Category: family

Go to Track Meet, shake Obama’s hand

Published on by Tucker2 Comments

Friday night we got three free tickets to go to a track meet. We love track meets. If you live anywhere else in the U.S. then you might not know how a local, low-key track meet can still be an exciting event that even produces world-class results and brings out over 5,000 fans. It helps that the location is the famous Hayward Field – site of the upcoming U.S. Olympic Trials.


That’s Carrie Vickers leading the Women’s 3,000 meters steeplechase, which she won in a meet record of 9:51.08. It takes a time of 10:00.00 to qualify for the “A” field for the Olympic trials.


The East grandstands – where I’ve sat through many track meets, including three previous Olympic Trials (1972, 1976, 1980 – yes that dates me), and watched the marvelous Steve Prefontaine, amongst other greats.


That my friend Jayson with the steadycam asking me to call him to see if I’m available to help him. I wasn’t. Family and friends took precedence, but Jayson did a great job on his own anyway.


Lily juggled the binoculars and the stopwatch before we met up with friends. Then she mostly ran around and played.


Wilder didn’t really know what was going on, but she liked clapping for the runners and eating all her snacks.

So then . . .

About mid-way through the track meet several big buses and a string of police motorcycles passed by on the street behind us. We immediately knew it was Barack Obama (he was to speak at the UofO later that day). After a few minutes Obama came out onto the opposite end of the track from us. As any political candidate would do, he shook hands, congratulated some athletes, held babies, and waved to the crowd. Then he began to leave, which took a while.

My wife asked if I would go back to the car and get the stroller. Wilder was getting tired. I carried Wilder in the kiddie backpack and Lily asked to come along. When we turned the corner of the grandstands there were the buses. Lily said maybe we could see Obama. So we hurriedly walked down and stood in the crowd next to the bus. Here’s the picture: People crowding around, police and secret service everywhere, I’m holding Lily in one arm as high as I can get her, my camera is in my other hand, Wilder is in the backpack. We stood there for 15-20 minutes, with my arm going numb and Wilder beginning to fuss. But then Obama came by.

He shook my hand, he shook Lily’s hand, and then he looked at Wilder and then said something like “Who is that beautiful baby?” or “That’s the cutest baby!” We can’t remember exactly what he said because we were in a bit of a daze.


Obama looking relaxed.


Action shot. That’s what I call an off balance, out of focus, blurry shot.


My final shot turned out okay. Card full.

Overall a fun experience and a great memory

I am rather cynical about politics, but I will say this: There is something different about Obama than Clinton or McCain. He seems to be more easy going, less divisive, more hopeful, and somewhat visionary, at least in his tone. He seems to speak beyond, or above, the normal talking points of the left/right political split. I don’t know if he really has the ability to affect positive change, I don’t know if he can actually get anything done, and I don’t have many delusions about what politics and politicking really means. But I will say on the surface he exudes a kind of character decidedly different than his opponents. Quite possibly that is the kind of character this country needs in its leader right now.

One other thing: Seeing a person up close and shaking their hand creates an interesting perspective. I only had a few seconds to see Obama up close, but I was close enough to look into his eyes and get a very brief sense of the man. He exudes confidence without arogance, and strength without desperation. Sure, every politician wants power, but some seem to be desperate about it and others seem to seem to know it will come when it’s time. I can’t see into his heart, but Obama appears to have a good one. I hope he is not merely a great actor. That would be a tragedy for us and for him. And I have to say, what we don’t need is another actor in the White House.

We missed his speech, but here’s an amateur clip of some of the event:

and another:

In the presidential campaign it appears Obama is the rock star. But I have to say the best part of the day was being with my family and friends on a beautiful day at the track meet.

>wife/mama runs, family cheers

Published on by TuckerLeave a comment

>I am so proud of my wife. Yesterday she ran her first ever half marathon – that’s 13.1 miles! (Yes, 13.1 miles all at one time, in a row.) Amongst all the other amazing things she accomplishes she found just enough time to train and get ready for this race.

We, that means me, Lily, Wilder, our two bikes and one bike trailer, waited at the 9+ mile mark to cheer her on. (Lily had already run her 1 mile kids race.)


