That Place You Love: Real People. Real Stories.
Round-Up on Gratitude; Next-Up Humor. My review of THE CROWN Season Six.
Yes, I binge watched the four episodes of Season Six…
Of The Crown. Last night.
Elizabeth Debicki as Diana is captivating.
Even though I felt they got Diana’s character wrong in Season 5, she came to life in the four episodes that track the weeks leading to her death.
I, like many, remember where I was when Diana’s death hit the news.
August 31, 1997. Corner of Rivington & Allen. 5th floor apartment.
It was so hot.
Close to 100-degrees Fahrenheit. Muggy.
The apartment was tiny, and there were two of us. My roommate was away so I could pack up my belongings to move into the “Trailer on the 9th Floor” in Soho the next day.
It was an exciting time for me.
I was beginning film studies at Hunter College that week. Living in a larger space with people I liked. I could easily take the 6 train from Spring to 68th Street/Hunter College. Yoga was across the street.
I remember sweating. I didn’t have many things to pack, but it was swampy. The TV was on in the background. Then the news late at night.
I wasn’t a fan of the Royals, but Diana… well, we all know her power.
Her work with charities. Walking landmines. Hugging children with HIV.
The conundrum was that if she hadn’t married Charles, she’d be alive today. But if she hadn’t married Charles, she wouldn’t be the People’s Princess.
Debicki’s portrayal of Diana is masterful, emotional, and complex. Her body language and her eyes, tucking her chin into her clavicle, her grace. Spot on.
Perfection in the art of performance.
A hard role to play with so many people laying claim to Diana’s memory.
What does this have to do with our next theme: HUMOR?
Read on to find out…
Round Up on Gratitude. New Theme: Humor - below!
If you’ve missed a week or you’re starting to feel like you might have a story to contribute, click on a THEME LINK to write 150 - 200 words on:
I always include new posts with unique links in the Round-Up.
3 Contributors weighed in on Gratitude:
I wrote about our Icelandic friends waiting out the volcano that is bound to erupt and how my partner’s dedication to cooking meals of many bowls changed my life.
Carole D acknowledges the difficulty of receiving praise for ones talents, a show of gratitude, as we are meant to use our gifts without seeking attention.
Intact Animal shares his first experience as second place and credits failing for following the herd as a life changing lesson, leading him to the nirvana of now.
Pascale writes about her place of gratitude in the middle of the forest, along the Mullerthal Trail, where past atrocities occurred with a reminder that we should take time to go into ourselves and reflect.
READ & HEART this week’s writers & SHARE your own story in the comments.
If you’re reading this for the first time…
And want to know more about the ZINE’s mission, go to ABOUT or FORUM on the Substack platform or read the introductory post I WAS AN EASY LIAR.
Next Up: HUMOR
So, after I watched all four episodes of The Crown last night, I went into the bedroom where we’re staying and woke up my partner to tell him the news.
“Honey, Princess Diana died.”
“She drowned didn’t she?” he asked half-asleep.
He went to bed during the first episode when Diana was on the yacht.
“No, Honey. She died in a car crash.”
Of course, he knew. The joke was that we still watch a movie or read a book when we already know what will happen. As if, maybe, the ending might change.
I watch the movie ZODIAC a lot. It’s masterful filmmaking.
My partner will ask me,
“Did they catch the killer this time?”
As if!
Humor is the glue of all of my relationships.
It’s how I manage the world.
My grandmother used to ask my grandfather, “Why do you walk around with that silly smile on your face all the time?”
He’d say, “If I weren’t laughing, I’d be crying.
Where does HUMOR take you?
Read & Share on Monday in 150 - 200 words!
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More to come on Monday….
Have a great weekend.
Sincerely, for real.
Michelle
