Aug 24, 2017 |
by Molly Jo Realy @RealMojo68
Frankly, My Dear . . . : Something Wicked This Way Comes
August is almost over. Soon my cup will runneth over . . . with Pumpkin Spice Lattes, walks over crunchy leaves in the park, and that little tingle down my spine.
Some say it’s too early for autumn. I disagree. When that famous Starbuck’s drink rolls out next week, I’m all about the sweaters and squash.
This is the time of year my senses are heightened, waiting for that eerie carnival music to creep in at dusk, those artificially bright lights that color the dark night. Yes, y’all have heard it from me before. I’m a fan of Ray Bradbury’s Something Wicked This Way Comes. And because I’m a fan of that book and movie, I’m not a fan of traveling carnivals. In August, October, or any other time of the year.
Did you know the phrase is a quote from Shakespeare’s Macbeth?
“By the pricking of my thumbs
something wicked this way comes.”
Because it’s Shakespeare, the iambic pentameter gives it a rhythm nearly unforgettable. And so it cycles around in my head. Around, and around, with the swirling leaves, and the steaming lattes.
There are a handful of movies I love to watch this time of year, but this one is my autumn movie.
Frankly, My Dear . . . : Something Wicked This Way Comes
Bradbury tells the story of being twelve years old and meeting the great magician, Mr. Electrico, at a traveling carnival. Mr. Electrico essentially knighted him with his electrified sword and instructed him, “Live forever!” Shortly after, Bradbury began writing every day. At the time of his death, he had written more than 30 books, nearly 600 short stories, and numerous poems, essays, screenplays and plays.
I am reminded how, shortly after high school, my girlfriends and I went to our local carnival. We relished the neon draw, the straw finding its way around our shoes. We walked from attraction to attraction, from game to game, playing what we could and taking the winnings.
I remember a barker-a stranger-at one of the games, striking up conversation.
He asked what part of the South I was from. My friends and I giggled. “South?” I said. “I’m from the Midwest.”
“No.” He shook his head. “Your accent. You’re definitely from Georgia. Or Louisiana.”
I don’t remember the rest of the conversation. I remember him trying to look nonchalant yet having a knowing look in his eye. I remember clutching whatever cheap stuffed animal I had won, or had been rigged to win, as my friends and I walked away. We laughed at the absurdity of his comment.
But I’ve never forgotten it.
And now, so many years later, I’m writing a novel set in New Orleans. My house has Southern flair, and my cooking has Southern flavors. My best friends are in the South.
And I still speak with a Southern accent I can’t account for.
Bradbury tells how Mr. Electrico greeted him. “You were my best friend in the great war in France in 1918 and you were wounded and died in my arms at the battle of the Ardennes Forrest. But now, here today, I see his soul shining out of your eyes. Here you are, with a new face, a new name, but the soul shining from your face is the soul of my dear dead friend. Welcome back to the world.”
This time of year, it’s nearly a trance. How Bradbury’s story, his movie, captures me. Reminds me. Motivates me.
My thumbs itch as I type, my fingers stand at the ready to do more. More typing. More adventuring. More everything. And I can almost smell the patchouli on the dark breeze.
What movie captures your attentions this time of year?
TWEET THIS: What’s your Go-To #autumn movie? @RealMojo68 #raybradbury #somethingwicked
With a beating heart and waiting coffee cup,
Happy haunts.
~Molly Jo
And Frankly, My Dear . . . That’s all she wrote!
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Feb 19, 2012 |
This is sort of another stream-of-consciousness posting, but not really.
There’s been so much going on this weekend that I can’t just settle my thoughts onto only one theme, so you get them all. Lucky readers!
First, I want to remind each of you that there’s still time to enter the Cookbook Giveaway. The cookbook is still in pre-production, but don’t let that fool ya. Barring any more complications, it should be available within the next few weeks. So stay tuned!
I spent Friday and Saturday at home alone for the most part. Dot was on a field trip of sorts. We cleaned the house the day before she left, but of course with five cats there’s dusty little pawprints everywhere and it’s driving me crazy. They’re indoor cats, but because I have dirt lots for the front and back yards, and the winds have been blowing, there are dusty little pawprints. Everywhere. And it’s. driving. me. crazy.
Old Blue has been coming back on a regular schedule. This is the only photo I have so far. I took it from my cell phone yesterday morning. He arrives for breakfast in the morning between 6:30 and 7 a.m. Sometimes he comes for brunch around 10:30. But he always returns for dinner between 3:30 and 4 pm. It surprises me that I keep getting surprised at my excitement. I think to myself that I should be almost complacent by now: it’s obvious this beautiful Cooper’s Hawk loves my yard. So I shouldn’t be surprised to see him glide into the tree. But each time, it takes my breath away. And then I annoy him by trying to “sneak” outside with my camera. I guess that interferes with his feeding. So tomorrow I’m going to just stay inside and let him linger around the feeders.
I finished my first official freelance writing assignment today, and it felt GREAT. What I loved most about doing it, was verifying my information online through several sources. I love knowing that I do a good job, when I do a job. It’s very affirming of the fact that New Inklings Press is what I’m supposed to be doing. And I love it. Even more than I thought I would. I don’t know why I resisted for so long, but I’m so thankful God kept pushing me in this direction.
And this freelance assignment came later on a day when I had turned down another one. I chose to trust God to provide as I clung to my Good Name instead. I can’t bring myself to earn a paycheck from people who don’t care. Where my by-line is insignificant. Where the work is sloppy and unprofessional or worse. I also recently turned down an interview with a disreputable company only to be blessed that same day with the funds I need to get through the rest of this month and take care of the final start-up expenses for the company! God works in mysterious ways…
I tried to catch up on my fellow bloggers’ sites by reading lots of posts and leaving comments. I don’t like to let it stockpile on me like that. Sometimes I can go a week without reading other blogs, and that means a week’s worth of reading and commenting on each one. It’s a little time consuming, but also inspiring.
Two worth mentioning are Ann’s Doodles and Jots. Ann is extremely creative with her drawings, photography, and words. I really look forward to her postings.
Another is Ariel’s From My Heart 2 Urs. Here’s another woman trying to navigate Christianity, singleness, and a writing career. She’s always so encouraging and uplifting. I’m glad I call her Friend!
So while Dot was gone, you can see I got a lot done. It was also a happily productive weekend because I’ve had this stupid virus for over a week now and it’s turned from a dry cough into a congestive cough. The fact that I got anything done, and made it through both days without a daytime nap, makes me feel like I accomplished a lot.
My Lizzie Cat loves it though because I reek of Vapo-Rub when I go to bed at night and that’s her favorite scent ever. Anything with a menthol fragrance, and she’s on it! Needless to say, the cat cuddles this past week have been more than usual and I’m totally okay with that!
Dot’s trip turned out fun. Her school drama club went to a college’s Shakespeare Festival. They learned how to project their voices with less straining, how to fight with swords (thankfully not real ones!), and they even had performances to do.
When she came home, she started telling me about it, and I realized I kept glancing at my laptop. I figured she deserved better so I closed it and gave her my complete attention. That’s not easy for me to do, as I’m such a multi-tasker and always online or working on a writing project or both. So for me to turn off the computer and the TV and give her my complete attention… it was different.
And I’m really glad I did. Because I learned that she needs to be listened to. Even if she’s telling me things I already know. Even if I’ve heard her stories before. Even if what she’s saying doesn’t always interest me. She deserves my full attention. And I almost missed that.
So while she learned Shakespearean techniques, I learned not to multi-task. I call that a Win-Win Weekend.
And Frankly, My Dear… that’s all she wrote!