At mile 9+ looking great.

We then waited at a hundred yards from the finish. When we saw her coming down the stretch Lily ran out to join her and run with her to the finish.


Lily runs to her mama.

Overall the day was a good one – long but good. I hope my wife keeps going (she wants to do some triathlons next). I am thinking of running the thing next year. We’ll see.

a quick, short list of films recently viewed with Lily (and sometimes the rest of the family)

Published on by Tucker2 Comments

My posts have been few lately. Life is full.

The following films I have recently viewed with my daughter Lily, and occasionally the rest of the family. As I have mentioned several times before, I am introducing Lily to the history of film as part of her education. I have been making an effort to teach her about key directors as much as is reasonable.

So far we have been focusing on Hitchcock, Ford, and Hawks. But, of course, we have been watching films outside of that list of directors as well. I have also been trying to include a documentary or two.

We have also been working our way through some genres. I am introducing her to westerns, musicals, and mysteries.

Fiction:
Young Sherlock Holmes (1985) I remember seeing this film when it first came out on video. Though it is not a great film, I find it thoroughly enjoyable for what it is. Lily is into mysteries at the moment, so I figured this might be a good choice. She loved it. Also, recently we saw some of the Jeremy Brett Sherlock Holmes stories, which Lily loved, and I love too. Those are the best Holmes adaptations in my book.

The Lady Vanishes (1938) In my attempts to educated Lily (and re-educate myself) in film language, we are watching some films from the 1930s and 1940s as a kind of level-set. Hitchcock is, of course, great for film language, story construction, and the thriller genre. The Lady Vanishes is a classic spy thriller at a time when some saw the coming troubles in Europe and others were dragging their heals.

Red River (1948) I have felt the need to introduce Lily to the Western genre. It is a genre so embedded within the American psyche. Red River is amazing; beautifully shot, acted, and paced. The ending comes up a little short, but overall a great example of the Western. This was Lily’s introduction to the Duke as well.

Jamaica Inn (1939) On a whim I threw this film in the list. It’s a great example of Hitchcock from his “British” period before moving to Hollywood. One can tell it is not a Hollywood film merely by how dark in tone and image it is. Lily found it interesting that she had already seen the two principle actors (Laughton and O’Hara) in The Hunchback of Notre Dame, especially that Laughton looks so different.

To Catch a Thief (1955) I have already written a post on To Catch a Thief when Lily and I watched it before. She wanted to see it again, so we watched it again. I like this film more and more with each viewing. Though it is often considered a more lightweight film from Hitchcock, I think there is a lot more there than at first glance.

Non-Fiction:
For All Mankind (1989) Documentary on the Apollo program.

Baseball parts I, II & III (1994) Ken Burns film on “America’s pastime.” The first several parts are the most interesting in my opinion.

The Endurance (2000) The story of Ernest Shackleton’s amazing test of fortitude.

Also, recently I showed Lily several episodes of The Muppet Show, which she had never seen. She has seen a couple of the Muppet films, but never the show. She was going “what is this?!” She loved it. I used to love it too (and still do), but I forgot just how brilliant it was.

In the dock we have more westerns: My Darling Clementine, Stagecoach, The Man from Snowy River, and High Noon. I am also wanting to introduce her to film noir. I’m looking for suggestions as well.

I see two temporary problems going forward, however. First, the weather is getting better and the days are getting longer. This means it is becoming harder to put in a movie at 6PM or 7PM so we can make bedtime on time. We still want to enjoy the light outside. Second, it’s baseball season. I’m not a baseball nut. I don’t yet have a favorite team, I don’t play fantasy baseball, and I don’t do stats, but I just love the game. And I particularly like MLB on hi-def. Sometimes it’s better to enjoy the pleasant mindless joy of baseball viewing than a mind-engaging film.

Young Mr. Lincoln

Published on by Tucker5 Comments

The other night I introduced my daughter to John Ford and Henry Fonda by way of Young Mr. Lincoln (1939). She was excited because Abraham Lincoln is one of her heroes (mine too). The image above, which comes early in the film, caught her interest. Lily loves books and she said the image was where she wants to be: Under a big tree along a river bank on a warm day in a cool breeze reading a book. I couldn’t agree more.

