#6- poem and This Week's Review
(Wrote a poem for my mom for Christmas; if you want to use it, credit me (Lizzie Norris))
Hospital room
Hold me tight
Watch me walk
Watch me run
Kiss my wounds
As I cry
Brush my hair
Say goodnight
First grade
Second
Third
Fourth
Time flying
Childhood fleeting
Now a woman
Graduating
Going to college
Have a job
I look back
And can only say:
I love you, Mother
Thank you, Mother
For life, for health
For shelter, for love
Thank you Mother
For all you've done
I'm beautiful now
Because of you.
This Week's Review, for more Christmas spirit: It's A Wonderful Life.
This timeless classic clearly has a more religious outlook on life, seeing as the subject matter revolves around how wonderful God's gift of life is. The movie actually starts out with God and St. Joseph talking. They call up Clarence, an angel wanting to get his wings, and tell him all about the life of the central character, George Bailey, who's spent his whole life wanting to leave town but can't because of a sense of duty to his neighbors. He inherits Bailey Building and Loan from his father during the Depression, helps everyone around him build up and keep their houses during the tough times, and helps them stay away from another crooked loaner, Mr. Potter. He even gives up his honeymoon with his loving wife Mary so the business stays afloat. When his uncle loses the money they owe the bank, George realizes that he will be held responsible and sent to jail and the company will collapse, finally allowing Potter to take over the town. Thinking of his wife, their young children, and others he loves will be better off with him dead,he begins to contemplate suicide. Enter Clarence, the Guardian Angel (Second Class), who intercepts George's attempt to jump off a bridge by jumping off himself. George saves him, and immediately Clarence tries to tell him what's what- he's been sent by God to help him with the promise of getting his wings. George immediately wishes that he was never born, and Clarence grants it (with a bit of protest from God). Immediately George regrets his wish- in a nightmarish vision in which the Potter-controlled town is sunk in sex and sin, those George loves are either dead, ruined, or miserable. George realizes that his life has touched so many people and that he truly has a wonderful life, so he wishes to live again. When he gets home, people from all over town show up to donate to make up for the $8,000 lost (even Potter's accountant shows up to donate!), and George's brother shows up, home from the war. At the end of the film, a little bell on George's Christmas tree rings, prompting his little girl to say the famous line, "When a bell rings, an angel gets his wings!" George looks up, winks, and says " 'Atta boy, Clarence!"
Many people have said that this is an overrated film, but, quite frankly, it should be seen at least once a year to remind us all that life truly is wonderful.