Yikes!

Recently I watched Psycho on Turner Classic Movies.  Remember what a stunner it was when first released? Good olde Alfred Hitchcock. Guess I have become numb to the horrors of the possibility of getting stabbed in the shower. I found it to be a captivating and relatively calm movie by today’s standards or lack thereof. I also found it rather amazing that the only two things I remembered about that movie were the shower scene and the one in which the rocking chair spins around and Norman Bates' mother is revealed in all her skeletal glory.  As for the rest -- it was like I was watching it for the first time.  Now I am wondering if Wait Until Dark is still as terrifying. One blind woman against three sadistic men who terrorize her and anyone watching the movie.  As for Deliverance ... the terror lives on a bit.  I still have a problem with banjo music.

To think that I spent years peering through the shower curtain while I showered and disliking to drive through the forests of southern states.  The transformation is astounding when I think about it. Nowadays it is people in hockey masks that scare me in a startling way... or .. anything that even smacks of the opening music of Jaws.  Actually my first encounter with Jaws was the book, and as I sat reading it in my back yard, I picked my feet up off the ground and looked around for fins.  Later on that summer when at Rye beach in New Hampshire, I didn't go into the ocean more than knee deep and even that was scary.  

Obviously, it's been a long time since I have been to a scary movie. Further --  I am totally out of my Stephen King phase - books or movies. It's more than the fact that he is now just way too woke for me. Guess I am at that point where I am no longer in the mood to be terrified.  The real world is sometimes scary enough.  Just watching the news can put me on edge. That's why I frequently go on "news blackouts".  I figure at my stage of the game, I am an easy target in way too many situations. The mere thought of walking through a parking lot to get to my car sometimes makes me sweat.  This nana no longer runs. 

The thing is -- I have not given up hope that things will be better after January 20th... Inauguration Day ... in case you have forgotten.  Things are already better.  I feel like the world is already a safer place than it has been for the past four years. One can feel the sigh of relief. I think of it as the great exhale. Then comes the fresh air. I think that I may even watch the news again -- at some point -- maybe.  

As Summer comes to an end...

As Summer comes to an end and some of us begin to settle in for a long winter, I share with you the titles of some of my favorites books of late. I rarely recommend books, but for what it is worth...

The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry    Gabrielle Zevin

The Mr. Mercedes trilogy    Stephen King

1. Mr. Mercedes
2. Finders Keepers
3. End of Watch

The Ice Limit and Beyond The Ice Limit   Douglas Preston & Lincoln Child

The Girl on the Train   Paula Hawkins

Sarah's Keys    Tatiana de Rosnay

Hope you will consider sharing some of your favorite titles as well.  We all need to add to our list of "Must Read".  What is it that "they" say?  "So many good books; so little time."

Subtlety -- no explanation needed.

Recently a very good friend of mine was describing an unfortunate exchange that she had experienced in a nail salon.  I won't tell you exactly how she described her annoyed self, just that she recounted at the end of the tale -- that she was quite certain that the salon in question now had her photo behind the counter. When we were in touch later on in the day and she was talking about an upcoming appointment with a dentist, I felt it necessary to offer the caution that I know for a fact that some doctors use red flags on patient folders, and although these particular doctors are veterinarians, she needs to be extremely careful.  Of course... I am sure that she was exaggerating the nail salon situation for my amusement, but...  the subtlety of her comment is so perfect, and it got me to thinking about how much I love it when people imply in this way. 

The funny thing about this conversation is that I had just encountered the same type of humor in a book I was reading by Stephen King. (I love the work of Stephen King).  Anyway -- He was describing a character in this story, and at the end of a scene in which this character is talking to his partner, King wrote, "His eyes flick up and to the left".   Later on (before I could even finish my bowl of cereal) King described a situation as being "like the mafia...every time I think I'm out, it pulls me back in".  (That is actually exactly how I feel about laundry, by the way.)  Perfect.

Now that I think of it, the subtle reference or implication is one of my favorite things -- either for effect or more importantly -- for humor. My favorite comedians just drop a comment on you and hope you get it and ... I must mention ... sometimes I have a rather delayed reaction before I do -- if I don't miss the point entirely.  Real life, literature, comedians -- when subtlety is employed, and I do "get it", it makes me feel like I now belong to the special club. Actually this may be the closest I ever get to feeling like I belong at the cool kids' lunch table.  

You know what I mean. Subtlety, implication -- whatever you prefer to call it -- is especially nice when you come upon it unexpectedly and no one explains it to you.  You just "get it".  If you run across an incident like this, please share it with me. No explanation necessary.   Thanks!

Lackadaisically Nerdy

I recently finished reading Stephen King's Finders Keepers.  It is the sequel to Mr. Mercedes.  I enjoyed them both and was so hoping for a part three. When I finished the second book, I felt that King had left the door open for that possibility and happily discovered on his website that Finders Keepers is, in fact, the second book of the Mr. Mercedes Trilogy. Happiness!  Will preorder the third book as soon as possible. Anyway, I ran across the word "lackadaisically" while reading King. From one word lover to another (or even if you are not...), have you ever seen that word in print before?  I have not, or if I have, I don't remember.  It surprised me in a way to see it.  (I most likely would have misspelled it if I had chosen to write it.) Then on further consideration I wondered when I had actually used that word in my speech/writing, if ever. Can you relate? I know I have heard that word but have I ever actually spoken it out loud?  Not sure, but I don't think so.   It ranks up there with lollygagging, a word I have been fond of recently and, therefore, have incorporated into my speech/writing of late.  I like both words. So here goes... years ago I was floating on an innertube on a "lazy river" at Water Country USA/Water Park in Williamsburg, VA.  My children and I were with my sister and her children. She and I were "zoning out" on the river while keeping one eye on our children who were within sight -- I think standing under a waterfall or something. Anyway -- my sister and I were lollygagging lackadaisically while floating along.  It was most relaxing. Now it is at this point where my sister would mention, or at least think, that I am just weird.  She's right.  I am, in fact, not only weird but also the biggest nerd I know, and those are just two things I like about me.  I do not apologize.  I, in fact, love most nerdy people I have encountered in this life.  Kindred spirits and all that.... Such individuals are unique and most interesting to me. On careful thought -- I have encountered few people that I dislike. So -- does it follow that maybe there is a little of the nerd in all of us? What do you think?

A point of interest whether or not you find Stephen King to be scary, a little nerdy or weird...  I also saw on his website that he will be appearing on "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert" on September 11th.  Happy Birthday, my wonderful sister, who is also a Stephen King fan.  (Set your DVR.... I am going to....)