Things I Learned From You - Good Movies

Dear Mimi,


You taught me about good movies. We used to check out old movies from the library and have themed marathons. Cary Grant nights and Alfred Hitchcock weekends were regular family events. But my favorite movie education occurred when I was in high school, on days when I stayed home sick. On those days you introduced me to movies like Harold and Maude, Wings of Desire, The Graduate, and all of Woody Allen.


One afternoon, we were flipping channels and I stopped at a movie I didn't recognize. When I asked you what it was, you stared at me in shock. You immediately wrote me a note to excuse me from school the next day and ran to the video store. That next day while I was playing hooky we watched all three Godfather movies. In your mind, cultural education (including movies) was as important as the things I learned in school. You made sure I watched many of the classics, and we watched most of them together. I thought of you and our Godfather Hooky Day this weekend when I watched Gone With the Wind for the first time. I'm not sure why we never watched this movie together - especially as you are named after one of the main characters.




And Dad corrected me - he said you loved The American. I thought you would have hated the way it ended, but this was not the case. He said that you loved the movie because it was so foreign, there was nothing American about it. Which is of course what I loved about the movie. I wish, in a hard-wish kind of way, that I could come over and re-watch this movie with you today. I would so very much love to hear your thoughts, know the parts you like best. And of course, cry together at the end.


I will have to settle for Appreciative Husband, who loves good movies but doesn't cry with me. It's not the same, but nothing is. But, the movies will still be there to watch, and I will think of you every time I find a fabulous film.


After all, tomorrow is another day...


Love,


A