Blue Valentine

My mom and I just finished watching the movie "Blue Valentine".  If you are depressed, I don't recommend it because you will only feel worse after watching it.  Although I'm sure the point of the movie was not to depress but to enlighten, it was still depressing.  So that I don't have to write "spoiler alert" it basically is about how two people got together, married, and then split. (I am such a sucker for Ryan Gosling and Michelle Williams.)

I'm betting I feel so strongly about this because some of the script hit so close to home the writer may as well have resided there with me, took notes, and then transcribed them verbatim. 

Yesterday morning I was reading an obituary about an 80-something year old man that had recently died.  I normally don't read the obits let alone the newspaper but my mom left it lying on the kitchen table.  I picked it up to read while I ate my meal.  This man's obit stood out because it took up a whole 1.5 columns!  Whoever wrote it took the time and care to make it detailed so I figured the least I could do was honor the effort.

This man had been married to his High School sweetheart for 66 years.  She passed away on March 11th of this year.  About 4.5 months later he joined her.  I don't recall the obit saying he had been sick.

I wish I could interview them separately and together.  So many questions for a couple that was a success.  Why is it that some people are able to be married for 66 years and others can't make it past 6 months? Mutual respect?  Communication? 

Since the divorce rate hovers around 50% here in the US, maybe I shouldn't be asking any of you to answer these questions.  I should ask the citizens of Kazakhstan.  Their divorce rate is 39%.

It's either just the rain or I am actually really pissed off.

I've been living in Florida for one week now.  I have crossed off quite a few of the entries on my list of things that must be accomplished including changing over the tags on my car and transferring my MD driver's license to a FL one.  Last night, despite the three nightmares in a row, I slept in later than 4:30 in the morning.  I'm going to have to learn how to use the DVR because I missed Mr. Ed.

As I'm writing this, I see that it is pouring outside.....again.  No draught here!  Yesterday when I was driving Jesse to the airport to catch his flight back to Baltimore, I nervously drove through a deluge.  I'm sure the intermittent storms are normal for this time of year, but they are bumming me out.  Add to that being pissed off that at 50 I am starting my life over, well, just ask my mother if her tongue isn't shredded yet from biting it.  Yes, I am pissed off and the weather isn't helping.

Those that see the glass as half full tell me that I should look at this as an opportunity for new beginnings that I otherwise wouldn't have.  While I understand this on an intellectual level, my emotions are wearing boxing gloves and mouth guard while dancing around the ring looking for a fight. 

The good news?  Trixie the cat is showing signs of feeling more comfortable around the house when it isn't just me walking around.  Shadow the dog can't wait for Trixie to want to play with him.