Friday Favorites 8/31/2012
Last night, instead of working on today’s post in my recliner in front of the TV, I worked on the program for our Thursday Night Men’s Group Retreat, which takes place next weekend. I am the leader this year which mostly means that I choose the topics and leaders for the six meetings. Over the years, the programs, which we hand out as people arrive, have become increasingly creative. So, of course, I have to keep up. A task like that requires a background movie. This week, AMC is playing Pretty Woman non-stop in the evenings, and I hate to admit this but I sorta-watched it for the second time in three nights.
No, Pretty Woman isn’t my Friday Favorite but a scene from the film is. In Pretty Woman, Richard Gere, as the ruthless businessman, Edward Lewis, takes the prostitute,Vivien Ward (Julia Roberts), to her first opera, Verdi’s La Traviata. He tells her that People’s reactions to opera the first time they see it is very dramatic; they either love it or they hate it. If they love it, they will always love it. If they don’t, they may learn to appreciate it, but it will never become part of their soul. As La Traviata unfolds, he watches to see her reaction. During the climactic final aria, Amami Alfredo, Vivian’s eyes fill with tears and Edward smiles. If you’re in a hurry, jump to the 3:00 point in the video.
The romantic in me loves that the business-only arrangement has turned to love, but the music-lover in me loves the scene because I was affected the same way the first time I saw La Boheme live. What’s that? You think I need 
to have my testosterone checked? How about if I grab a Bud Light and a
Cohiba, then go out in the hills and shoot some small animals? Or I tell you we’re going to the USC-Hawaii FOOTBALL game tomorrow? Will that make you feel better? No? What if I tell you real men love opera?
Have a good weekend.
Explore posts in the same categories: Friday FavoritesTags: curmudgeonly rants, Friday Favorites, movies, music, opera, postaday2011, smiles
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Older Eyes 
August 31, 2012 at 10:51 am
As the movie says, either you love it or you may come to appreciate it. I am the latter. I appreciate it.
I wouldn’t feel better if you shot a small animal. I am 110% estrogen with a bit of progesteren thrown in. The very thought of a person shooting a small animal has me sad.
September 2, 2012 at 8:40 pm
Not to worry … I’m as close to anti-hunting as I can be without having a moral objection. I just don’t get killing for fun.
September 1, 2012 at 6:45 am
Nothing wrong with that Older Eyes! The Geezer has a group of movies that he pulls out regularly and Pretty woman is amongst them. Others include South Pacific, Phantom of the opera, Sleepless in Seattle, The Man who shot Liberty Valance, and The Lake House plus lots more. There sure sure isn’t anything wrong with being good!
Sandy
September 1, 2012 at 9:12 am
I’ve got a feeling, Sandy, that this Curmudgeon and your Geezer have a great deal in common.