Friday, March 13

Endurance


It’s movie week here at The Café and I have to admit that I purposely delayed posting because I was pretty sure that yesterday was going to be a designated “movie day” which would provide all the content I need for my post today.

Only, it didn’t happen. At the very last moment, “movie day” became “race track day” only to arrive at Santa Anita far too late, which then turned “race track day” into “shopping/dinner day,” which, was probably kinder to my closet than to this blog.

But then, when I woke up this morning, I noticed this:


And it got me thinking about ENDURANCE.

But first, a little background.

My husband has leukemia—though it is currently in a state of remission so deep it's undetectable. Still, every three months we trek to the City of Hope for an update on his latest bloodwork and a talk with his amazing doctor, and, since it really is a bit of a drive to get there from our house, we take the remainder of the day to do something fun like this, or this, or even this, but more often than not, we do this.

But since none of those things seemed to be working out, we put our focus on dinner instead, ending up at La Vie En Rose, a place I hadn’t visited in over two decades and that hadn’t changed much since (and I mean that in a good way).

So, this morning, after eating in a restaurant that soldiers on in a business known for its rapid turnover--after waking up with a husband who is now stronger and healthier than ever, despite an illness that nearly claimed him--after seeing my orchid in bloom despite my frequent failure to so much as water it--I thought about last week, when I was surfing through a bazillion television channels, looking for one thing that might interest me, when I saw that FARGO had just started, and I immediately tuned in—ultimately enjoying it as much as I did all the other times I’d watched it.

And that's because like my husband, La Vie en Rose, and my faithful orchid—FARGO endures.

Which movies endure for you??

16 comments:

Wendy Toliver said...

Great post, Alyson!

I didn't realize your DH has leukemia but I'm so glad to hear he's healthy. And your orchid is beautiful!

I think the movies that endure are those that have a deep message, such as Crash and Life is Beautiful. In that same vein, I want to see The Boy in the Striped Pajamas and Slumdog Millionaire very soon. Also, movies that are full of jokes that are still funny after you've watched them half a dozen times. For me, that's Dumb and Dumber and There's Something About Mary. Lastly, movies that I watched while something important was going on in my life, like lying in the hospital with my newborn son. That's when I first saw Shrek. :)

Martha Flynn said...

Wow, continued best wishes to you and your husband, Alyson.

It feels weird to follow that statement up with movie talk...but I can swing it.

There is this one movie that I watch over and over again - as in every time I catch it on TV, I stop what I'm doing and watch it.

Die Hard (the first one)

On the TV show Gary Unmarried, the title character refers to this as "The Die Hard Rule" which I had no idea existed but I apparently faithfully follow.

My husband also knows that if he's flipping through the channels and happens to pass by Die Hard, he must forfeit all rights to the television so I can watch it. He is especially doomed over Christmas since Die Hard is considered a Christmas movie and runs 24-7 over the holidays.

Never mind that I OWN Die Hard and could watch it anytime...there's something special about catching it without expecting it.

I also think, given your husband's story and the topic of endurance, that the movie's title is especially apropos as my example.

And now that I've brought it up...I'm going to have to watch it tonight the second I get home.

Sara Hantz said...

Movies that endure for me..... Sound of Music, Calamity Jane, Funny Girl, Love Actually, Mamma Mia (are you sensing a theme here)???

Sara Hantz said...

PS Yay, on your husband being healthy. LOVE your orchid, they're one of my fav flowers.

cindy said...

i had no idea. it takes so much courage to take this head on. i would say the princess bride has endured for me. thank you for sharing, alyson.

Melissa Walker said...

Gorgeous orchid! Mine is, well... not enduring. Glad your husband is kicking butt.

For me, I'll confess that POINT BREAK endures. So does ROCKY.

Whenever they're on TV, I stop life to watch.

sweetmelissa818 said...

First off, I am a crazy orchid lover and it's beautiful!!
Secondly, I loved Fargo. I think William H. Macy is amazing and my husband love Steve Buscemi!

Alyson Noel said...

Wendy- I LOVE every movie you mentioned! I still remember the first time I saw Something About Mary in NYC with a good fried of mine- we were falling all over ourselves!

Martha-Okay, adding Die Hard to my Netflix list . . .haven't seen it in years, but remember loving it much!

Sara- I could've guessed! You are certainly the queen of the musicals!

Cindy- Ah, The Princess Bride!! Somewhere, I have that DVD--I'm going to dust if off and watch it again!

Melissa- Total classics! Totally!

SweetMelissa- William H Macy is GENIUS- and I'm not ashamed to admit to a major geek crush on Steve Buscemi (must be the teeth!)- I loved him in Ghost World too!

Gerb said...

First of all, hugs to you and your husband. May the leukemia stay in remission forever.

Second - it's 4 in the morning. Guess why I'm awake? Yeah, I started reading Evermore last night. Could not put it down. Brava!

Movies - I loved Frances McDormand in Fargo. Oh, yah.

One of my all time favorites is The Shawshank Redemption. Same thing - if it comes on, everything else stops for me. I *have* to watch it.

I also love the Princess Bride! One of the most quotable movies ever.

Alyson Noel said...

Geerb- Shawshank-yes!! LOVE that movie! And thanks for the kind words on EVERMORE!

sweetmelissa818 said...

Empire Records! It's my fallback when there's nothing to watch and I LOVE it!

CJ Omololu said...

Glad DH is doing so well. I'm afraid orchids in my house don't endure for the long haul.

My go-to movies are Spinal Tap, Harold and Maude,Pride and Prejudice (BBC version with yummy Colin Firth)and Four Weddings and a Funeral.

Alyson Noel said...

SweetMelissa- Adding Empire Records to my Netflix list . . .

CynJay- All great movies-- Harold and Maude is one of my all time faves--I can watch it again and again!

sweetmelissa818 said...

Yes! Alyson you definitely should add Empire Records! It makes me happy every time I watch it (plus, I used to live in Wilmington where it was filmed and I like to find landmarks!)!

Lauren Baratz-Logsted said...

Feel free to L your AO at me, doll, but I'm a sucker for "My Best Friend's Wedding" - there's something about Rupert Everett in that movie that's so full of life.

All good things to you and DH. You are one of my favorite invisible friends so I know he must be something mighty special too.

Alyson Noel said...

SweetMelissa- I am sooo there!

Lauren- Oh, me too! LOVE the over the top gay-ness--reminds me of my own gay BFF!!

And thanks for the kind words- right back at ya!