Family Moab

Family Moab
In Arches National Park

Tuesday, November 24, 2009

In the Twilight

"In the twilight glow I see her
Blue Eyes Crying In The Rain.
As we kissed good-bye and parted,
I knew we'd never meet again.

Love is like a dying ember.
Where only memories remain.
Through the ages I'll remember-
Blue Eyes Crying In The Rain."
- Written by Fred Rose, 1945 sung by Hank Williams and Willie Nelson

The twilight, when the angle of the sun's rays conveys messages beyond the mundane, so fantastical that a long-ago boyfriend's days were numbered the day I had to arm-twist him into watching the sun setting over the beach. [If a man can't find magic in a sunset and tropical twilight, romance will be scarcer than free time with three children]. Romance, sunsets, twilights . . . could this blog entry really focus on Willie Nelson's ballad? No - I admit that old Willie was a red herring to my real purpose; adding my musings to the effluence of writing and commentary on the Twilight books and movies, specifically the new movie, New Moon.

I saw New Moon with three good friends last Friday and admit that I had a magical time. Much of the glow resulted from the one (two?) glasses of wine we had prior to the show and the great conversation that flowed; I think the vulnerability we share in admitting our devotion to the Twilight books has helped to deepen our friendships. All of these women are Readers, critical thinkers and thoughtful people who just like to throw all rational thought out the window once in a while and remember . . . . remember the good old days when our frontal lobes weren't fully formed and our hormones were raging for much better reasons than peri-menopause.

We meant to arrive at the show early but were so side-tracked by our own dreams and musings that we ended up tearing around corners and dashing inside just in time to be allowed into the theater, surrounded by the (very) young women who comprise the majority of the movie's followers. However, a CNN article forwarded to me by my husband recognizes the large numbers of women in the 30s, 40s and beyond who are drawn to the film and the stories, and the actor who stars as Edward, Robert Pattinson, commented that women in their 90s ask him the same questions as girls in their teens.

What does this all mean? To hijack a phrase off the movie trailer for Letters to Juliet which played before New Moon "the best romantic tale is your own." When I read Stephenie Meyer's Twilight (the first book, particularly) the turbulent emotions of the novel evoked that first great passion and heartrending emotion of my own. The incredible rush of first love, young love, forbidden love, no wonder these are themes for the ages. After that first experience we are always more cautious, more rational, more protective - certainly positive traits but nowhere near as exciting as the roller coast ride, the big wave, of falling for another person for the first time, of realizing that someone outside of your family can think you amazing despite your flaws and foibles.

Admitting your flaws and being vulnerable - what startling and joyful gifts we can give in relationship. I find this type of gift-giving becomes harder with each passing year, each layer of varnish that hardens us to betrayal and rejection. Good actors, singers, and artists show this vulnerability as they turn their deepest emotions out for our witness; no wonder we are drawn to them. I think Taylor Lautner shows this type of vulnerability in New Moon (as well as amazing muscle definition!), and left me dreaming that night of a more personal, less photogenic pair trying on adult passions for the first time. Though Stephenie Meyer's writing is not in the same class as JK Rowling's and though the series tapers off to a less-credible finish, I have to hand it to Meyer for writing a tale that opens the door to all of her reader's memories and fantasies. Something about her tale becomes revelatory and brings us back to the passion that we had . . . that we still have . . . hidden within.


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