Where in the World is John Hughes?
People always have the “who’s your favorite director” discussion! Someone in the group ALWAYS states Scorsese, Speilberg or Soderbergh. While those directors all have done fabulous work, they are definitely not my style. Yet, I have never come across one person that has matched my response. Am I the only one who bows to the greatness of John Hughes????
I stumbled across an article, in the LA Times, that got me thinking…where in the world is John Hughes? This director that I idolize disappeared far too long ago, and only left us with his legacy of milestone films. “Ferris Bueller,” “Pretty in Pink,” “Breakfast Club,” “Sixteen Candles” - the list could go on and on!
Mr. Hughes made films that screamed through simplicity. He made films that we can all relate to because of timeless tales due to tormented high school years. He made films that finally made the geeks cool! He made films that I will forever be in awe of!
But, again, where in the world is John Hughes? Does he even care about his audience that he left behind? Does he really want the “Home Alone” series to be the closing of his legacy? He has somewhat become the Willy Wonka of our time. Leaving the world for, possibly, a secluded, simple life like the ones he so perfectly captured in his films. Maybe he’ll emerge from his ‘factory’ someday with his own golden ticket contest. We could only be so lucky!
Yet, like golden ticket nightmare of a winner Veruca Salt, we are a greedy audience. We always want more! (hence, the invention of the sequel.) But, do we really need more? Or can we just not let go of those simple, adolescent inspirations that Mr. Hughes created - like being able to ditch school, and have the time of your life all packed into one day, like Ferris did. Or being a hopeless nerd who actually stands a chance of getting the most popular girl in school, like “the geek” always played by Anthony Michael Hall.
I, for one, can obviously not let go! So, Mr. Hughes, I am making it my life-long quest to finally meet you someday and thank you:
Thank you for immortalizing those universal, childhood memories that we can still watch on DVD. (Yes, I own them all and they are taking up way too much space in my closet. But, there is no way I will sell even one of them to some used DVD store! I admit, they are somewhat my security blankets!)
Thank you for creating scenes that I vividly see in my mind every time I hear lyrics like,”don’t, don’t, don’t, don’t…don’t you forget about me.” It’s almost as if you were trying to prophecy about the years that we were about to let slip us by.
Mr. Hughes, thank you for reminding me why I feel in love with movies to begin with. I’m looking forward to thanking you in person someday when I hand over that golden ticket!
Filed under Hollywoodland | Comment (0)My Non-Caffeine Fix
I often get the typical gasps, what’s, and how’s from anyone that I mention my anti-caffeine lifestyle to. “How do you survive?” “How do you keep going?” “How do you live without your morning coffee?” To some people, a world without caffeine is a world in slow motion. People feel that they need that jolt just to make it through the day. But, is caffeine really the answer or the problem?
Caffeine allows us the energy to get all of our tasks within a day done. It allows us to actually get out of bed in the morning. It allows us to become almost superhuman. But, again, is caffeine the solution? Or the problem? Because, to be honest, I love getting my sleep. I love to sleep in or hit that snooze button 50 times each morning. I hate the fact that I have to much to do throughout the day. So much to do that I never remember how I haven’t called my grandma in over a month to tell her that I love her.
I mean, who really wants to live in a world where you have to drink a cup of coffee in the morning just to survive the day. Or have a Diet Coke at lunch just because you’re already dreading going back to the office instead of being able to go home and go back to bed. I want to try to continue to enjoy life, and not just try to creep by. I want to be able to challenge myself to push through and soak it all in. Not drink some concoction just so I can get that buzz of adrenaline to make it the next couple of hours…only to have to drink another potion once the first one has worn off. I mean, is life really that horrible?
It’s hard enough that I have to constantly remind myself, everyday, that I am only 1 person and cannot even come close to being Wonder Woman. Do I really need some drink brainwashing me to forget that fact? Maybe there should be a new Surgeon General’s warning as you walk into every Starbuck’s or the side of every Red Bull. “WARNING: May cause you to forget that life is passing you by!” Because it’s about time that people slow down instead of cram. Enjoy instead of endure.
I believe that caffeine is part of the problem and came across this quote that kind of spark this new philosophy that maybe it’s caffeine that has corrupted our lives…
“I believe humans get a lot done, not because we’re smart, but because we have thumbs so we can make coffee.” - Flash Rosenberg
I couldn’t agree more, Mr. Rosenberg. But, then again, do I really want to align myself with a guy whose name is Flash? That must have been some brutal, grade school years!
Filed under The Game of Life | Comment (0)Milestone
I have to admit that this first blog is years in the making. I keep being told that I need to start blogging! Blog, blog, blog…that’s all you hear these days! But, why would I want to make my private thoughts public? Why would I want to reveal my hidden hopes, dreams and mishaps? Yet, here I am. I surrender!
So, for those of you who don’t know me…hi, I’m Olivia Klaus and I just turned 30. Yes, the dreaded 30! I must admit that random thoughts are crossing my mind. How did I get here already? When am I going to finally admit that I am turning into my mother? What was it that I wanted to be when I grew up? Was it married with the 2.5 kids and the white picket fence? Whether self-inflicted, or imposed by my own nonsense, there is that underlying expectation that you’re supposed to have it all figured out by the time you’re 30. But, here I am. 30. And puzzled by all of the above.
Honestly, I didn’t think I would have so many question marks in my life right now. But, I do believe the hype out there that the 30s are the greatest, so I’m honestly looking forward to them. I believe I was a pretty, damn good 20-something. I accomplished a lot, yet there is still the challenge as to what I have learned over the years? How have I grown? Which brings me to a stint of simple, soul searching…
* I programmed NPR onto my car radio…even if I do skip over it EVERY time! But, at least I hear those few seconds before I press the next button hoping to hear the latest song from Rihanna or Fergie.
* I will stop using MySpace as my excuse to be a “Peeping Tom”.
* I will regularly start working out and stop ignoring the fact that I get short winded walking up a simple flight of stairs.
* I will remind myself that I need a good night’s sleep, in a good bed, EVERY night. No more random sleepovers on the floor, or couch, at a friend’s houses. And if I do happen to have some nights like that I will remind myself the next day why I feel like crap.
* I will deal with the realities of my life and stop ignoring them.
* I will approach myself with more gentleness and take more time to enjoy things instead of rushing through.
* I AM capable of doing whatever I put my mind to.
* I don’t have to agree with everyone but only understand them more.
* The people I love will hurt, and disappoint, me and I have to make peace with it and move on.
* Family is the foundation to life. They are the invaluable ones that I should cherish!
Yes, those are my great reflections to life right now. There are probably tons more that I didn’t even mention…but, I plea that I am already 30 and my memory must be going.
So, here’s to the next part of my life. I’m looking forward to it!
Filed under The Game of Life | Comment (1)