“Life is a precious gift. Don’t waste it being unhappy, dissatisfied, or anything less than you can be. Too often we are so preoccupied with the destination, we forget the journey.”
It amazes me how quickly time seems to fly by, while at other times it seems to barely move faster than a snail’s pace. This past week moved rather quickly for me. I also think this was due in part to the weather since we seemed to experience a myriad of seasons within a few days. In less than a 48-hour span of time I managed to get a suntan while lounging outside in shorts and a T-shirt, followed by having to turn the heat back on in the apartment to keep warm. At times I found myself wearing a winter hat and a few days later completely buzzed off all my hair on my head to keep cool. I’m pretty sure my body is just as confused as the magnolia trees which have started to bloom. Technically, spring is here, but we have been vacillating between winter and summer and I’m not sure if we will experience a spring this year.
The arrival of spring also brings with it many annual traditions, one of which is the Cleveland International Film Festival. The 36th annual CIFF kicked off last weekend. I was the gracious recipient of two all access passes for the week and was able to take in a day of independent films this past Sunday. It surprised me to learn that after Sundance and Toronto, Cleveland has a reputation among most circles as one of the top festivals in the country. The staff responsible for organizing the CIFF is top notch and the reason for the Festival’s success each year. Of course, the outstanding film entries also have a lot to do with the success as well.
One of those outstanding entries I saw was a Belgian film entitled, “Come As You Are.” The picture focused on three men living with disabilities (2 of which were paralyzed and 1 who was blind) who all are in pursuit of a rather unique goal. Based off of the short write up in the program guide, I was expecting to see a bawdy comedy, but was pleasantly surprised with what turned out to be a very intimate and heartfelt story with great character depth. The movie was careful not to patronize the main characters while at the same time allowing the idiosyncrasies and harsh realities of each man’s disabilities to be on display. I found the actors portrayals to be extremely genuine and moving.
It can be a slippery slope when tackling a subject like living with a physical disability. I had my own experience with this on Tuesday when I spoke to an audience at Perry high school about my thoughts on living with a disability. This was the first time that I have addressed an audience which included several grade school-aged children. However, I think I was able to convey my message in an effective enough way that the younger kids were able to grasp the important themes. There were lots of questions they had for me at the conclusion of my presentation which I was happy to answer. Interestingly enough, my presentation was recorded and will be broadcast on the local cable network in the near future.
I will be closing out this week with my cousin Stephanie’s wedding, which I’m looking forward to. I also hope to get back to the film festival for one more day of great independent films. (On a side note, Roger Ebert’s, “Ebertfest” commences in a few weeks, and the movie “Joe Versus the Volcano” is the festival’s opening film. As I have stated in the past, this is my all time favorite movie and I am happy to see it getting the positive attention it deserves. It has a great message applicable to several issues most of us confront in our lives. I highly recommend you check it out if you’ve never seen it.) I also hope to squeeze in some Final Four viewing this Saturday evening – if Louisville and Ohio State meet in the title game I will win one of the bracket pools I’m in. It would be very nice to see the Buckeyes notch another National Championship!
Thank you for all the prayer and support you continue to show me! Stand Strong!
Scott