A Great Line About Fantasies

Every now and then I run across a line that resonates. I put them all in my Great Lines group  . . . see HERE. Or if you'd like to see the other "great lines" you can click the label on the right of the navigation bar. 

This one hit me. I don't know why, but it did. Maybe I've come close to fulfilling my fantasies and realized it wasn't what I thought. Maybe it's the context, where he realizes that the girl he used to fantasize about really isn't what he wanted or needed in life. Maybe it's all of that. 

One More On Nightmare

Lately, I know, I've been posting alot about Nightmare in Pink, a part of the Travis McGee series by John D. MacDonald. Does it warrant this much posting? Probably not. But, when reads so few novels these days thanks to homework, and work work, well then one posts alot about the things he enjoys. 

Regardless, the other day I wrote that there were some lines which I found particularly compelling and I wanted to share them with someone, so this audience will do.  

More From a Nightmare in Pink

One of the things I love about Travis McGee novels by John D. MacDonald, is the simplicity of writing. It's direct and honest and quick. I have been accused of this as well (see HERE). And I'll happily accept that accusation/honor.

Some of the other authors I read who are similar include Louis L'amour - with his simple stories that are easy to follow and fun in a predictable way, Lee Child - Often times I find them a bit too simple (see HERE), but they're fun. Even Dick Francis has an economy about his writing and his stories that is fun and easy (see HERE).

Everyone Has a Jenny

I got the chance to see Forrest Gump with my youngest son this weekend. It's such a solid movie, and there was lots to discuss with him, but what I found interesting were his views on Jenny. 

Are all sorts of meme's and discussion posts and controversies about Jenny and how badly she treats Forest. Personally, I think Jenny's story is there to help us appreciate Forest's journey. You have the ynig and yang, the good and the bad. The viewer gets to see how good parenting effects kids when they grow and how bad parenting affects people. You get to see good choices vs bad choices and how they effect people around you and others in the world. You get to see how tendencies to do good or bad stay with people throughout their lives. Without Jenny's miserable story, Forrest's story is less impactful.

Losing Smell

 The other day I posted about how I contracted Covid. I tested positive and that night I realized I couldn't smell the coffee that I was making. It took less than 12 hours from the time I tested positive that I lost my sense of smell and it effected me far more than I would have ever thought. 

I have heard from others about the loss of sense from others. Tommy, Sarah, Maria, all of them have told me about it when they had to deal with Covid themselves, but it was mostly just one more data point that I would log. Once it occurs to you it changes the perspective. 

Some More Great Ones

 I've run into a few more great lines that I've cataloged into my "Ever Shade" label (see here) for posterity. They all come from the same aggregator, and I may have . . . "may" have . . . changed a word or two. 

The first is apropos for this blog:

I fall in love with books more than people.

How true is that. I can think of hundreds and dozens of books that I've loved. I won't say the second half of that statement, but it's a truism aint it?

Another Great One

 This one is similar to one I posted a while back (see here), as a part of my ever shades post (see here) or is it evershade? Maybe evershades? Regardless, I'm not sure why I didn't post this then. Maybe times have changed, maybe I was just listening at the right moment this time. 

I don't normally listen to Adele or country music. Too many memories and thoughts that I'd rather avoid. My children don't hold to the same guideance however so the other day someone asked Alexa to play Hello by Adele, and it was this that hit me.

Hello from the other side

I must've called a thousand times

To tell you I'm sorry for everything that I've done

But when I call, you never seem to be home

Lines On Love

 I ran into these few lines today which I thought fit perfectly with my Ever Shade label (see here). Most of these are on love and loving others. 

The first is a good one. A quick, somewhat deep one that hit me.

Just a forever love kind of guy living in a temporary love kind of world.

Bye-bye Doesn't Mean Forever

Just like this post (see HERE) and the song "Afternoon Delight" in Arrested Development (see HERE), it's always fun when you listen to a song with new eyes (or ears) and discover something about it you didn't ever realize was there. 

I was always a huge fan of Colin Powell's. I was in the military when he was not in the Military or politics, but he was one reason (among many) that I joined. I read My American Journey when it first came out in 1995 and it helped inspire me to enlist. I heard that there were a lot of references to Abba at Colin Powell's funeral this past week. He was a huge fan and in one story about him, he recited the lyrics of Abba's Mamma Mia to the Swedish ambassador. 

