dual personalities

I had a quiet weekend. There were no margaritas and no wee babes. I went to an estate sale and to TJ Maxx. I swept out the garage. I moved my plants inside from the Florida room. (We turned the heat on!) I put my spring/summer clothes away and got out my turtlenecks.

I started reading Marilynne Robinson’s newest book, Jack. It takes place in St. Louis.

St. Louis was quite a town. He wondered if Della had ever seen Eads Bridge from down by the water. It. looked like the walls of Troy. Gigantic, tawny stones, soaring arches. Of course, the stones themselves would be as ancient as the stones of Troy, and the fossils in both of them older, by the measure of the little lives that had fallen into whatever it was, clay by the color of it. And the eons they had spent evolving so they could end up there.

I literally slept through Marooned (1969), a movie I had not seen since I saw it at the movies back in the day. (I still haven’t seen it.) Despite Gregory Peck, Richard Crenna, Gene Hackman, James Franciscus, David Janssen, and John Sturges directing, this movie about three American astronauts stranded in space could not hold my attention. Maybe I’ll try again.

And maybe not.

I watched Key Largo (1948) which is a great movie. It is my favorite of the Bogart/Bacall films and, as I’ve said many times, Claire Trevor is spectacular. Lauren Bacall takes a backseat in this movie, allowing Claire to shine in the spotlight, but in her own quiet way, she was never better and she looks great. Edward G. Robinson is pretty swell too as a bully and a coward.

In one of the filler segments on TCM, the six hosts talked about what movies they watch in order to feel better in trying times. It was interesting and, not surprisingly, their choices to me were quite banal–but the point is, to each his own. The two women picked musicals that lifted their spirits and the men all picked their favorite movies–you know, The Godfather, Taxi Driver etc. I would agree that comfort to me comes in the form of my favorites, be they comedies or dramas. I happened to watch part of The Thomas Crown Affair (1968) while I was folding laundry, and felt much better having seen ol’ Steve McQueen drive that dune buggy on the beach. Faye Dunaway laughs and loses her cool and squeals in terror and then laughs. It seemed very real.

A quiet weekend at home is fine. I enjoyed seeing texted pictures of my busy grandchildren playing soccer…

at the playground…

and taking walks in the stroller…

And now it is Monday and we’ll start another week with a little help from Marvin Gaye, hopefully on the right note:

*”I sing because I’m happy/And I sing because I’m free

His eye is on the sparrow/And I know Jesus watches me” (Harvey Fuqua)