Have you ever felt so down that you think there is no way you will ever climb out of the hole you are in? This weekend is one of those times. I don’t know why……..well, I do know a few reasons but, it has never made me feel quite like this. Last night I thought I might pull out of it. Allison and I were scanning the channels for something exciting to watch on a Saturday night. She likes watching movies and has become fond of the classics they show on PBS. Last nights feature was West Side Story. I have never seen this movie or the musical in a theater, so I decided it would be a great selection. Allison thought there was too much “romance” and waited anxiously for “some real action”. She was disturbed by one part, but I explained it to her and she seemed ok with it. It is where Anita goes to tell Tony that Maria will be detained and the Jets “attack” her in the soda shop. All in all, we both gave it a thumbs up. Rita Moreno rocks in this film. I then watched Saturday Night Live and caught a few laughs and liked listening to Maroon 5. But, this morning I still feel that urge to run away. I have done all the things they tell you to do. I am out of bed, dressed and ate a light breakfast. I cleaned the kitchen and folded some laundry. I played with the dog and refereed a few battles between the kids. Still, I just want to get in the van and drive really fast to nowhere in particular. I’m still taking my anti-depressants and it is sunny outside so those two things don’t really factor in. I don’t know. I just want to feel the wind whipping through my hair and know that when I do return I will not have any responsibilities. No such luck, though. As I type, Bryce is wanting a drink of tea, Brady wants an banana and Allison is telling me there is nothing to do today. So, where is Chuck? He is at work. As usual. And there you have it: AS USUAL. That pretty much sums up my life. Nothing is ever going to change.
American Idol, Oprah Winfrey and Starving Children
So, the blockbuster hit American Idol is “giving back” this week. I found all of the hoopla that had been brewing for the past few weeks exhausting and almost dreaded last night to come. But, after watching the footage of the trips to Africa and around these United States and hearing “inspirational songs” from the contestants I easily became enthralled. It made me re-examine my life and realize that somehow, someway I could do more.
I was afraid at first that this would be all about Africa and the dire conditions most of the population live in. I mean, wasn’t Simon walking through an open field of trash at one point? Seeing rail thin girls lying on the floor using all of their energy to take a breath was very depressing. My problem wasthat thousands of miles away Ryan and Simon were assessing this tragic state of affairs when in our own backyard you can find the same thing. Finally, they showed Randy going back to Louisiana, Simon was in California and Ryan and Paula went to Atlanta. Homeless people living in tattered card board boxes, young children standing in line with their parents at a food bank and young students in the Appalachian region telling the camera that if you can’t read “you ain’t hardly able to get a job ’cause that’s what it’s about”. Sad, poignant, heart wrenching and oh so very real.
The premise for tonight was that for every call made to vote for a contestant, Fox would give 10 cents up to 50 million phone calls(basically Rupert Murdoch is shelling out the money because I believe he owns Fox). They extended the voting from two to four hours to give the folks at home an opportunity to vote as often as they wanted and to increase the chances of getting more money. This show has had 30 million phone calls in a two hour time period so I believe that in four hours they can reach the goal of 50 million calls. Over the past seasons, I have maybe voted a handful of times. Last night I wrote down all the phone numbers and decided that I was going to vote. I voted for my favorites first and often and then I voted once for each of the remaining contestants. So I contributed a total of $1.40 to the relief campaign. Whoopee!! In retrospect that doesn’t seem like a lot of money, but at least it is something.
This makes me think of Oprah Winfrey and the school that she had built in Africa. She spent millions and millions of dollars on this all girls academy. The young ladies had to apply to get into the school and Oprah herself decided who was in and who was out. I applaud her efforts for wanting to change a young girls life that otherwise would probably have been filled with nothing but despair. But, did it need to be that expensive? 20 million dollars for one school? That school could not have been built for half that amount? I’m not an engineer or construction guru, but it seems to me that it isa possibility. Then she could have taken the rest of that money and gave a million to 10 other schools in the United States. Come on, a million dollars would buy a plethora of books, computer programs and other resources for those children in that Kentucky school that we saw on Idol. I don’t get it. If you want to be a hero, at least try spreading your wealth where you pay your taxes. We don’t always have to be a savior for every third world nation, especially when someone a few blocks away from where you live would like to be saved for at least a day.
Musical Montage
I was on my way to the hospital yesterday and as I pulled into the parking lot and looked up at the American flag waving in the air, a song came on the radio. Lee Greenwood’s “God Bless the U.S.A.” I kid you not!! So, even though I was running a few minutes behind(nothing unusual)I sat in the van and listened to it. A few bars in, I realized that I was welling up with tears. I love this song!!! It got me thinking.. what other songs out there make me feel this way? What songs would I consider my favorites of all time? Besides the current one playing, could I come up with 5 more all time favorites? I do believe I have. I have a favorite hymn: “How Great Thou Art”. Awesome. Makes me fell warm and fuzzy; comforted and empowered; humble and thankful. I, seriously can not get through it without my eyes getting misty. In fact, when I was pregnant with our first child, we went to my in-laws for a baby shower. While we were there, we attended church and had to sing this hymn. It also happened to be my husbands mother’s favorite song(she died a long time ago and I never met her). With all of that emotion and the hormones I had to excuse myself because I could not stop crying. Ok, some of you may think I need to get a grip, but that is how much it touches me. Next, is Martina McBride’s “Independence Day”. I realize that the content is not that happy or promising, but it is what the little girl can take from this experience that I find rewarding. Learn that you can take control of your life and that no one can push you around. Love is all around and it is up to you to find it in yourself and others. Plus, Martina can sing. Third, is “One in a Million”. You know I have no idea who sings this – some guy – and I’m not even sure that is the correct title, but I know that my husband serenaded me on our wedding day in front of a packed Church of family and friends and well, he brought down the house!! You can hear on the videotape, after he was done singing, people sniffing and bridesmaids (and me!) wiping their eyes. If you know me, I don’t like the spotlight to shine on me so much, so I was very nervous through the whole thing. But, what a beautiful way to express yourself to someone. He could have sang “Row, Row, Row Your Boat” and I probably would put it in my top five just because of the sentiment! Now, fourth and fifth begin to blur. I really can’t narrow it down to a specific song, so I will just list some other favorites. Anything from Prince’s “Purple Rain” album(I’m sure family and friends will be in shock!); The Police “Every step you take” – I know it is really about a stalker but, I like the tune; John Michael Montgomery’s “I Swear” – our first dance as husband and wife; “The Lords’s Prayer” – beautiful; “Oh Holy Night” – chills up and down my spine; Aretha Franklin’s “RESPECT” – right on sister!; Randy Travis’ – “Forever and Ever Amen”; Mickey Mouse Club theme song(heeheehee); the song from “Beauty and the Beast”; “Singing in the Rain” and pretty much everything from “Grease”. So, what are your favorites??
