My Mom's Blog by Thoroughly Modern Millie

Friday, September 27, 2013

BINGEING ON BREAKING BAD
There's a first time for everything.

For the first time in my life I've been participating in a marathon.

It's not the kind that you run in, it's one that you watch on TV, from morning to night, day after day!

Breaking Bad, the long running award winning crime-drama is having it's final episode this coming Sunday night.

Image: Breaking Bad. Walter White (Bryan Cranston), Skyler White (Anna Gunn) and Walter White Jr. (RJ Mitte) in Episode 1 Courtesy AMC

For fans and people like me, the marathon started on Wednesday morning and has been running day and night ever since!

And you know what, I've been watching every chance I get!

When Breaking Bad first came on the air I tuned in and was turned off by all the violence.

I didn't like it at all, just not my cup of tea.

So, what happened?

A few months ago I happened to be watching the Charlie Rose show and he was interviewing Bryan Cranston.

Image: Breaking Bad cast on Charlie Rose Courtesy PBS

When I found out that HE had the lead role as Walt Whitman in Breaking Bad I was really amazed at what a bald head and eye glasses can do to change a person's appearance!

I gave the show a second chance and got hooked!

There have been many write ups about the storyline so I won't go into it.

What I want to do is write about how the actors are so realistic in the roles that they play.

For example, in one episode, one of the major characters gets killed, he is shot several times and dies!

Following that episode there was a special program, Talking Bad, discussing Breaking Bad with some cast members present and what do you know, the guy I just saw get killed, was alive, joking and smiling to beat the band!

That night it took me over an hour to calm down.

Ninety percent of the show can be very earth-shattering, bloody and shocking. I welcome some moments of relief where someone shows empathy, love, or there is a bit of humor.

I must say, very little humor.

Maybe I'm stretching it when I say I find a funny spot - for example:

The lawyer is asked to get the right person to "do the job."

His response:

I know a guy who knows a guy who knows a guy, who knows a guy.

Guess I am stretching it but a girl needs a little relief!

Do you watch Breaking Bad?

Are you hooked, and how did you feel about all those sad characters who couldn't get their lives on the right track?

posted by millie garfield @ 7:58 PM | Permalink | I LOVE COMMENTS >> 6 comments

Sunday, September 15, 2013

THE JEWISH NEW YEAR AND OLD FRIENDS
Last week the Jewish people celebrated the Jewish New Year 5774.

Here at Brooksby Village the Holy Day Services were held in the chapel.

ROSH HASHANA - Thursday, September 5th at 10:00 a.m.

KOL NIDRA - Friday, September 13th at 6:30 p.m.

YOM KIPPUR - Saturday, September 14th at 10. a.m.

If for any reason a resident was unable to attend services they could watch them on Brooksby's TV Channel 918.

I took advantage of what was offered and saw the two morning services on TV.

Bayonet Soldiers Observe Rosh Hashanah in Afghanistan

Photo by Sgt. Christopher Klutts: CC BY-NC-SA

The ROSH HASHANA service started at 10:00 a.m. and concluded at 1:00 p.m.

I throughly enjoyed the service, heard and saw everything, and didn't get out of my chair until it was over.

I did the same for the YOM KIPPUR service.

I was able to hear, see and appreciate the entire service.

Now about the KOL NIDRE evening service - that was really special to me.

Two of my dear friends who I have known for well over fifty years, moved into Brooksby three weeks ago.

Many years ago they lived in Massachusetts, and in later years they lived in Florida.

Like what happens to many of us, it came time to make a change and they decided to come back to the area where they had spent their growing up and married lives.

Over the years my friend and I shared many good times together and when we each got married, my husband, her husband and "us girls" got together often.

Even when they lived in Florida all year round, my husband and I made it a point to keep in touch. In later years when my husband passed away, we would get together for a good time visit.

I'm going to backtrack here a bit.

My friend and I had many phone calls during the period of "decision making time."

Whatever questions they had about living at Brooksby, I was there to fill them in.

And believe me there is much to know when you make a move like this.

BACK TO THE PRESENT\

Since KOL NIDRE was going to be an evening service, which started at 6:30, we arranged to meet for dinner and then attend the service together.

Sharing the holiday with them meant a lot to me.

What I was very delighted to see was HOW MANY PEOPLE my friends knew "from way back when."

When I came to Brooksby I did know a handful of people and believe me, it's a help when you come into a place and know someone who tells you all the little important things that makes adjusting to a new life style easier!

I myself met someone that night who had just come in a few weeks ago and when she heard my last name, she asked if my husband's name was Aaron and did he come from Lynn?

Yes, she knew him, they had belonged to the same club together!

The world gets smaller all the time.

I have found if you talk to someone long enough you will find out that we are all connected!

SHANA TOVA to all.

posted by millie garfield @ 6:42 PM | Permalink | I LOVE COMMENTS >> 6 comments

Sunday, September 01, 2013

DRIVING MISS DAISY
It has to be a good twenty five years since I saw the movie "Driving Miss Daisy."

As I think about it now I realize there are many reasons that I remember this movie so fondly and so well.

The movie stared Jessica Tandy as Miss Daisy, a wealthy strong willed old Jewish woman, and Morgan Freeman as her African American chauffeur.

Dan Aykroyd was her understanding and patient son.

As Miss Daisy aged, she became more dependent on her chauffeur, and yet she was impatient with him. The years go by and toward the end of her life she has a genuine love for the man who has been there forever 'to meet her needs."

I was in my 60's when I saw "Miss Daisy" and even then "felt" for her. Her son did whatever he could to help his mom but she didn't fit into the community and was "alone." The chauffeur understood her and put up with her crankiness and demands. What a pair they were!

So what made me think of this movie that I saw so long ago?

I'll tell you.

I've been living at a retirement community for a year now, meeting people from nearby communities and many who come from out-of-state.

They are mostly in their 70's and 80's, high school graduates, college graduates, homemakers, office workers, and many who have had amazing careers.

So many times the conversations turn to when they drove, and why they had to give up driving.

The story I hear most frequently is where the son or daughter is concerned that the parent is moving to a new area and they will not know the roads, and let me tell you, the roads in Boston are tough.

So the newcomer gets here with NO CAR.

Another story I hear is that the family is concerned that the parent is no longer capable of driving and they either sell the car or give it to a grandchild.

I hear that story time and time again.

True, the person should not drive anymore, they are a threat to themselves or is a danger on the highway, but by not driving anymore they give up their independence, and that's a very hard adjustment.

Even though Miss Daisy didn't drive, and gave her driver a hard time, she had a good friend and right hand man to take her were ever she wanted to go.

I still drive, although I don't drive at night, don't drive long distances, or drive into the city.

Tomorrow I'm going to a family party that is far away, and on the other side of the city.

My kids are arranging for a car service to drive me.

Tomorrow, the driver will be Driving Miss Millie! ;-)

posted by millie garfield @ 10:40 PM | Permalink | I LOVE COMMENTS >> 3 comments

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