It's A Wonderful Life

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Hey there and Merry Christmas! What are you up to?  I am watching one of the most heart-wrenching movies ever, as you can tell from the title of my post. I've been talking about it for the past couple of days, so when we turned on the TV at 8PM to look for a Christmas "special" and it was on - it seemed like fate. The boys are staying up late with us and watching for the first time. The girl is long gone to bed.

George has just said to Billy: Where's that money, you silly stupid old fool? Where's that money? Do you realize what this means? It means bankruptcy and scandal and prison. That's what it means. One of us is going to jail - well, it's not gonna be me. A tale of woe, yet also of resurrection and redemption. I start crying on and off from when Mr. Gower hits the young George's bad ear through the whole movie. We feel George edging towards hysteria, we understand it, we can taste it - he is constantly faced with choosing between his values and his dreams.Why do they have to be so disparate?

He is so good, good, good, and life is so unfair that he finally loses it.

Have you ever lost it?

Child: Can I pray for him?
Mary: Yes, pray very hard.

There have been many times when I have lost my way.  

George: Show me the way - I'm at the end of my rope.

And then Clarence the angel makes his bizarre appearance as George is about to jump off the bridge. Clarence doesn't use "magic", no. He simply jumps in the water himself.


Clarence: You tried to save me - and that's how I saved you.


Service, that's what it comes down to. Being of service, taking actions to help others, and tuning into your highest self. George needs to see that this is the way he has lived his life and how it has impacted his community.


(Okay, a moment of horrific comedy - George is aghast that Mary is an "old maid" and a "librarian". Single-dom rocks and librarians are the shizz!!!)

Saving. George sacrificed himself for others, and they in turn "saved" him.

Remember, no man is a failure who has friends. Thanks Clarence. And thank you dear reader friends! Blogging and getting feedback has been tremendously rewarding. We're giving to each other!


The boys loved it and have just given big hugs and trotted upstairs to bed, eager for the morning to come. 


It's a wonderful life, indeed. I keep thinking of the moment I had at the book launch when I realized that this could be as good as it gets and I was going to enjoy every minute of it. My anxiety is down, my tear ducts full, my shmaltziness at a peak.


Merry Christmas!

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