Talking Helps...

Yesterday I got to spend time with one of my friends who I haven't been able to really see since school has been out. It was one of the best days I've had in a long time. Mostly, we talked...that's right...talked and talked, for about five hours actually. It was absolutely wonderful to be able to do that with her.

It was there, that I noticed and she agreed with me that I've changed over the past couple years. I mean I know I have, but it's another thing entirely to have someone tell you so. Things are getting better, and even she said she noticed the difference in my attitude and that was so wonderful. I admire her strength and extraordinary personality so much and it was great to hear from her, what she saw. :-)

So anyway, all that to say...talking through things helps. Yes, Stefanie, if you read this one you have full right to say 'I told you so' hehe. Things are changing, people are changing, and there are times when it's going to hurt to open yourself up by loving someone, whether it be a family member, a friend, or a romantic kind of love. It hurts. People will leave, they will change, but the cool thing is, that for how long or short of a time you have with them, they will leave a mark on your life.

That's one thing that I'm praying about this summer, that I will leave the right kind of mark on people. It's so easy to get wrapped up in how you 'feel' that you totally miss the wonderful oppertunities and people around you. I don't want to miss it...I want to grab onto life with both hands and count each moment a blessing.

The battle is raging, the storm is howling, but here...in the arms of my Savior, I can find the strength to fight, and the peace to endure, and the love to withstand the pain.

As Time Goes By...

I was watching a movie today, one of those 'Golden Age of Hollywood' musicals with Frank Sinatra and Gene Kelly, and it was simply incredible to watch them lighting up the screen. Movies aren't made like that anymore, and although I know some of you are silently (or not so silently) thankful about that, I can't help but feel a bit let down. Sure we have musicals today, and some of them are really wonderful, but...the atmosphere of those movies is something I'm not sure we will ever be able to capture again.

Yes I know the quality of acting isn't all that wonderful at times. Yes I realize that the plot lines are unrealistic, and the dialogue/gags of the films a bit over the top cheesy, but the spirit of pure fascination with life itself that comes through is, to me, astounding.

I think one of the reasons i like these movies so much is because of the time period. World War II was ending, and people were disillusioned. This happened more so after the first World War, and was seen particularly through literature, but during and after the second, movies like the one I talked about at the beginning of the blog came out, and helped to, at least for a couple hours take people's minds off their troubles.
They didn't' erase the pain, but the bright colors, extraordinary dancing and singing, uplifting score and all around cheerful atmosphere made these movies treasures in people's lives and hearts.
I'm not saying that all film should be escapist, it shouldn't. But I think that these films served a wonderful purpose for their time period, and they're great fun to watch even now, least for me. I have a soft spot for them if you couldn't tell, and I dunno...felt like being nastalgic for a bit.

That's all for now...