Sometimes, a native New Yorker ( me=4th generation ) has to just shake their head in wonder. Ever have one of those days when you see something so weird, you can't believe it just happened? For us, this happens on an almost daily basis. Our fair city attracts its fair share of loners, misfits, freaks, geeks, wannabes, anyone looking to recreate themselves into their vision of the American Dream, be it Rock Star, Ad Man, Wall Streeter, what have you.
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| http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rush_hour |
It must be confusing, changing ones' persona from it's point of origin. This town is my home, not some mythic place filled with cash to be bilked, like a City of Oz with smoke screens and tricks. It's my real Land of Wonder. So, outsiders intrigue me, as do all subcultures and nonconformist types. It's that show of rebellion, I guess: who do they think they're fooling? We pride ourselves on having seen it all, or at least a heck of a lot more than most people will. After all, we have a person from ever country on the planet living within our city limits. It's not hubris or arrogance with New Yorkers, or some blasé show of world weariness, like we shrug off our fellow man, we simply have your number down pat.
The Christmas movie that best identified this internal power struggle, for living an authentic life, is the elf character from Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, Hermey the Misfit Elf. He hides his secret from the other elves; he prefers dentistry to making toys! Hermey realizes he can't be happy pretending to be someone he's not anymore. Once he accepts himself for who he truly is, he finds real acceptance. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rudolph_the_Red-Nosed_Reindeer_(TV_special)
How great is Burl Ives as Sam Snowman? What a beautiful voice. His character is so cute, shushing through the snow. I instantly loved this classic Rankin/Bass from the opening song. As a little girl, it made me so happy and psyched for the holidays. Nothing is more cheerful than a roaring fire, a decorated tree with gifts underneath, and a sparkling blanket of snow covering the ground on Christmas morning, followed by a big pancake breakfast.
Of course, many of my readers will guess that I loved Yukon Cornelius and his doggies. "Mush! Yah! Mush!", as I watched the holiday special snuggling my snow doggie, Snowflake, the prettiest Samoyed a little girl could wish for.
When the stress from too many obligations, or gifts to buy, starts to get you down, just remember, it could be worse—
it could be an Abominable Snowman Nation!
