The Visitor

I'm kind of an emotional person. I see something, hear something, experience something and it touches me. I can't stop thinking about it for a while. If it's a song, I listen to it over and over and over. There have been times when I have listened to a song for the first time and I have had to pull over to the side of the road because I can't focus on driving.

As crazy as this seems now, the morning after I saw Titanic, I heard the Celine Dion song (this is the only Celine Dion song I will EVER say this about) from the movie. I had to pull over and think about Rose letting go of Jack's hand as he sank to the bottom of the sea. No! Don't die Jack. You are way too cute to die! I mean, you love her too much to die! Rose choked out the frozen words, "I'll never let go Jack. Never let go." And then she did. I remember sitting in the movie theatre, I think with Misty, although that might have been on viewing #2 or #3. I remember hearing that haunting flute in the beginning of the song and thinking- oh man, that flute was tied throughout that whole movie. That dang James Newton Howard and his talent!! After that, I just kept picturing Rose and Jack, Rose and Jack, Rose and Jack. I saw the mother reading to her kids knowing they would die, the string quartet playing the beautiful hymn knowing they would die. Water rising, rising. Rose and Jack. I wiped a tear, took a breath and then continued on the icy road to get milk or toilet paper or some other needless errand.

AAAAANYWAAAAAAY>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> shake it off Erin...

So, I had an emotional experience watching a movie yesterday. As you know from previous posts, I have now rented movies so I don't have to watch even one minute of a soap opera as I feed my baby girl. I saw a movie yesterday that was the sweetest, saddest, most well-made movie. It is called "The Visitor." It was good on so many levels. I loved the music. I loved the fact that this 50ish awkward, reclusive, lonely man loved african drumming and learned how to play. I love it too. I always have. I want bongos. I am going to treat myself to them now that I have seen this movie. I love the way he interacted with the interracial, immigrant couple in his apartment. I loved how beautiful they both were. It was so understated--exactly as I picture it would have been. It made me think. It made me get outside of my bubble of white America and even further, Mormon Utah White Female America. I love movies that do that.

I wish I had more opportunities to be exposed to other cultures and people different than me. I have thought about how I can do this. Any ideas? Just traveling won't give the opportunity to really learn. I'd love to live abroad sometime again. Or, as is on my bucket list, become involved in an international charity somehow. I will. I just need to focus on sleeping through the night and finding time to take a shower every day now. :)

Beatles Rock Band and remastered CDs come out today. I want them both. They are so expensive. I've never wanted Guitar Hero or Rock Band. Don't like the music they use, and hate the animated "people" on screen. Why would I let my kids play those over and over? Yuck. However, how brilliant will this game be? It will be. I will probably have to wait until Christmas, but kids don't read this, I will have that game. That sounds a little creepy. I've definitely had some of those emotional, pull the car over moments with so many of their songs.

Ramble ramble ramble. Kate is finally asleep in my arms and I get to kiss the bridge of the nose twice, each eyelid once and finally the fold of her little neck. I'll peel her little fingers from my pinkie and then lay her down.

Random Grammar Question of the Day: Is it "in behalf of" or "on behalf of"??? I can never figure this one out. My guess is in behalf, but I am willing to be corrected. Correct me. I can take it. I want you to.