Glutton For Punishment

I'm still sick. I'm not getting any better. The husband is just about all well after 3 days of minimal nothing. The kids are just about done with their antibiotics. Here I sit, not wanting to swallow because it hurts too much. Just wanting to sleep but not able to because the husband is at work and I can only imagine what I might wake up to if I gave the kids free reign over the house. My mom offered to come and take care of the kids this afternoon but I refused. She and my dad threw a great family Christmas party yesterday- which I of course forgot all of my cameras for- and I'm sure she needs a break. Plus, we're still supposed to get more snow tonight and I didn't want her driving up here and then having to travel home in snow. It was sill for her to come up, it's a 45 minute trip and I can handle the kids for a few more hours. Neither of them have napped today. Well, the girl did for about an hour- off from her normal 2 2hour naps. But I'll be greeting a nice early bedtime for everyone! Can we say 6:30!??!? YES!

Last night we came home from my parents and the kids crashed and I immediately plopped myself on the couch and had some soup. There wasn't much on TV and the husband had the remote so I figured we'd land on SportsCenter. Whatever- I was going to pass out on the couch anyway. SportsCenter was not the final choice- the Notebook was. That's right, the Notebook. The ultra romantic, tear jerker of a movie. That's the movie that the husband chose. I am actually glad he did, I really enjoy watching it.

The first time we saw the Notebook I was probably around 8 or 9 months pregnant with the boy and completely riding the hormonal emotional roller coaster. I had not read the book. I had not read anything by Nicholas Sparks. Just heard it was really good. My students at the time were reading it for an English class so I figured it must be somewhat good. Plus, the movie reviews had be promising. So, we rented it. Or actually I rented it. We watched the whole movie. I stayed awake. The husband was actually glued to the screen. We came to the end, and I won't ruin anything for anyone who hasn't seen it yet, and I was sobbing and the husband was crying too. I was, to say the least, shocked. I was crying because it was a good movie. It was a good story. It was a sweet story. It touched a chord- at that point, my grandfather was in the late stages of Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease. It was very personal and I was amazed and touched that the husband was crying about it, too. Probably not for ALL the same reasons.

Once I watch a movie like that I'm pretty much guaranteed not to cry again. It's like I've been desensitized to it. I saw Titanic and the first time I wept and wept, the 2nd, 9th, 14th times...nothing. There are very few movies that make me cry more than that initial viewing. I figured I was safe last night. It's just a movie, a good one, a sappy one, but it will not move me the same way it had. WOW, was I wrong?!?!?! Weeping, yet again at the end. The husband? Wouldn't look at me. I don't think it had the same effect as the first time but I think it had some effect because he was quiet for a time once it was over.

I woke up this morning and what does the Hallmark channel decide to show for a Sunday morning selection, Brian's Song! Are you kidding me?!?!? How can you do that to your Sunday morning viewers?!?!? I had to watch it. I don't know why but I did. And wouldn't you know? Weeping....again. The husband wasn't around this time. I know for a fact, though, that this is a movie that makes him cry. Between the cancer and the football and the friendship, he can't deal. It's sweet. Brian's Song is another movie that anytime I watch it, no matter what version, I cry and cry. The book, I can't even pick up because it makes me want to cry.

Each of these movies, while completely tear inducing, really are wonderful stories. Amazing stories of love and friendships. Wonderful tales of support and care. That's what makes me cry. They are just such wonderfully happy, yet sad, stories. They show such wonderful examples of love that I don't know if people always understand now. I don't know that I would have understood the message and story of the Notebook had I seen it as a teen. Watching my grandparents work through the beginning stages of Alzheimer's and move from their home and move through each stage, albeit not quite the way we all would have wanted, taught me something about commitment and the meaning of marriage and friendship. It is nice to know that there are still writers out there trying to capture some part of the lives we lead that is good and caring and loving.

The Notebook is sappy and romantic and lovey dovey but it is good. Or at least I thought it was. I recommend to anyone out there looking for a good cry or just a good story. Brian's Song is a little tougher to take, I think, but still an excellent film. I've seen both versions the original with James Caan and the new version with Mekhi Phifer. Both good.

To top off my weekend of tears, I watched It's a Wonderful Life. I used to hate this movie. Seriously. My mom has always loved it and I hated it. In the past 5 or 10 years I've really grown to love it. I'm even considering showing it to my students to help them recognize the power of love and God and friendships. Another tear jerker. Highly recommended!