Worth a re-post tonight... It’s a Wonderful Death - Just Frank – September 28th, 2013 In many people’s eyes, I suppose, it was a year ago today that my death began to take place. When I attempt to consider “everything”, which I was recently afforded the opportunity to do (for many months); it became increasingly difficult for me to know when the events leading to my death began. They may have existed so long, I’ve just plain forgotten… In contrast, through those same hours of contemplation, observation and discussions, with very wise people, it’s easy to pinpoint when the events leading up to the beginning of my life started. (I will mention now, that in the last year, I have met or re-met hundreds of people. Many I re-met, were obviously who they always were… I was too “busy” to notice the walking, talking miracles that surrounded me. It was my own undoing that my self-absorbed attitude made them anything less.) Indulge me for a moment by accepting that both events/sentiments mentioned above, the beginnings of my death and life, really happened when I fell asleep, and drove off a road I know well, less than 2 miles from home. Yeah, I know that probably doesn’t make a lot of sense, but go with it for now. In the words of Gene Wilder (Young Frankenstein) – “It… Could……WORK!!! This indulgence requires a story I’ve never told anyone, completely… When folks talk about movies, especially recent commercial releases, I always feel a little “in the dark”. It’s not because I don’t go to movies at all, it’s because most of them don’t really carry a message I can relate to. In an attempt to remain interested in the conversation, I usually try to change the topic to “what’s your favorite movie?” This leads to a real mixed bag of results, but sure can lead to some new favorites too! My favorite movie, for the past 20 years (props to my wife Theresa for revealing it to me), has been Frank Capra’s “It’s A Wonderful Life” Liberty Films, 1946. It’s a post WWII B&W classic I watch at least every year around thanksgiving. I’ve been a bit consumed by it recently as well. Here’s a “common” description you can find in many places – “An angel helps a compassionate but despairingly frustrated businessman by showing what life would have been like if he never existed.” Here’s a youtube link of the complete movie. If you have a few hours to burn - youtube/watch?v=frXklECPkD0 and, it’s “fo free”… I feel this movie/story is so important I once took a $9.99 DVD version of it and sent it to a very special friend in need, over 500 miles away, FedEx Next Day, for like $35.00. Now, I could have just sent the youtube link, but I wanted it to be a “tactile”, special event! People are also not always cool with clicking on links, even from me!!! Now, I have to tell you that I always cry while watching this movie. The strange part is that where I cry changes from place to place, as my life changes. In my most recent viewing, I couldn’t help but drop a few crocodile tears during a boardroom scene where the antagonist, Mr. Potter, a greedy, wheelchair bound, disgruntled and angry old millionaire is attempting to maliciously shut down the business that Peter Bailey, father of the protagonist, George Bailey, built. While I have always loved this scene, it has special meaning to me now. Mr. Potter states. “Mr. Chairman, I claim this institution is not necessary for this town” going on to say “I therefore make a motion to dissolve this institution and turn its assets and liabilities over to the receiver” of course, his real intent is to shut it down for his own personal profit. George, not willing to “put the gun in the baby’s mouth” let’s Mr. Potter go on for a bit, then rips into him, closing with “I know very well what you’re talking about, you’re talking about something you can’t get your fingers on, and it’s gnawing you. That’s what you’re talking about. I know!” Here’s the link to most of this scene - youtube/watch?v=O4ne13Zft9Q Within the movie you can find countless sub-stories, drama, comedy, several love stories, mystery, suspense, references to war, judgment, you name it! Should you elect to watch the movie, I suggest you give yourself about 3 hours, and sort of “take notes”, or create a diary of how you view the main topics/scenes of this movie, addressing how you feel, who you relate to best, and when you laughed the hardest, or cried the most. When you’re done, put the date on it; stick it in the DVD case. I sometimes compare my viewings of this movie (in my head), as it helps me to recognize who I am in that moment. I would liken it to the repetition of the reading of the gospels in church. – It can seem like the same old thing, every time, which is nothing more than to say I don’t need to see/hear this again, as I obviously know everything about it!!! Yeah, Right??? As I mentioned above, I cry in different places of this movie as my life changes. The same can be said about where I laugh, ponder, notice, etc… Consider this: When I first saw this movie, nearly 20 years ago, I