly serene today. Serene for me, if not for the meditative zen MCARP.
I feel as if this new year is a fresh start for me; as if there were very little in my past. I have few debts, having just taken bankruptcy. I’m cancer free. I’m not in a romantic relationship and I’ve somehow reached a point where that’s not grinding on me or any kind of special circumstance — it just is what it is.
I’m retired, although I have some details to tie up in the next couple of weeks.
I sleep when I’m tired and wake up with no alarm at no particular time. I eat when I’m hungry. The cat snuggles me when it’s cold and doesn’t when he’s got other things to do. I enjoy both behaviors by Sinatra.
I’ve been watching a lot of movies and lately I’ve been watching what I’ll call “gems”. Ultimate Fastpipe and I were discussing this when he was in town the other day to retrieve his Mac mini. These are films that are neither “big” nor “important”, but they are wonderful films with great storytelling power. “Sideways”, “Lost in Translation”, “Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind”, “Little Miss Sunshine” … it’s easier to give examples than to try to define the category, but generally it’s films that rely on emotionally resonate plots and characters both of which spark some intellectual involvement.
I enjoy these movies intensely. I like watching them alone so I can stop and get something to drink and go to the bathroom whenever I want without explanation or apology. No one talks to me during the dialog and no one asks me what that means or what’s going on or how does it end.
The masters of this imaginary category of mine are the Coen Brothers and their film, “Fargo”, is the ultimate example. It’s got no big movie stars, only actors. No CGI or effects. Everything’s spot on and engrossing from beginning to end. The “worst” on my list is “Don Juan DeMarco” with Johnny Depp and the perfectly wasted star power of Brando and Faye Dunaway and I think almost any two competent actors could and should have taken their place. It’s a charming story, however, and it’s on my “gem” list, if by its fingernails.
I can’t imagine that anyone would really be interested in my New Year’s Eve night, but I went to a party sponsored by my AA club alone, returned home shortly after midnight alone and had a reasonably good time. A kiss on the cheek and I was done.
I have no resolutions this year. None. That seems a little odd to me, but that’s just the way it is.
Despite football, I’ve spent much of my New Year’s Day in remembrance of good friends and old times past and my memories are fond, gentle and amusing in the main.
God bless and keep you this whole year.
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