I am convinced that much less attention would be given Young Mr. Lincoln if it were not for that seminal article by the editors of Cahiers du cinéma. Regardless, the film has loads of qualities that would draw anyone into its orbit.

What is so wonderful about Young Mr. Lincoln is how perfectly mythical it all is. Lincoln was a truly unique individual in American history. His life did, in fact, take on the character of myth at times. However, many have added additional myths to his story, as though just the plain truth is not enough. This film is no exception. And yet, Young Mr. Lincoln gives us what we want, at least it gives me what I want: A good myth told well.

I love the idea that the fate of this nation, and by implication, the whole world, hinges on which way a stick will fall.

But isn’t that how life really is so many times? The great sweep of human events is mostly out of the hands of any particular person, but frequently (and curiously) it is the individual who makes the difference. And sometimes it is the flip of a coin, or the missed train, or the letter delivered too late, or the accident, or the small good deed that makes all the difference in the world. I like that kind of story. I like the twin ideas that the individual can make a difference and that sometimes it is the littlest things that cause the greatest effect. I think this is a very American preference, though not entirely unique to America.

And who could forget the last few images of Young Mr. Lincoln? Two stand out for me.

Lincoln walks alone up the hill. His tall figure, with its oddly tall stovetop hat, stands in silhouette against a beautiful cloudy sky. This image portends his future journey into America’s uncertain future, and all that that will mean.

Then Lincoln crests the hill. Lightening flashes. He pauses and looks ahead, maybe to the top of the next hill. He then walks out of the frame. Heavy rain begins to fall. This portends his future as well, but this time the future becomes more specifically defined. His future will be stormy. But he still faces it and walks into it without fear. He is the local hero still yet to become the great hero. He is the young Mr. Lincoln.

* * * * * * * * * *

The beginning of the film includes a portion of the following poem by Rosemary Benét about Lincoln’s mother (Nancy Hanks Lincoln) who died when he was a boy. After we finished the film Lily wanted to go back and read the poem. Then she just had to copy it out by hand. I love that about Lily.

If Nancy Hanks
Came back as a ghost,
Seeking news
Of what she loved most,
She’d ask first
“Where’s my son?
What’s happened to Abe?
What’s he done?”

“Poor little Abe,
Left all alone
Except for Tom,
Who’s a rolling stone;
He was only nine
The year I died.
I remember still
How hard he cried.”

“Scraping along
In a little shack,
With hardly a shirt
To cover his back,
And a prairie wind
To blow him down,
Or pinching times
If he went to town.”

“You wouldn’t know
About my son?
Did he grow tall?
Did he have fun?
Did he learn to read?
Did he get to town?
Do you know his name?
Did he get on?”

Only Angels Have Wings

Published on by Tucker3 Comments

Recently I’ve been introducing Lily to the films of Howard Hawks, which is also an excuse (not that I needed one) to watch some of my favorite films. So far we’ve seen Bringing Up Baby (1938) – which I mentioned in my previous post – His Girl Friday (1940), and last night, Only Angels Have Wings (1939).

Only Angels Have Wings was my introduction to Howard Hawks as a director and, as such, it holds a sentimental place in my cinephilia. I probably saw some of his other films earlier in my life, but in the grand cinema survey course I took in college this film was the Hawks film we saw. And that’s when I really began to learn about Hawks. At that time I was blown away by the film. I don’t know if I was just in the right mood then, even so I still love the film today.

I have been trying to find a DVD version of the film, but haven’t. I did find, to my delight, that TCM was showing it and it was listed in the Comcast on-demand free movies. So, voila!

For me the critical scene is when, after a pilot has died upon crash landing his plane, some of the men divide up his few things – trinkets really: his wallet, some coins, maybe a ring. In effect that scene boils down the value of a person’s life to a few insignificant things. For Hawks life was like a pick-up song among strangers in the midst of a crazy world. One can choose to live a life of courage or of safety. In the end it’s not what one left behind so much as how one is remembered, and even that is mostly vapor because behind it all is an unknowable absurdity.

This is in stark contrast to the films of John Ford.