was immediately turned off, because it was black & white, no action, no “gratuitous scenes”. But when I got to the last scene, I did cry. As time went on, I first related to George as a father, just trying to make a buck for his family. Later, as an owner in my own business, I very much related to George’s “plight” of keeping the ship afloat through a lot of mediocrity, including my own! Next, I related to George as the oblivious enabler of other’s goals, through simply trying to do the right thing, while “saving the day” for his family, his business, hell – THE WHOLE DAMN TOWN!!! That, BTW, is a burnout job – and totally manic/unnecessary. Moving on, I related to George as the “despairingly frustrated businessman”. Over the years/tears, I have also related to Uncle Billy, Henry Potter (Mr. Potter), and Peter Bailey. Most profoundly, and most recently, I have had the blessing George received when he sees what life would be like if he didn’t exist. The biggest difference is, it was not a vision, dream, or fantasy… It really happened to me – figuratively and literally! In the last 10 or so minutes of the movie (the second bridge scene to the end), where many first time watchers might finally cry, the obvious sentiment conveyed by the story seems to be exactly what Clarence the angel (Clarence Oddbody, AS2 - Angel 2nd class) writes in the gift he leaves for George (the book Tom Sawyer). Of course, this stands to reason, isn’t it “obvious”? Indeed, it’s literally a party in the last few minutes, complete with a cavalcade of family & friends paying George “homage”. There’s a bloody lipped, soaking wet George standing there while anyone and everyone does whatever they can to “save” their friend George from his “failure”, at the dishonest hands of the wheelchair bound Mr. Potter. The unanswered question is how does George see his overall “salvation”? Now, watch those last 10 or so minutes again, and again, and again. What’s really going on in the last few scenes? George has just returned from his journey through the depraved environment that is Pottersville, a place where his own mother didn’t even know him. Next he has his “epiphany”… In essence, his extraction from an evil, alternate reality, complete with his non-existence, to a place of everything good he has ever known. Now, back in reality, he runs, maniacally through Bedford Falls, a place that he “hated” so much as a young man, he was going to “shake the dust off of this crummy little town…” to arrive at his “home”. Along the way, oddly enough, he even stops to wish Mr. Potter a Merry Christmas. However, in the closing scene, where he arrives home, just before the “party”… Did you notice that he seems somewhat “distracted”, saying things that didn’t really “line up” with what’s going on around him? While George certainly seems grateful for all that is being done and said on his behalf, does he really seem to be on the same plane of existence with everyone around him…? Perhaps, he never was??? Here’s George being grateful for the simple things which so many take for granted, as everybody else is worried about George! I got news for you, George is just fine (thank you very much). OK, enough of my ramblings to entice folks to watch a nearly 70 year old movie. Exactly what can a movie do to explain “the beginnings of MY death and life” anyway? You see, even though George Bailey felt he was on a horrible path, and wanted to commit suicide to make the world a better place for all. He ended up jumping off that bridge, with free will, to save the messenger sent to save him - Clarence Oddbody. He did it in clear conscience, without knowing the benefits and graces he would later receive. I guess you could call that “A leap of faith?” Depending on your point of view, you might aspire to George’s faith & fortitude, or judge him a fool (thank you Mr. Potter). In my case, the horrible path I was on became the road I knew too well (or so I thought). Though it was not my intent to kill myself when I flew off the bridge, landed upside down, and crushed my neck, it’s a good thing I did. It marked the end of my death, and the beginning of my life, filled with Clarence Oddbodys. Many of them are the same Clarence Oddbodys I’ve known, but ignored, for a long time. Some are new. I have told many folks over the past week that this has been the best year of my life. I will now tell you, without any regrets or reservations, this has been the best year of my life. That, my friends, is why this story is called “It’s A Wonderful Death” If you take nothing away from this story but one thing, please make it the message Clarence left George… “Dear George :- Remember no man is a failure who has friends. Thanks for the wings! Love Clarence” In turn, I thank all those who have given me my wings! Though I have been nearly every character in that movie, I’m certainly no angel. I do know this for sure… truly, It’s A Wonderful Life.
Posted on: Sun, 14 Dec 2014 03:59:46 +0000
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