21st Dec 2008
My Wonderful LIfe
I do not have many Christmas traditions. I spent too much, bah humbug been too, too far from my early childhood to have a consistent traditions. But there is one thing I am always a pleasure to Christmas: Watching It’s a Wonderful Life.
It began in college. I had never seen before, much to the shock of most people I met. But one night I was snuggled in front of the television and he came on. I like the 1940s – culture, music, the beast turns of phrase and rising optimism. The film seduced me, and the following years I always tried to catch on TV. I do not always, and a few years, I forgot all together, but it has always been a comfortable way to get into the rental. I toyed with just bought the film shows whenever practical, but I think the charm of the film is that it is a tradition of watching television, and as Charlie Brown holiday shows that there is a kind of comfort watching each new generation to abandon their usual hi-tech, action-packed fare for something sentimental and transmitted. And part of me believes that the magic is watching with the rest of the country, not some pre-determined time at a convenience for my schedule. This kind of thing does not belong in the 60s or 40s and is very inappropriate for such software.
But this year I did not have to watch it. A terrible ice storm lying in the north-three inches of ice, and we lost power for three days including the day NBC broadcast it. I was saddened, but I had no worries. My house was hovering around 38 degrees, putting my water pipes at risk. We had to eat every meal, but our return to the cold cave to ensure that the dogs were good. I had to do everything within a few hours of sunlight, most of which included preparing for a long time, cold night. By the third day, when veri-husband and I went to breakfast – the novelty of the restoration of losing its appeal and quickly become a costly nuisance – I felt discouraged and disoriented, struggling to form words and trying to gather quite humorous to the figure walking where my laundry, and where would be the best place to spend a few hours of classifying documents.
I came home from breakfast, dogs market, and sat on the floor to read, trying not to wallow or live. Although the disadvantages, there were some benefits to any power. My house and neighborhood was calm enough to invoke a kind of gentle calm, the hum of appliances and rushing to and fro was stifled. Blatantly outside the area of discomfort, I no longer expected convenience. It is interesting to see how we come to depend on convenience and demand, because we are so used to it. When the concept of comfort is withdrawn, it is suddenly patience and the ability to be fair in the moment and know things will happen when they happen.
But I was still down, frazzled, distraught. As I cradled my book and tried to find a patch of sunlight in the room, there was suddenly a click. The fire, and I looked and saw the video of her flashing 12:00. I accelerated around the house, which confirms what I saw, and noticed a truck Comp in the street until the finish repairs.
I dashed around the house suddenly grateful, grateful, full of respect and cherish appliances. The stupid washing machine that is tearing my clothes? I love you. The refrigerator is concerned that too much energy and looking for dirt to cling to it? I’ve never been so happy to see you alive and singing. The stove with burnt bulb it is impossible to keep it clean? Your glowing clock is a comfort. I love and appreciate every little thing she does.
As I mirror the closing scenes of the film I could not help thinking: it’s a wonderful life.
Leave a Reply