Wandering Along the Path: Right Speech

I went with my friend to see "Late Show" with Emma Thompson and Mindy Kaling.  I laughed out loud a few times, and it was well written, but it certainly could have been better without the Cinderella touches for Kaling's character Molly and even the giant one for Thompson's Katherine.  I think the film would have benefited from more honesty about how they would fare in real life.  After all, we aren't exactly post Metoo.  The battle is still being waged.  I also don't know why Katherine's husband needs to have a dread disease.  But I'm happy to support a film written by a woman and directed by another woman, and Kaling is bound to be feeling a bit Pollyannish given her own success as a writer and actress.  There was a touch too much Disney in this version and it undercuts the anger and points being made.  Also, as all the other writers are white males, they get a disproportionate about of screen time, even though each has his funny moments.  Give Molly more standup and perhaps and let's leave out the phony romances.  Not necessary.  The movie is worth watching alone for Emma Thompson, of course.

Wandering Along the Path: Right Speech

My husband and I saw the documentary about Toni Morrison yesterday.  It's a terrific film and gives you real insight into who she is and how she thinks.  I was most fortunate in the early eighties to be in an MA program which brought her to our university, and I was chosen to accompany her various places, have dinner with her, and escort her to her lecture on campus.  She seemed so down to earth and easy to talk to and she laughed a lot.  That MA program also brought June Jordan and Paule Marshall to speak and they were similarly inspiring, and later, at a writer's conference in Saratoga Springs, I met and studied with Russell Banks.  I met Angela Davis through my older son.  She was an adviser of his at his university and she came to our party to celebrate his graduation.  She, also, was grounded and kind and relaxed.  All these people were and are good friends of Toni Morrison.  My favorite part of the film is at the end, when Ms. Morrison says the best thing you can say is:  She was loved.  None of the rest of it matters.  It's clear a lot of people around the world love her, and we are passionate about her writing. 

Wandering Along the Path: Right Speech

I wisely chose not to see the debate last night.  I might have actually liked one of the candidates, and then where would I be?  MY candidate would end up not being THE candidate, and I'd be in my usual situation of voting for the lesser of two evils with zero enthusiasm.  Let the herd peel off and then I'll take a look.  I'd like a female candidate, but look how that turned out last time.  Misogyny poured from the rafters.  And if I have to fall back on what candidate could win, well, I'm not participating in that speculation.  Surprise, surprise is the new politics.  Vote with your impulses, your base impulses.  I will eventually read up on everyone, and try to make an informed, measured choice, but until some of the dust settles, I want to not be on that particular roller coaster ride.  It turns my stomach.

Wandering Along the Path: Right Speech

I was standing in line at seven am today for renewing my license at the DMV.  Two hours later I got through the door, then was sent here, there and everywhere to get a vision test, a schedule for a driving test, and a photo.  I have macular degeneration in one eye, so I have to have a form from the eye doctor, take an eye test every year, and almost every year a driving test, but last time they let me go two years.  Of course my driving appointment is after my birthday, so I had to get a temporary license as well.  I was out by eleven thirty.  I am so exhausted, from the tension of failing the vision test in my bad eye, the sense that there must be a better system somewhere, when they put me through this yearly, and frustration that I feel like I'm fighting to keep my license, though I've had no accidents and my eye doctor reassures me I'm fine to drive.  I feel somewhat like a criminal, and punished, though everyone at the DMV is nice and helpful and the feeling is irrational.  The DMV forces me to confront my disability, and I guess I just don't like it.  But I'm grateful they take the time with me and give me the chance to prove I can drive safely.  And the truth is I've learned a lot about driving from these frequent tests.  I'm a much better driver now.  And alert and aware.  I don't take driving for granted.

Wandering Along the Path: Right Speech

My friend and I went to a museum in the city to see a Rubens show, but, though it was beautiful, we fell in love with a small show about French lithographs which had so many gorgeous pieces by artists such as Valloton, Redon and others.  I loved the works of an artist named Buhot.  The works were so detailed, and enchanting.  We both bought the book of the show and I purchased an extra to send to my older daughter, whom I know will love it.  We were thrilled to have happened upon this treasure of a show, and both look forward to reading about these artists.  Like Goya, the black and white graphics are powerful, mysterious and haunting.  We had a leisurely lunch outside at the museum, and then browsed through the permanent collection.  Then my friend, such a dear heart, stopped at the post office after we returned so I could immediately send the book to my daughter.   How's that for thoughtfulness?

Wandering Along the Path: Right Speech

We had a whirlwind week last week taking our granddaughter places and making sure she saw her aunts, uncles and cousins.  I even connected her with my foster granddaughter who just turned 14.  I had to be sensitive to a teenager's moods and interests as well as my preteen granddaughter, so we saw kittens at the pet store, shopped and bought smelly things at the cosmetics store, and I purchased earrings for them at a candy store with apparel in the back.  Then we had dinner at a pasta shop, and they both ordered exactly what they wanted, as the sauces and pastas were mix and match.  Then we hit the ice cream place, and headed back to drop my foster granddaughter off at her home.  I could see my foster had to struggle being around a "little kid", and her developmental narcissism was in evidence, as she touched her face, adjusted her hair and basically, and typically for that age, was focused on herself.  She will grow out of it and my granddaughter into it.  Thank goodness it's a temporary phase.  I could tell my granddaughter knew to be careful around the foster, and had a lot of tact and sensitivity.  And bless her heart, my foster granddaughter has been raised right and did the same.  Four years ago they were flower girls together at my younger daughter's wedding.  But the times, they are a-changing.

Wandering Along the Path: Right Speech

My granddaughter, who is visiting, is wearing a pair of my sandals I gave her.  She is eleven, and wears the same shoe size as I do.  She's changing in many ways, and will begin junior high this fall.  We shopped with her aunt this morning, and she picked out some great clothes, still in children's sizes, but near the end of that road.  This afternoon we're going with my foster granddaughter, who is about to turn 14, for dinner and looking in the pet shop, toy store, and sweet shop.  These are local places we've been to a hundred times, and are revisiting for old times sake.  Figuring out what to do and how it will change these next few years is challenging, but I have a road map because of my foster granddaughter.  I'm thinking of the county fair, a museum, and showing her the university campus, as she says she wants to attend it.  Who knows what will happen between now and college, but since she's interested, we'll see it.  I just love having time with her.  She's a dear heart, and easy to be with.