comedy

At this point I believe it is safe to say they are one of the greatest comedic teams of all time. Seriously.

turning

Today I woke up to the news that Paul Newman had lost his battle with cancer. I will not postulate now on his importance in American Cinema and thusly his importance to American Culture and America itself, but instead, as is my want, I will leave you with some dialog from what is undoubtedly my favorite Newman movie.

from Cool Hand Luke

Luke: I can eat fifty eggs.
Dragline: Nobody can eat fifty eggs.
Society Red: You just said he could eat anything.
Dragline: Did you ever eat fifty eggs?
Luke: Nobody ever eat fifty eggs.
Prisoner: Hey, Babalugats. We got a bet here.
Dragline: My boy says he can eat fifty eggs, he can eat fifty eggs.
Loudmouth Steve: Yeah, but in how long?
Luke: A hour.
Society Red: Well, I believe I'll take part of that wager.

chrysalis

I have been plugging away at Thomas Wolfe's You Can't Go Home Again for some time now. I have thoroughly enjoyed it and can't believe I put off this task for as long as I have. I was reading last night and came across something that struck me. Below is an excerpt from the afore mentioned book, judge it as you will.

The leaders of the nation had fixed their gaze so long upon the illusions of a false prosperity that they had forgotten what America looked like. Now they saw it--saw its newness, its raw crudeness, and its strength--and turned their shuddering eyes away. "Give us back our well-worn husks," they said, "where we were so snug and comfortable." And then they tried word magic. "Conditions are fundamentally sound," the said--by which they meant to assure themselves that nothing now was really changed, that things were as they always had been, and as they always would be, forever and ever, amen.

But they were wrong. They did not know that you can't go home again. America had come to the end of something, and to the beginning of something else. But no one knew what that something else would be, and out of the change and the uncertainty and the wrongness of the leaders grew fear and desperation, and before long hunger stalked the streets. Through it all there was only one certainty, though no one saw it yet. America was still America, and whatever new thing came of it would be American.

Originally published in 1934, five years after the stock market crash of 1929.

Carrie and Daniel

September 14th was Carrie and Daniel's Wedding. It was a wonderful affair. I could tell it met all there expectations as the smiles on their faces could not be contained. It was simple, intimate and elegant. I was asked to read a short selection during the ceremony. It was nice to be included on this auspicious day. The words, an interpretation of some Hindu text, were clear and poignant. Dan is like a brother to me. In another post I believe I called him, confidant par excellence.

Which is why I should not have been surprised when I was cajoled into providing a toast during dinner, but surprised I was. His own brother had said some heartfelt words, a smattering of others had said added theirs, when both Daniel and his mother, Joy, began to give me a look signifying it was my turn. I was ill prepared. I had consumed my share of beer (a treat rarely afforded). I spoke during the service. I thought I was off the hook.

This was not the case.

Those who know me will say I never refuse the opportunity to provide my dissertation to groups large and small. I have relished it. I have pontificated on topics rare and common, great and base. I have built a reputation on being able to do so at moments notice. However, at that moment and in that climate, I was, for lack of a better word, speechless. It may have been a combination of many things, but I will say I was wrought with emotion. Few things compare with seeing your best friend with his bride on their wedding day. It makes us see how far we come, but at the same time illuminates the possibilities in front of us.

My toast was passable, but not memorable for any reason. I rambled into some of the traps invariably lining the path of these unprepared speeches but quickly evaded their most perilous snares. Those moments where great impact can be made are uncommon and without the possibility to recreated. Thanks to miracle of science, the internet provides us the opportunity to make amends. So, raise your glasses....A Toast for Carrie and Daniel.

On this day we come together, family and friends of Carrie and Dan to celebrate the commitment of their relationship, to send them on their way as their lives together begin anew. I think, like all great relationships, Carrie and Daniel provide a balance for each other that allows them to move forward with quiet and full hearts, with a sense of true love.

To the bride and groom, as they begin their lives in union. Let them have, as Denise Levertov says in her poem First Love

that endless giving and receiving, the wholeness
of that attention,
that once-in-a-lifetime
secret communion.

To Carrie and Daniel