Fanatic Fan-dom

I don't even know if 'fan-dom' is a word, but it best describes me this week.

If you don't follow Fathom Events on Twitter or Facebook, it's a company that brings special events to local movie theaters.  Events can range from ballets, operas, art showings, concerts and classic movies. So a couple of weeks ago, I was notified that The Sound of Music was showing this week at our local theater.  It is MY.FAVORITE.MOVIE.OF.ALL.TIME.

So, I bought tickets and it turned into a girls night out for my birthday.  It was a great evening.  I think I cried through at least 50% of the movie…which if you figure is at least 90 minutes of a 3 hour movie.  No wonder my eyes hurt today.

But that's really not why I'm writing this post.  Back to the movie…

I first saw this in the theater when I was 5.  My parents took me.  I was so enamored with this film that when I was telling my best friend - her mom ended up taking us so she could see it.  From then on, we would "play" The Sound of Music in her backyard.  I was always Maria - she was Liesl.

My dad had the soundtrack - and I would play this a lot and sing and dance in the basement.  As I'm sure my mother is reading this, I think just that statement alone would evoke some laughter from her.  The neighbor lady a few houses down the street would also call me 'Maria' whenever she saw me.

Fast forward to my wedding in 1989.  The Processional that Maria walked down the aisle to in her wedding to the Captain, was the same Processional I walked down the aisle to my husband.  My veil was also required to be as long or longer than my train on my dress - because Maria had that as well.

The movie would usually play sometime around the holidays - Thanksgiving, Christmas or Easter.  For awhile, the TV stations would cut so much out of it that I could hardly watch it - even though I did.  Then came the VCR and VHS tapes, so I purchased the 25th Anniversary edition.  I also have the 35th Anniversary DVD…and am currently awaiting the 50th Anniversary Blu-Ray edition.

A few years ago, I DVR'd the Oprah Winfrey Show when she had a reunion of the cast for the 45th Anniversary.  It's still on my DVR.  I refuse to let anyone delete it.

Ok, so I didn't 'sing-along' at the movie last night, nor did I dress in costume, but in my circle of friends and acquaintances, I am the biggest Sound of Music movie fanatic I know.  I even know people who have NEVER seen this movie (oh, the horror!)

So, I'm feeling like my blog post is my confessional this week.  Hello, my name is Karla and I am crazy about The Sound of Music.

And now you know too…

Today I wish you something to be fanatical about…and enjoy every moment and memory of it!

80s Movies

So, let me set the scene...

I'm sitting at the computer staring at this blank page of my blog post when I hear dialogue from the movie "Weird Science" coming from the living room and I'm smiling...grinning from ear to ear.

Why?

Because I love that movie.  I love 80's movies.  When something makes me grin...I guess that becomes my positive for today.

I adore 80's movies for lots of reasons, but I don't think it's just because I grew up in that decade.  I started 1980 as an 8th grader and ended the decade in my early 20's and married.  So, when I say I grew up in the 80's...I really did.

So, back to this movie thing.  There are movies that I vividly remember sitting in the movie theater watching...Stripes, Ghostbusters, An Officer and a Gentleman, Sixteen Candles, Karate Kid, Flashdance, The Breakfast Club, The Lost Boys, Top Gun, About Last Night, Raiders of the Lost Ark, Mannequin and Beverly Hills Cop.

These movies (and countless others) evoke feelings and memories in me that reoccur every time I watch it - even now...30+ years later.  These movies became "classics", my kids watch them now and love them just as I did.  Some of the themes, plots and/or characters still resonate
with this generation today. 

80's movies have even infiltrated my work...last year during lunch, a few teachers started brainstorming all of the 80s movies we had ever seen.  The list was crazy long - and one teacher took it upon himself to bracket 64 movies (think March Madness NCAA tournament) and has been watching these movies in 'match ups' - so that eventually there will be a tournament winner.  (pssst...I picked Caddyshack to win it all!)

Today I wish you a good, classic 80s movie to watch.

Paradigms

I love the word 'paradigms'.  It's a word that I introduce to 6th graders in my Leadership class.  Because life is based on our perceptions - of ourselves, of others, of situations - and what you see is what you believe.  Paradigms are the "is the glass half full or half empty" paradox.  Based on our belief system, core values, our relationships and experiences…we see situations and people very differently.

