My review "Garden State"

I watched Garden State on a rainy Saturday afternoon which made the poignant scenes all that much more deep and real.

Garden State is the 20's generation coming of age movie. I'm not twenty, but I felt 20 while I was watching it bacause it captures what most "coming of age" movies do..that bittersweet abyss (?) between what was and what is. In short, it captures what any transition in life can be for us...scary, boring, exciting, exhilerating, confusing.

There are important scenes which the movie uses along with its well rounded sound track and great artsy shots that build the story of a young man (Zach Braff) who is finding his way after his mother's death. So well done are these moments that I felt myself feeling, "I have BEEN there!"

I didn't see this movie in the theater which made the discovery of it that much better...like a treasure on a damp Saturday that one doesn't expect, it's suprising and fulfiling.

Funniest thing I heard all day

I spend a lot of time on the road -- too much -- I've recently resolved to travel only during weekdays and not at all on weekends, which means, sigh, I'll be giving up some fun trips...
Though I try to use the time well -- listening to books, music, motivational tapes, every now and then I give in and just veg...today I was flipping around on the dial and heard this..

"If quiz are quizzical, then what are tests?"

Chuck and Cammi

You know its an imbalanced world when more press time is devoted to The Royal Wedding, Part II, than the terror threats from North Korea.

Do we really care more about what she'll wear down the aisle than how we might defend ourself against a nuclear threat.

For my money, I think it's swell. After all, after reaching mid-life myself, its kinda neat to see a love that evidently has outlived a fashionista and triumphed over polls. Old friends that made all the wrongs moves, only to end up together to live out their lives and find real love.

Thoughts on transition

I started thinking today about an idea...how does a church -- or any organization for that matter -- die? Not "how" does it die, but in what way. At some point every thing dies...and I think dying with dignity is important.

I've never heard any "rules" about how to do it...yet it must happen all the time...but with less success than I think it could be, if some thought were given to it. Maybe, the time comes when we have to say, "this has had a good run...it's time to call it a day.." and then, allow something -- an event, an idea, an organization to laspe into that great unknown, gracefully.

How do you do that? How do you let go of dreams and ideas so that new ventures, ideas can begin to emerge from the ashes? How do you close out what is so that what can be occurs?

I'm just asking...I have no concrete ideas on that...but the idea that it can be done -- done well - is intriguing to me.

Totally impressed

My son returned home with a new "X-BOX" in hand. He reported that he has "won" it at a church function with some of his friends.

"Wow" I thought. Pretty impressive gift.

What really impressed me, though, was the home visit that was shared with us by some of the members of this church. There were 2 teenagers (who my son knew) and a woman, just letting us know they appreciated my son being at their event. They brought some other info, along, too, didn't stay long..just said, "thanks".

It's a small gesture, but very impressive to me.

www.cbs.cbcowasso.org

Ralph Waldo Emerson

"Insist on yourself; never imitate. Your own gift you can present every moment with the cumulative force of a whole life's cultivation; but of the adopted talent of another you have only an extemporaneous half possession...Do that which is assigned to you, and you cannot hope too much or dare too much." Ralph Waldo Emerson from "Self-Reliance"