Up lifting

I promised a more cheerful post after the unpleasantness of the last one.

Today, in conjunction with celebrations of my wife's birthday, the whole family went to see the new Pixar release, Up.  We went to see it in 3D.  

I have avoided the new rash of 3D movies for a couple of reasons.  The clips I've seen have always made the use of 3D look gimmicky, as if scenes are contrived to take advantage of the effect while lending nothing to the story.  The second reason was the last 3D movie I saw.  Many, many years ago, long before kids and small town living, we had friends living near Los Angeles.  On a visit to California, we went to Universal Studios and watched this in 3D.  Not only was the 3D effect fairly poor, but there was the emotional damage to contend with.  Needless to say, the entire thought of a three dimensional motion picture was tainted for me from that day forward.

I am so happy that the technology and subject matter have advanced leaps and bounds.  The 3D effect in Up is just magical - as is the story.  It was a deeply moving picture and there was something for all ages.  It dealt with so many issues and pulled no punches.  It was masterful story telling and, in my opinion, is the best of the Pixar movies to date.

One little note about the 3D glasses - I must have received a defective pair because at a few critical, emotional junctures in the movie the glasses caused my eyes to inexplicably water.  Now that I think of it the whole theatre must have received a defective batch.  

At times there wasn't a dry eye in the place.

I don't cotton to that book-lernin'

Book-lernin'.  

We've all heard about book-learning but here's a different take on it.  After my failed attempt at the good old Creative Writing MFA (silly me including a really good genre story in the application package) I had pushed the idea from my head...for a while.  I came across the above program and I must say it bears further investigation.  I'll keep you posted.  

In other news, the helicopter traffic has diminished and the police presence about town has subsided to the usual small-town level.  Sadly, a little girl's body remains missing and one wonders if now she'll ever be found.  Of course, since our town appeared to be the disposal site for four days (and might still prove to be) our kids have learned about the fate of Victoria Stafford and that her body is missing.  These are conversations that parents should never have to have with a six and eight year old.  

How do you explain that there are sick, sick people in the world that not only murder children, but dump their bodies to avoid being caught? 

Well... you do the only thing you can - You tell them there is no explanation for it.  That sometimes a person's brain is wired so differently that he or she becomes capable of doing the unthinkable.  But you also take the opportunity to go over every little safety lesson and every stranger warning you've ever had.  You tell them that if an adult in a car asks a kid for directions that they must yell and run because only a predator asks a little kid for directions.  And that it doesn't matter what they look like - old or young, man or woman - a creep through and through.  And if they aren't a predator, then they are an idiot - but still yell and run away.  

Lost puppy - what kind of creep asks a little kid to help look for a puppy.  

Free Candy?  That's the oldest one in the book, Creep!   

Mommy and Daddy were injured in an accident and they told me to fetch you.  Oh, yeah?  Where's the cop and what's the secret code word, Creep.

Yes - I have told my children to call such people creeps - you know, because they are.  I have also told them to run.  If grabbed - to bite, kick,  punch and scream for all they're worth because we've told them that if such a person gets you they will hurt you and kill you.  

Should I need to tell my little children such things?  In a perfect world - no.  But we don't live in a perfect world and I'm willing to sacrifice a little of my children's innocence if it will help them survive an encounter with just such a monster.

I look forward to a cheerier post next time.

Something in the air...

It was a lovely summer-like day here today.  It was a day filled with carefree gardening and the casual running of errands...or at least it was supposed to be.  Oh, the gardening got done and the errands were run, but nothing about today was carefree.

Why?

Oh...a big part of it was the unending hum of helicopters overhead.  This isn't an exaggeration.  There was not a moment today that was not accompanied by the thrum of rotors in the sky.  As I sit here typing this tonight, I can hear them even now.

Why?

Well, here's why.

Small towns are supposed to be safe places - and they are.  Intellectually I know that this is an aberration, unlikely ever to happen here again.  

In my heart I feel sick - and worried for my kids.