shaved head Archives - Owl Medicine: Shamanic Healing

A Heart (of a Sort) – Or is this pepper just acting? – Photo: L. Weikel

Academy Awards

I wrote back in February (here and here) about a few of the films we’d watched that were nominated for Best Picture in the Academy Awards. The last time I gave an opinion, I was still rooting for Dune. I was surprised to discover when I checked a few minutes ago that I never ended up writing about Coda. We really liked it, but even if I’d written about it, I probably would’ve still had Dune as my preferred front-runner.

Over this weekend, we tried to stuff in a couple more nominees, if only because it makes watching the Academy Awards more interesting. (Yes, I know, many people no longer even bother to watch them. But we do.)

Licorice Pizza and Belfast

The last two we managed to see before the Oscars were Licorice Pizza and Belfast. To put it succinctly, perhaps my taste is too pedestrian (harkening back to my reaction to The Power of the Dog), but Licorice Pizza was…odd. I tried to like it, but none of the characters spoke to me. I didn’t even actually like the characters, which is crucial, at least for me. And I don’t mean that I have to ‘like’ the characters in the sense that I would want to be their friend or family. I just like to find someone in a movie who intrigues me, makes me want to understand or protect them, or is even such a ‘bad guy’ that they capture my imagination.

For whatever reason, I just couldn’t make heads or tails out of the main characters of Licorice Pizza. In fact, I don’t even understand the title. The best I could guess is that the two flavors just don’t go together. (I won’t explain any further, since I don’t want to spoil it for you if you want to see it and still haven’t.)

I’m so glad we watched Belfast today, though. It gave me a much greater appreciation for the competition and I have to say, it really touched my heart. I know a few of you had recommended Belfast a while back, and now I understand why. When I wrote about wanting to see it (back in February) it was available on Amazon but it was $19.99 and you had to buy it. It’s now rentable on Amazon for $5.99. I guarantee, it is money well spent.

Bizarre Behavior

Finally, we did end up watching the Oscars tonight. We re-watched the utterly bizarre assault by Will Smith on Chris Rock several times. That whole interchange was so bizarre, we kept trying to discern if it was staged.

It was quite obvious that Chris Rock had no idea he was going to get clocked by Smith. And that’s understandable, since Will Smith did not have even the slightest look of disapproval on his face when he heard the joke. (Jada Pinkett Smith had a cloudy expression cross her face, but ?) And quite honestly? I had to think a minute before I even got the joke. Heck – GI Jane was from back in 1997! And when I got it, it didn’t even seem mean – dumb, maybe, but it was simply an allusion to her shaved head.

The Reactions

I’ve been watching the reactions of people online and on Twitter and I find it astonishing that so many people assume that Chris Rock ‘should have known’ that Jada Pinkett Smith has alopecia, a condition that involves hair loss, and that’s why she shaves her head.

Why on earth would Chris Rock be presumed to know that? Do people really think everyone follows every utterance of every so-called ‘famous’ person? She’s a stunning woman – and to me (I didn’t know she had alopecia until tonight either) her shaved head just seemed like a bold fashion statement that could only be carried off by someone both beautiful and confident.

I find it much more deeply disturbing that people are rallying around Smith for his utterly inexcusable and unprovoked assault on live tv, and then vulgar shouted threats at Rock when he returned to his seat. It was a joke. It probably went over the heads of half the people there because they weren’t even born when GI Jane was released. And anyone could see from the delivery that it wasn’t intended as a real cut to Pinkett Smith.

Worst of All

The worst reaction though, in my opinion, was Smith’s truly bizarre tearful ‘acceptance’ speech when he later won for Best Actor. Ew. He didn’t even have the grace to apologize to Chris Rock – which at least would’ve been a step in the right direction. Instead, he tried to justify his behavior as an act of love.

Sorry, but that’s an excuse used all too often in abusive situations. As are the tears. (Let’s remember – he just won for Best Actor, too!) And then capping it off with some baloney about thinking his supposed great talent as an actor makes him a vessel of LOVE?

Please.

The fact that he received a standing ovation after that garbage was appalling. What in the world are we modeling to our children? He is no better than TFG, who infamously said, “When you’re a star, they let you do it. You can do anything.”

A little self-restraint, followed up with some humility, would have served him – and the world he thinks he’s here to inspire as a ‘vessel of love’ – far better.

(T+110)

New Dude – Photo: L. Weikel

New Dude

Late this afternoon I was sitting on the edge of our porch, drinking in the sunshine, writing in my journal, and pretending life was normal. Our house is fairly close to the road, so sometimes when a car drives by I’ll look up. Sometimes I’m quick enough to recognize a neighbor driving by and I’ll manage a wave. A lot of times, though, I don’t realize who’s gone by until it’s too late.

That’s what happened today. I heard the vehicle approaching, but only glanced at it just as it whisked by. I instinctively waved, but figured they hadn’t seen me. I was disappointed I’d not waved sooner when I saw the “POLICE” emblazed on the side of the vehicle just as it slipped beyond my view. I like to be polite and maintain a friendly relationship with our local police department. I appreciate having them around and knowing their faces. And even better – we’ve had some unique experiences over the years.

We Meet Again

It was at least another hour and a half later that Karl and I were walking down our road, Sheila and Spartacus trotting along behind us. Well, Sheila was behind. Spartacus was leading the way, eager as always to see what the next leg of our journey would reveal.

Hearing a car approaching us from behind, we shepherded the hounds to the side of the road, as we usually do. I glanced back to see how close they were and realized it was the same police vehicle I’d seen go past our house earlier.

I smiled and waved as he approached, and the officer slowed down to say hi.

With a big grin, the officer greeted us and, looking toward Karl, said, “That’s quite a haircut!” or something to that effect.

We laughed, but I have to admit, I was surprised he’d noticed Karl’s new ‘look.’ I just don’t imagine people pay that much attention to us. At least, not in that sense. So I was even more surprised when he said, “Yeah, I saw you on the porch when I drove by earlier.”

I interrupted him with the intention of apologizing for not waving and said, “I saw you just as you went by—“

But he continued, “And then I saw you,” he said, glancing at Karl, “and thought – wait. Did he get a drastic haircut? Or did she get a new dude?”

Made Our Evening

Yeah, it’s that big of a change. Karl has had long hair for years – probably twenty at least. But when he realized it was starting to thin on top, he decided to go ‘all or nothing’ – hence his new look since sometimes in January.

It sure was a surprise to realize that even our local police noticed the change enough to comment on it.

It’s a good look. And even though I like it, I tease him a lot. That’s how he knows I love him.

But from now on? He’ll forever be my ‘new dude.’

(T-610)