Does anyone know why there is a crow on the counter of the Bailey Building & Loan offices in It’s a Wonderful Life? I think this is one of the reasons why the young couple near to us at the screening in Greenwich Cinema found the film so funny. It is funny, of course. And a testament to the director and James Stewart that it is so enduring, even in black & white. I came out thinking the usual things.. yes .. it is a Wonderful Life that I am lucky enough to have….but I also realised that if I want to be a nice, kind, cheerful, George Bailey-type, I have to avoid my equivalent of mis-placing $8,000. Which, (embarrassingly, by comparison), means I have to avoid being panic-stricken because a builder has let me down and a property will not be ready, or a new builder will have to be found. And avoid being panic-stricken because I have not bought enough nuts or forgotten to buy parsnips or clean the car or deliver a bath screen or clean the house before (niece and nephew) J and K arrive … because.. it’s a Wonderful Life… and what can be worse than choosing to waste it being panic-stricken….choosing to waste it getting stressed. I am learning to breathe so that it is like a beautiful drink of the coolest water… the best thing ever after a hot, non-encounter with a missing builder…
I am so glad that my leg just ignores me. Yes, it gets stiff if I sit still for too long. Yes, I still have the pulling on my heel. I was sure, over the last few weeks, I’d got absolutely nowhere, progress-wise. But (hospital physio) Helen actually measured where I was 6 weeks or so ago – I could only do 3 full height heel raises… now I can do 10. And I wasn’t even trying. I spent 3 of the last 4 weeks or so doing very little physio/exercise. But marvellous leg knows where it’s going. The pulling is due to excessive pronation (which pre-existed my injury) and can apparently be helped by an off-the-peg arch support. There is still plenty of work to do… and beautiful leg wants to try. Even my calf muscle is growing, says Helen. Leg is blithely looking forward to a wonderful life.
Our rolling pin is missing… we lent it to Mary (as in Joseph) for the Christmas Journey play (see blog 64: https://aintwegotitmade.wordpress.com/2014/12/07/achilles-blog-64-and-breathe-6-12-14/) and haven’t seen it since. But… Yay!!..I had remembered to buy the wine… and Jay rolled out the pastry for the mince pies with a cold bottle of sauvignon blanc from the fridge. But if he hadn’t been able to do this, no-one would have died or starved….so, misplaced panic thankfully and appropriately…misplaced.
Have a wonderful, joy-filled Christmas!
jx
Ain't we got it made? 