I was spending too much time reading blogs and leaving my tracks - I am not funny but think I have an opinion and willing to share - way too willing. The subject was the best Western Movie and since video and DVD are here I own a bunch. So I spoke my mind and read the results a few times, my son blames me for ruining all his combat movies by pointing out the impossibility of the weapons, the techniques and gasoline explosions among other things - but he was younger then and I was still trying to teach him truth. But I noticed that the weapons being wrong held importance to the weapons experts, and since I don't like many Kevin Costner movies I have real trouble with Wyatt Earp - and my biggest fault finding with it was the corn field he was in at the beginning, that wasn't the kind of corn field that horses would have plowed, and seeded. And I am not an expert in most things so I could be wrong, I have been before.
As I thought later in the week I remember that Shane always seemed more like me than most of the other cowboy heroes. He was professional, he was polite, he would talk to children - straight out, he wasn't afraid to get his hands dirty doing work - eager in some ways, he didn't offer his opinion unless asked and then quietly, he wasn't trying to do something unforgivable with the other fellows' women, he was willing to take some minor ribbing but would fight when it was needed - and didn't do it too badly, he was sad when his past and his skills were needed again, but went out to fight because that was what he did best, knowing all the time that he wouldn't be welcome back. I read the book years later - more than once, and recently got a young man to read it and talk about it. Yeah, when I was young and almost gone, I thought Rebel without a Cause, the Wild Ones, and Easyrider had something to do with me - but they didn't, just like I couldn't recognize myself in the Godfather, or Col Kurtz, or many others. I am just not too special and thinking now that I am just permanently broken (or molded) into me, faults and features.
But then I gave up trying to have movie characters or movie stars as my model heroes - I go for the story and the entertainment. When I look hard, the hero I see was my father, and I can never be what he was but it is something to model my better behavior after, and since he didn't share any weaknesses or faults I have only his best - telling me how to do something, expecting me to do better, telling me when I was way out of line and stupid, waiting patiently for me to wake up and fly right, being very proud when I did something really worthy and again letting me know it. Yep, I had all the cowboy heroes one would want, but Dad stood above them all. Kind of like Charles Bronson telling the Mexican boys that their fathers were brave for having a family and taking care of it, no matter what happened.
Looking at some magazines today, and thinking about how many words I am leaving behind, I will promise to cut down my comments and "Expert Opinion" - I am going to be me, and part of that is sad, no one really needs that and sharing that part never makes it smaller, not like laughter makes my heart bigger anyway...
9 comments:
I'll miss your comments.
You inspired me to start a blog. You also drove me nuts when we were children with that crazy streak in you. Why on earth would you stop blogging, Brother? Our sister and I would miss your views a lot. Besides, it's easier reading your blogs on a daily basis than wading through the huge weekly email you used to write (and write well, I might add, just like your blog). Do not quit, please.
I promise not to leave too many words all over, I still want to read and will continue to blog. I didn't get my mother to read my blog frequently, she needs the weekly letter and our calls, so I will send her the weekly letter, in paper, enveloped and stamped. And shrink my binary presence in cyberspace, a bit.
We are all richer for your comments and blog. Don't make us poorer.
As for the favorite movie thing, I'm not sure that any of us look to celluloid heroes, but sometimes we sure enjoy the story. It's just that when they get the guns wrong, it's harder still to really enjoy a good story.
Keep blogging, we love it.
All The Best,
Frank W. James
In the past few years I've tried to go with the story and try to ignore glaring errors of detail.
I don't know if that's good or bad, but it's helped me enjoy movies I otherwise would have hated.
Write what you want when you want.
If you want to share with us, please do.
Thank you for your time.
I find your comments intriguing and thoughtful. Just because you have high standards doesn't make you wrong or unwanted. Quite the reverse, actually.
I don't think anybody with an ounce of humility thinks they measure up to whatever they feel is the benchmark. I'm sure I'm not the only one here who has never thought you were trying to be some sort of overblown expert. I'm with Farmer Frank - don't make us poorer with your absence.
Blog comments are like bumper sitckers--they say more than the one who put them there may have intended.
After hanging around the blogs for a while, you start to know the "commentors" almost as well as the bloggers. I would miss your comments, very much. I can't recall reading a single one that wasn't thoughtful, helpful, and on-target. I find your blog to be the same.
If you are just tired of it, we'll have to live with that. But don't quit because you think no one wants to hear what you have to say--you'd be wrong about that.
Blogging is a community affair; we're all looking for interaction outside our normal spheres.
I don;t know what made you decide you're commenting too much, or that your comments are unappreciated -- but I'd reconsider, were I you.
EARL...
You CAN'T QUIT!! Please...
I,for one would miss your comments. Knowing that *someone, anyone* is reading the words that we drop into cyberspace is why most of us (ok,just me) do what we do. Besides, you never know who is listening(reading)to those words. And how they might change their life. It's those ripples, doncha know?
Post a Comment