Therefore I went back to look at the lyrics and wow, I was stunned. I didn't know it was such an covertly deep song. The treacly music masks something deeper. 

How Has This Not Made the List Yet?

 When I was in college, I was the captain and president of the lacrosse team, and for a short time the “face off” specialist. My buddy Jay and I had a technique where I would clamp the ball on the whistle, spin my back onto the other player, and then flip the ball directly to Jay as he raced towards us. He wouldn’t he have to move his stick, I’d just be able to pop it directly to him and off he raced for a goal. 

That could have been the apex of my life (been nadirs ever since?)

These Hit Me As Well

 I ran across a few lines that hit me so much I thought I would share (like these). They come from a different source, anonymous this time, so I hope they don't mind me posting them. I doubt that they do.

The first I liked because so often water and waves and the ocean are used in analogies. Probably because it's something everyone can relate to and it never stops moving. 

I was sand

you were waves.

Every time you inched closer,

you pulled away.

Shouting in the Wilderness

 Feels like I'm shouting into the wilderness with these posts now . . . talking to no one . . . maybe this label group of ever shade has run its course (see here), but I saw a few more that hit me.

Molly writes:

All I want is peace and sweep me off my feet chemistry.
Fuck! Why is it that hard?

Adjustment Bureau Line Almost

 I ran across a silly movie that I watched on a plane years ago. It's a Matt Damon and Emily Blunt vehicle, and honestly, I don't know how it got made. The writing is pretty standard, the story is silly, the scope is limited. The acting is good, but that's because it has so many good actors in it. 

At the end of the Adjustment Bureau the two main characters who are in love have to risk their lives and their futures for each other and there's potentially wonderfully soliloquy on the verge of being delivered. It doesn't come. Instead there is a humdrum couple of lines about risk and love. 

A Few More that Caught My Eye

 I saw a few more to add to this list of great lines et al.

This one comes from my North Connection again, but via Sassy 'n Shit (a moniker I think is awesome). 

Your heart is the hardest thing to convince when it's time to let someone go.

Another Great One (or Two)

As anyone who reads this blog will know, I love reposting content that hits me deeply in my soul from a Twitter user I follow (see more HERE)

Today's are poignant and powerful as well.

First from Skywatcher is this one on ghosts:

Some people, although living and breathing, must remain ghosts, unreachable, by their own choosing. 

Couple From Up North

As you all know I glommed onto a Twitter account with some terrific, and poetic content, (see more of it HERE) that every now and then I like to repost and share because some of them hit me. 

Today's was definitely a hitter. It comes from Your Devil:

I can't save you. I don't even want to. I spend and inordinate amount of energy just to be able to function in this dysfunctional world. If you can't meet me half way then we have nothing. I won't let you drown both of us.

This next one, from Jess, is simple, straightforward, and powerful as well:

Silence screams the loudest answers. 

Evershade, evershades, ever shade, ever shades, shades of Betsy

Soulmates

 Several on soulmates today. 

I saw one that caught my eye by Jasmine. She wrote:

Soulmates always find each other. 

I agreed. Or I like to think I do. But it made This is Fine write:

Do soulmates even exist?

Yet More for Evershade

 I've been posting lately to the Ever Shades label (see here) and really it's become a holding place for all those little bon mots that I can't put anywhere else. 

The first is simple and and thoughtful and it hit me when I read it. Why not keep it here?

You cannot change them by loving them harder.

Too true. Sometimes you love them by leaving them alone. Maybe they come back. Often they don't.

Starling Lines

I got to watch a real cute movie the other day with Melissa McCarthy and Kevin Kline. It was called the "The Starling." And although there wasn't a ton to recommend it, Melissa McCarthy is so cute and fun that she can just about turn even a stinker movie into a winner. 

There was one moment though, . . . almost two, that got me.

Just One This Week

 Once more in the Ever Shade label, a simple yet long one. Spoke to me. Maybe to you too.

It wasn't personal to her, but it was to him. She was like a tidal wave when he could barely tread water. He just wanted to know her, but that was too much. Still she stayed, in the back of his mind, and all he could hope for was that she truly knew he'd always be there for her.

That one hit me.

Evershade, evershades, ever shade, ever shades, shades of Betsy