Differences in perception is a difficult concept for my 6th graders.  Paradigms are why we argue, fight, debate, disagree, battle and war - why we have Republicans and Democrats, Pro-Life and Pro-Choice, Ying and Yang, Pro and Con. And we need to realize there is that other perspective.

That's difficult.  Even for some adults.  Even for me...

When I was in my 20s and 30s, I couldn't understand why some of my classmates never attended Class Reunions.  I loved high school…didn't everyone else?  You might be laughing at my question, but I didn't realize for many years that not everyone loved high school - not everyone I graduated with had the same perspective on school.  And until I started teaching, that realization became clear as I witnessed how some students just survive their school day.  Sometimes our paradigms change because of our experiences.  And then I began to empathize with my classmates.  I still value my high school experience and will continue to attend reunions, but I respect their decisions not to attend.

People don't wake up in the morning with the intent to irritate you.  If you are confused, befuddled or stymied…ask those people you live, work, or connect with to tell you their side of the story.  I promise you'll learn something and you'll strengthen your empathy for others.  Plus, then it gives you permission to tell your side of the story - you get to educate others and reaffirm your beliefs and values.

Today I wish you the belief in your paradigms, the courage to share with others and the empathy to listen to someone else's perspective.

Good Reminders

Ah…we need good reminders from time to time.  The busyness of life gets in the way, we get rushed or sidetracked and until a crisis occurs - we forget what we should have done all along.

I am reading "The Energy Bus" by Jon Gordon with our Leadership Team in my building.  In the book, there is a section that talks about a study that was completed where the researchers interviewed people who were 95 years of age.  They asked them if they could live their lives over again, what would they do differently?  Here were the top three responses:

1.  Reflect more.  Enjoy more moments.

2.  Take more risks and chances.

3.  Leave a legacy - something that lives on after you die.

Funny thing about these three things - they are lessons I'm teaching in my Leadership Development class - to 6th graders.  While some will retain the teaching, others won't think it's important…until they look back when they're 95.  Just as many of you will do after reading this blog post.  

Maybe this is your message…your sign?  What risks and chances are you not taking?  Are you taking the time to reflect, enjoying your surroundings, watching the sunset, giving thanks for the blessings in your life?  Are you even counting your blessings?

If you are miserable, haven't laughed in awhile, think "poor me" or "why does everything happen to me?" - it may be time to change your "stinkin' thinkin'"(thanks Zig Ziglar!).  

Do you know what I did?  I was getting pretty negative in my thoughts and my words, so I stopped watching the news (except for the weather), I became 'too busy' for the energy vampires I was surrounding myself with and I started changing who I followed on Social Media.  I changed my focus for the day to find one positive thing and tell all of you about it.  I see the world a bit differently now.

I started this blog for Lent - which officially ends this evening with the Triduum.  I plan to continue my blog - but you may not hear from me everyday, but you will hear from me!  Thanks for taking the journey with me.

Today I wish you a positive outlook.

April Fools' Day

Some people love this day…some people hate this day.  If you're a teacher, you usually fall to the latter of the two options because students are trying to get you all day - and most are not in the most creative (or funny) ways.

My daughter reminded me of the time a few years ago when she hid all the soaps, shampoos and conditioners from our shower and I didn't realize it until I was all wet.  Needless to say, I wasn't happy. And to tell you the truth, I had completely forgotten about it.  I can laugh about it now - but I'm not one that you mess with my morning routine…especially if I haven't had coffee.

So, I planned a prank for my Advisory today.  I have never done this as a teacher, but I thought I would be ahead of the game.  So I cut out the letter "E" from brown paper and put them in a pan with tinfoil over it.  I even brought in napkins and a spatula…just to make it more believable.  And then I told them I made brownies for them (Brown-E's).  They were razzing me about April Fools' Day and thought there might be something wrong, so I got pretend-mad and made them put their heads down and close their eyes.  I got 'em good…well, some were mad.  Heh heh heh…

Today I wish you a good joke and the ability to laugh (even if it's at your expense)!