August 9: You Lived On It, Create a Little Happiness, "The Lion King"

Ford has just learned the Hitchhiker's version of the Book of Genesis . . .

"So there you have it," said Slartibartfast, making a feeble and perfunctory attempt to clear away some of the appalling mess of his study.  He picked up a piece of paper from the top of a pile, but then couldn't think of anywhere else to put it, so he put it back on top of the original pile which promptly fell over.  "Deep Thought designed the Earth, we built it and you lived on it."

You know, there can be myriad explanations for everything, from the origin of the universe to the actual color of the wrapper for a grape Tootsie Pop.  (By the way, the answer to that last mystery is purple, in case you were in doubt.  A good number of you disciples out there may be laboring under the misconception that it is blue.  I will pray for you.)

Let me provide my explanation now of what I did this evening.  Some people may think I was being fiscally irresponsible.  Me?  I just decided to create a little happiness for myself.  I was facing an evening of solitude and brooding.  Instead, I took my daughter, her boyfriend, and my son to see the live-action version of The Lion King.  It was something that I had been kicking around all day in my head, but I didn't put it into action until I was on my way home from work.

So, at 5:30 p.m., I was on my way to the theater with my son and daughter laughing together, talking about a computer game they'd been sort of playing together earlier.  My daughter's boyfriend joined into the conversation, and we had a great 20-minute drive.

Then there was the film.  I'd forgotten how moving the story of The Lion King truly is.  It is Shakespearean in scope.  In fact, it borrows quite a bit from Hamlet.  And, the first frames of the movie, the first notes of that first song, I was hooked.  So way\s my son, who has never really experienced the story.  He was enthralled by it, right up to the end, when everything comes full circle.  It was kind of thrilling to watch the movie play out across his face.

After the show, we headed over to Michael's, which is a local craft store.  My daughter's boyfriend needed to buy paints for some fishing lures he's making.  We even had fun in Michael's, looking at the Halloween decorations that are already sitting near the front of the store.

Now, I sit here, typing this quick blog post before bedtime gets full underway with my son.  Tonight, happiness really was a choice I made.  It worked, with a little help from the Walt Disney Company.  I had a great night.

Saint Marty needs to be reminded every once in a while that he deserves to be joyful in the middle of the crap storm life throws at him.

December 5: A New Lamb, Daughter's Birthday, Fairy Tale Birthday

"Springtime," said the old sheep, thoughtfully.  "Another spring."  As she walked away, Wilbur saw a new lamb following her.  It was only a few hours old.

The whole ending of Charlotte's Web is about birth and rebirth.  New lamb.  New goslings.  New spiders.  It's how E. B. White moves past the death of Charlotte to some kind of redemption and hope.  It's the cycle of the seasons.  The circle of life (cue music from The Lion King).

Today, at 7:29 a.m., my daughter turned 14 years old.  That means, in the year 2000, at this time, I was sitting in a hospital room, holding my newborn child.  I felt completely afraid.  And completely in love.

My daughter and her friend are sitting on the floor in front of me right now, watching Catching Fire, eating a hamburger pizza.  My daughter has her iPod in front of her face, texting or Snapchatting or twixting or Snapcracklepopping.  Whatever these youngsters do these days with these newfangled thingamabobs.  I feel old and still completely in love.

We took my daughter and her friend to a movie tonight.  We even sprang for V. I. P. seats.  Nice, leather, reclining sheets with enough leg room for an elephant to walk in front of us without stepping on our toes.  It was a lovely evening.

And now it's girls' night in our living room.  I'm sure, at 2 a.m., they are still going to be giggling and whispering.  I, on the other hand, plan to be long asleep by that time.  With visions of my baby girl dancing in my head.

Once upon a time, a kindly king loved his little princess so much that his heart almost couldn't hold it all.  Every day, the king watched his daughter grow.  Every night, he would watch his daughter sleep, counting each of her breaths like precious gems.

And the days, weeks, and years spun by like fine gold thread.

And the king and Saint Marty lived happily ever after.

Making a wish...