We just returned from seeing Wild, the movie they made of Cheryl Strayeds book of the same title. I liked the book a lot and thought the movie was also quite good (having stayed pretty close to the book). I have been thinking about why I liked the book and movie and why so many others had less than positive reactions to the movie (and perhaps book as well). Heres what Ive come up with: About 3/4 of the way through the movie, Reese Witherspoon (playing author Cheryl Strayed) is thinking to herself and says: Ive hiked about 600 miles of the PCT (Pacific Crest Trail) and have about another 300 to go. I cannot wait for it to be over, but Im also very scared -- because I have no idea what Im going to do afterwards. That line really got to me. It reminded me of a similar point in my own life. After high school, I went to college. My parents insisted on it and I had no idea what else to do. I was not dumb, but, as I had been all the way through h.s., I was a terrible goof off and did not take studying very seriously. I flunked out of a couple of schools and was about to be flunked out for the final time just about the same time that Vietnam was really heating up. I knew the draft was hanging over my head and, in one of those rare moments of serious thought, I began to ask myself why others should be required to fight and I shouldnt. I decided to go to the recruiting office in Johnson City (I was still a student at ETSU) and joined the Marines. I fully expected to be trained to fight and sent for a tour in Vietnam. Its a long story, but I was very, very lucky and was not sent overseas. About 3/4 of the way through my tour of duty, I was beginning to see the end and could not wait to get out of the Corps. But, like Cheryl on the PCT, I was scared. I had never taken life very seriously before and I realized that the time was near that I would have to stop being the goof off I always had been. I was about to get married, which meant that I would soon have to figure out a way to support a wife and later perhaps a family -- and I had no idea how I was going to do it. When I joined the Marines, I had expected to be sent to Vietnam and had no idea whether I would be coming back or not, so I didnt think any further ahead than that. But now I had to. No choice. I was afraid about being married -- would I be a good husband/provider? What kind of job would/could I do? I could stay in the Marines, but I had never intended to make a career of it and I knew that was not the career I wanted to have. So, the only other choice I saw was to go back to school. But I had never taken school seriously before. I knew I wasnt stupid, but had no idea how I might do if I did take school and studying seriously. My point in all this rambling about my life is that I can identify with the fear that Cheryl Strayed expressed at that point in the movie (and book). To have been such a worthless goof off all your life and suddenly to think Ive got to change and do better is a very scary realization. I guess those of us who have been through that can identify with Cheryls fear and frustration and appreciate her book and the movie. Perhaps others cannot. Or just dont.
Posted on: Sat, 20 Dec 2014 22:05:37 +0000
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