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| I'm a Girl! |
So I am a girl. Obviously. But that doesn't mean I act exactly like a girl. I am feminine (I wear heels, makeup and like my cleavage), but I'm also a bit masculine (I go shooting, touch disgusting things, and try very hard to keep drama/my emotions in check). There are very few people in my life that have made me cry, sticks and stones right? Unfortunately I do have this VERY embarrassing habit of bawling over the most insignificant things. I cry reading newspaper articles, listening to certain songs, watching certain commercials (that Kleenex one gets me every time), and definitely watching movies. I cry at the majority of movies I go to, even if they are not particularly sad movies.
Last weekend I found myself watching "My Sisters Keeper", a movie based off of the book by Jodi Picoult. The movie/book is about a daughter, Anna, who attempts medical emancipation from her parents who rely on her to keep their other leukemia-inflicted daughter, Kate, to stay alive. Needless to say I sobbed through the better part of the movie and came out of it with eyes as red as a Heroin addict's.
At a particular part of the movie an ailing Kate's wish is to leave the hospital and go to the Beach. Her Dad agrees, bundles her up, and takes her to the beach with the other children. Cameron Diaz plays the overprotective Mom who is furious at the thought of Kate leaving the safety of the hospital, even threatening her husband with divorce if he follows through. In the end the Dad and children head to the beach and Mom eventually relents and joins them. The family is trying very hard for Kate's sake to be normal in a very not-normal situation.
Now death is sad to begin with. Untimely death - very sad. The untimely death of a child, absolutely tragic. This story gives a heartbreaking glimpse into the life of a family with a terminally ill child. The movie spares no gruesome detail, Kate looks every bit the part of a Leukemia patient, from the pale, translucent skin to the decaying teeth. It's a hard movie to watch if you know anyone that's been affected by a terminal disease because it shows the decline in quality of life very accurately. It's tough because throughout the whole story Kate remains coherent, witty and loving. Her mind is intact and her body is betraying her.  |
| Edwina Hayes |
During the beach scene in the movie, "Feels like Home" by Edwina Hayes plays. Hayes is an english - singer/songwriter who recorded her version of the song for the movie "My Sisters Keeper." The song was originally recorded by Randy Newman, and later by Chantal Kreviazuk, but Hayes gives them both a run for their money. Her soft, folky rendition of this classic song makes me teary eyed just listening to it (pathetic - I know). At first listen you'd assume the song was written about a lover, but after seeing it in the movie I believe it's meant to describe any type of love, not just romantic. In the movie it represents a parents love for their child, "I wanted someone to come along, And change my world, The way you've done."
In a theme I touched on in my post about the song "Home", by Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros, "home" is not necessarily a place. As they sang in "Home", "Home is whenever I'm with you.", and Hayes sings, "Feels like home to me". "Home" is a feeling you get when you feel safe, happy and loved.
P.S. Sorry guys couldn't find a video that would let me embed - audio clip only unless you follow the link below.
Somethin' in your eyes, makes me wanna lose myself
Makes me wanna lose myself, in your arms
There's somethin' in your voice, makes my heart beat fast
Hope this feeling lasts, the rest of my life
If you knew how lonely my life has been
And how long I've been so alone
And if you knew how I wanted someone to come along
And change my life the way you've done
It feels like home to me, it feels like home to me
It feels like I'm all the way back where I come from
It feels like home to me, it feels like home to me
It feels like I'm all the way back where I belong
A window breaks, down a long, dark street
And a siren wails in the night
But I'm alright, 'cause I have you here with me
And I can almost see, through the dark there is light
Well, if you knew how much this moment means to me
And how long I've waited for your touch
And if you knew how happy you are making me
I never thought that I'd love anyone so much
It feels like home to me, it feels like home to me
It feels like I'm all the way the back where I come from
It feels like home to me, it feels like home to me
It feels like I'm all the way back where I belong
It feels like I'm all the way back where I belong
I love "Feels Like Home" too, and Hayes' version is gorgeous. Just FYI, though, Randy Newman wrote the song for his stage version of "Faust" and in the context of the show it's a "trick" song-- sung by the character Martha who's putting one over on the Devil right before she dumps him. You can read Randy's take on the classic, here:
ReplyDeletehttp://randynewman.com/2010/03/randy-newmans-faust/
(Click on the "Act II lyrics" plus sign)
On its own of course--out of that context--you can't tell that it's such a devious song. In fact I know that many people use it as part of their wedding ceremonies!
Very Cool Susan - Thx for the link!
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