So, I'm going to break with this week's theme and talk about something a little more upbeat. This year's conference was a little weird for me. A little conference, a little Harry Potter, a little Disney, a lot of foot pain and an overabundance on sweatiness. I may never set foot in Florida in July again, if I can help it. And yet, despite all that, I was determined to make the most of the trip.While visiting Epcot, we rode on the Finding Nemo ride in the Living Seas. The ride is cute, you sit in a big clamshell and go through watching the characters dance around amongst the coral, then they even manage to project the characters into a tank with real fish so it looks like they're swimming around with the animals. Whether you're a seven year old girl or a sweaty thirty-something, you have to appreciate the 5 minutes of air conditioned darkness, and of course, the chance to enjoy a few of my favorite characters, including Dory.
I love Dory. Way back in the day, I remember Ellen Degeneres' stand up routine where she talked about being a goldfish with short term memory problems. It was hysterical. Seeing it translate into a character on screen is even better. But even a silly fish who can't manage to keep up with much more than her own name can pass on wisdom. At one point in the movie, Marlin is upset because he thinks he may never find his missing son, Nemo. Dory makes this suggestion...
Hey, Mr. Grump Gills!You know what you gotta do when life gets you down?
Just keep swimming
Just keep swimming
Just keep swimming, swimming, swimming!
It's a simple message. A silly one, even as she sings it and darts around in the ocean. But even this can be applied to life and writing.
I've been at this a while. There's big ups, big downs and a lot of mediocre dead space in between. But in the end, if you want to succeed, you've gotta keep swimming. (Singing optional.)
What's your favorite Disney cartoon? Any nuggets of wisdom you've gathered from them that you can share?
SP
Huntsville Area Book Signing
If you live in northern Alabama, one of our fabulous Mavens--Beverly Barton--is having a reading and signing of her new book Don't Cry at the Books-a-Million at 1001 Memorial Parkway in Huntsville, AL, tomorrow Saturday, August 21, from 7-9pm. Hope we see you there!
6 comments:
Though I've never seen "Finding Nemo," I can certainly identify with Dory's advice to keep swimming. I grew up in the era of Cinderella and Snow White and The Mickey Mouse Club on TV. What little girl didn't want a fairy godmother to turn a pumpkin into a coach and whisk her away to a ball where she'd find true love? Or to have Prince Charming kiss her awake and live happily ever after. My mother said I cried during Dumbo. Who wouldn't cry when a mother has her child taken away?
Though I haven't seen it in eons, I think maybe my favorite is Pinocchio because of Jiminy Cricket singing
When you wish upon a star
Makes no difference who you are
Anything your heart desires
Will come to you
If your heart is in your dream
No request is too extreme
When you wish upon a star
As dreamers do
Fate is kind
She brings to those who love
The sweet fulfillment of
Their secret longing
Like a bolt out of the blue
Fate steps in and sees you through
When you wish upon a star
Your dreams come true
I've wished on a lot of stars and still do.
I can also spell encyclopedia thanks to that same cricket and one of his appearances on the Mickey Mouse Club.
Wow, it's quiet today. Is everyone wrapped up in their own drama and technical difficulties brought on by mercury going retrograde?
All I can think of is:
We are Siamese, if you ple-ase
We are Siamese, if you don't please
We are former residents of Siam
There purrr no finer cat than we are.
When my youngest grandson was four or five years old he very wrapped up in "Lady and the Tramp" -- so when the family purchased a new dog pet and he was asked to name him -- what else? "Tramp"!
Ah, man. Kathy did you have to post that one? Now I can't get that stupid song out of my head. I always hated those darn cats.
My favorite Disney movie is Beauty and the Beast. I've loved the story long before there was a movie. But of the "non-princess" movies, My fave it Finding Nemo. I love it. As a matter of fact, I might try to talk the kids into watching it for movie night tonight. I also love the Toy Story movies. Toy Story 3 made me cry. :)
Angel
Though not a Disney, I had to watch "Fern Gulley" over and over when my son was young. Batty Coda (Robin Williams) made me laugh - I got stuck on the "Gravity Works" he kept saying. Now I use it when something bad happens and Murphy's Law kicks in. There are some constants in the Universe - something bad will happen at the most inopportune time. But you really have to laugh and go on...
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