Ford saw great value in the traditions of society: weddings, burials, a man taking his hat off when going indoors, etc., and these things symbolize the significance of human beings, their actions, and the society they create. Hawks, or at least his characters, valued courage, but did not overly emphasize the inherent worth of a human being. Ford was more the romantic, Hawks more the existentialist. (Note: I write this off the cuff without having examined these two director side by side for 20 years, so I am happy to be corrected.)

Of course, I love the films of both directors. They both speak to the human situation, but from different angles.

And speaking of John Ford, soon on the docket for Lily and I are Stagecoach (1939) and Young Mr. Lincoln (1939). Wasn’t 1939 just an amazing year for cinema?!

>We love Nick & Nora

Published on by Tucker3 Comments

>The other night we finished After the Thin Man (1936). I have seen them all before, but this was a chance to introduce Lily to these classic comedies. She liked it a lot. We had already seen the original The Thin Man (1934) a couple months ago.

What a fun, goofy film, even with all its plot holes and jumps in logic. I have to ask myself if these films could be re-made. If so, who would play the central parts?

And we love Jimmy Stewart. After the Thin Man provided Stewart his first substantial part in a film. Here he is, the kind, lovable Jimmy that we have come to know and love:

And here he is turned into the maniacal killer soon to be apprehended:

It was great to see Stewart transform from kind man to killer. He was already showing us his wonderful talents. Maybe I shouldn’t say we love Jimmy Stewart, Lily is not sure if she does after only seeing him play the bad guy. Now I will have to show her some of his other films.

* * * * * * *

I have to say that we have been watching a few other films lately, but I have not been writing about them. Lily LOVED Bringing Up Baby (1938). We also just saw Jason and the Argonauts (1963), which she also loved. A couple days later she had a friend over and they decided to watch Jason. Lily’s friend had never heard of the film. At one point I overheard Lily saying “Harryhausen” and I knew I had done my job. Last night we also watched about 45 minutes of Aguirre, the Wrath of God (1972). I had to help her with some of the subtitles, but Lily was transfixed. So was I, even though I’ve see the film several times.

>gagging and weeping

Published on by Tucker6 Comments

>

Recently Showbiz Tonight’s AJ Hammer did a story/interview with Tori Spelling. Below is some of the transcript of that segment from CNN.com.

HAMMER: [W]ith everyone talking about sex scandals right now, here’s one I just had to ask about, Tori cheated on her husband number one with now husband number two. I asked Tori point blank if she ever stopped to think about the damage she was doing not only to her marriage but to her now husband’s marriage as well.

SPELLING: That was the hardest thing for both of us is that there were children involved. There were two other people innocently involved. You know, whether they were happy marriages, whether they were meant to work out, it’s still at the end of the day people are going to get hurt. And that was the hardest thing about that whole situation. But, you know, in life you have to really – you have to look out for yourself and I found my soulmate and I couldn’t deny love. So what was I supposed to do?

First of all, GAG!

Second, what a tragedy of morals, not merely in her actions, but more remarkably in her truly sad and hurtful philosophy. I say this not to aim barbs at Ms. Spelling per se, because she is fundamentally no worse than any one else. We all have dark and selfish hearts. But I say it because it is true, and it is so starkly presented by her words.

There are few projects in all of human existence more difficult than marriage. Marriages fail all the time. There is nothing surprising in that.

What I find shocking (but am I really shocked?) is how openly she excuses her actions by saying: “You know, whether they were happy marriages, whether they were meant to work out, it’s still at the end of the day people are going to get hurt.” Yes, people got hurt, by her actions. And that language of “meant to work out” sounds like marriages are fated, that their success or dissolution are matters ultimately beyond anyone involved, that there really is no persons to blame or praise, just luck.

She then says: “And that was the hardest thing about that whole situation.” From what I can tell it looks like she’s over that now. Any bad stuff is apparently all in the past. Clearly the hardest part is not facing into her moral failings or the ongoing effects of two broken marriages.

Finally, to cap it off she says: “But, you know, in life you have to really – you have to look out for yourself and I found my soulmate and I couldn’t deny love. So what was I supposed to do?” Short answer: honor your commitments,love your husband, repent. I didn’t realize that looking out for oneself trumps all other considerations, as though with a wave of the hand it absolves all other choices.

