Saw The Last Samurai last night. It was just as idealized and melodramatic as I had expected, and there were way too many lingering shots of Tom Cruise’ face; but it was affecting all the same. I don’t know what it is; it seems like the older I get the more sniffly I get over heroic last stands and honorable deaths. I think there must be a place within every man’s (I can’t speak for women) heart that longs for the simplicity of a life lived by a simple code of honor and a good death in battle. Eventually I suppose that urge will get stamped out by natural selection as it becomes increasingly useless to the survival of the species.
Of course, nothing is ever as simple as it seems in the movies. I’m sure the Samurai had their share of domestic squabbles, petty politics, and morally ambigous decisions to make.
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My self-assesment is going nowhere. Don’t expect any updates on that front in the near future.
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I really ought to take that vacation I’ve been talking about. I find it so hard to push myself out of my ordinary routine though. The idea of trying to find things to do just seems like too much, well, work. But I don’t want to just lie around at home – that would be depressing.
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Found out thirdhand my aunt and her longtime partner are planning on getting hitched just as soon as they legally can. I wasn’t invited, which makes me sad. I can understand her leaving out certain members of the family who have been less than supportive of her; but I’ve always enjoyed seeing them and been on good terms with them, so I thought. On the other hand, it’s been a long time since I’ve seen them. Guess I should have sent Christmas cards.
Now I’m wondering if my uncle in San Francisco and his partner are planning on tying the knot, and if so, if I’ll even hear about it.
The gay marriage debate, and particularly the assertions that I’ve seen in various quarters about the promiscuity of homosexuals, has caused me to reflect on my own experiences. My two primary models for the gay lifestyle, my aunt and uncle (on two different sides of the family) represent two of the stablest and apparently happiest long-term relationships I’ve seen. I don’t know if they are representative. Certainly I have heard of counter-examples from people who saw every one of their gay friends die of AIDS. I think that homosexuality and sex addiction must be considered seperately. The compulsion to have repetitive, loveless sex to the point of self-destruction is a tragedy whether the victim is gay or straight.
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I did like the mention of the battle of Thermopalaye (sp?) mentioned. And the 300 Spartans who held off a million man Persian army.
(kinda gives me hope that the little bit of sanity we have in this nation can still have a chance to hold off Louis Farrakan’s million-man hate marches – but that’s a side issue)
I did enjoy the film, but it was a typical hollywood drama (although quite well done IMHO).
I’ll ignore that last section. I’m sick of debate.
I really ought to take that vacation I’ve been talking about. I find it so hard to push myself out of my ordinary routine though. The idea of trying to find things to do just seems like too much, well, work. But I don’t want to just lie around at home – that would be depressing.
I know EXACTALLY what you mean… I think….
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Excuse me, I think I just confused myself.
/me goes around, calling out, searching for her brain…
Exactly! Sex addiction is quite different than a long term relationship, as evidence in my own aunt and partner. That was a perpective I hadn’t yet thought of, thanks:) I wonder if you let your aunt know you were interested in attending the wedding if she wouldn’t be thrilled. I know my aunt tries to keep their developments on the “down-low” and is pleasantly surprised when I say/do something to openly support her.
i need a vacation too
(cavation?)
I cried during the Last Samurai but I didn’t necesarily think it was a good movie. I like foreign cultures, so I enjoyed that part of the movie. Tom Cruise did an ok job…. he didn’t make the movie and he didn’t really hurt it either. (I expected to hate him in it, but didn’t mind him) I wouldn’t want to live in such a culture, yet it was still moving.
As for self evaluation…. maybe you should just live and let live. Question the decisions you make as you make them. Maybe simply paying attention to why you make the decisions you do and re-evaluating if you still agree. I honestly think too much self evaluation can make us drawn inward and possibly over think everything we do. It’s good not to just slide through life without stopping yourself to ask questions, yet it’s not usually productive to question everything. It may be better to find a balance that you can use continuously throughout your life.
If I were you, I’d send your Aunt a wedding gift and card expressing your support. The action would probably say a lot.
As for vacation, you guys should come visit. You are more than welcome to crash at our house. Not that there’s a whole lot to do in Madison, but it would be an inexpensive way to get away for a bit. And if you wait until it’s just a tad bit warmer, downtown will be a cool place to hang out.
As for vacation, you guys should come visit. You are more than welcome to crash at our house.
Yay! I’ll come! Weeee!