Maybe I’m being too snippy. I know marriages are complex relationships, and the reasons they succeed or fail are also complex. There are no easy answers. There are no quick solutions. Sometimes, even, it is best for a marriage to end. I have a feeling that there was a lot more to the whole affair than Ms. Spelling is saying. I know nothing of her life. But I have to say that it is sad to hear such bald faced excusing and unashamed selfishness presented as a matter of course.

Finally, it is interesting that she says, “I couldn’t deny love.” What does this mean? It sounds as though she understands love to be something outside herself, a kind of force that is undeniable, unstoppable, untamable. But that is not love she is giving in to, that is romance, and romance is a good, but fleeting thing.

Romance is like a drug, it wears off after time. Love, on the other hand, is a choice, a series of actions, an orientation on one’s character towards another. Love is something you don’t feel as much as something you do, for love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, and endures all things. Love isn’t here and then gone. One has to work at it, choose it, make the effort, and seek to be the kind of person who loves. Love often (usually?) involves sacrifice, giving of oneself, even denying of oneself and one’s desires.

But, like Tori Spelling, we live for ourselves. In that sense we are all soulmates.

I can see the same tendencies in both myself and in others all the time. In one way or another we all choose to love ourselves more than we love others, and then we all make excuses for it. We tell ourselves stories, and then we actually believe the stories. Now that’s something to really make you weep, if you have eyes to see.

Blesssed are those who mourn . . .

>snow this morning

Published on by Tucker4 Comments

>

I know for some of you this is no big deal. You already have snow and probably want it to finally go away. But for us, this is an event.

>gone skiing

Published on by Tucker3 Comments

>On Tuesday I took my daughter downhill skiing for her first time. I grew up skiing and spent many years as an avid skier. But I have not been for years and my daughter had never been, so I figured it was about time to go.

She did great! If we can afford it I see her doing a lot of skiing in the future


Lily the skier

The skiing was excellent. It snowed the night before, stayed cold during the day, and we had some sun at times. Plus, Tuesdays are great days to go because prices are cheaper and there are no lift lines.

I think it has been around 20 years since I skied last. I was surprised by how I was able to pick it back up without any problems. But, boy am I out of shape! My legs were burning when tried to ski some of the harder runs.

As we left the ski area we had a beautiful view of this Cascade peak glowing in the sunset.


Three Fingered Jack, late afternoon

>sisters, anniversaries, sadness, and joy

Published on by Tucker7 Comments

>

Today is the birthday of our second daughter, Coco. She was a glorious and beautiful person, and I believe she still is. There is not a day that passes in which I do not think of her. Being present at the moment of her birth and then of her death indelibly seared my heart. Words do not speak adequately of her life, however short, nor do they reveal her soul. But I think that is true for all of us. We can only convey approximations. We have to live if we want the real thing. Her life was the real thing, and I held her in my arms seconds after she entered the world. I was holding her in my arms when she left us. I cannot be the same ever again.

But who I want to write about today is Coco’s big sister, Lily. It may seem strange to be thinking so much about one child on the birthday of another, but Lily was there through all of this. She was there, and in her kid way she helped our little family get through it all. She thinks about her sister all the time. When she draws family pictures she always includes Coco. And her heart was broken terribly when Coco died. She is a remarkable person, so thoughtful, so beautiful, so tender.

I remember the moment Lily first saw her little sister. Her entire body reacted with utter joy. She is a lover. She is a sister through and through. And how glad she was to have a sister of her own, and to finally be a sister herself. Just yesterday Lily asked her mother to sit with her on the couch, but she kept a space between them. She said Coco was sitting there.

Lily is a beautiful girl. She is smart and she is tender. She is one of the most creative people I know. I am glad we did not keep her from experiencing the story of her little sister, however painful and brief. Lily still talks about having had the chance to hold Coco. And that means everything to me.

Now we have our hands full with another little one. Wilder looks a lot like Coco in some ways. In no way is she a replacement for Coco, but Wilder is also a wonderful and beautiful girl that helps us get through days like this one. I thank God for the girls we have. They are great gifts, all three.