A. Sunday ritual.
I am beginning a new Sunday ritual. Not that I have an old Sunday ritual, really, but I am beginning a new Sunday ritual. Yesterday I spent the day at the Live Oak Farmer's Market. This is a lovely little market that includes lots of local food vendors in addition to local farmers and musicians.
After taking the dogs for a grand romp on the 26th Avenue beach and swim in the ocean, I am going to stop at this farmer's market and find myself some yummy coffee and pastries, some delicious produce for the beginning of our week, and I will plop myself down at one of the provided picnic tables under an umbrella and listen to the live music and read the Sunday paper. Buddha and Stella can even join me.
I honestly think this is just about the best way to spend a Sunday morning. If you come and meet me there, I'll buy you some coffee and pastry, too.
B. Tragic
I saw the movie The Waitress on Saturday evening. I want all of you to go and see it. It is far more endearing and touching and wonderful than the previews of the film lead one to believe. And if you've ever been pregnant I can assure you that there are many, many moments in this film that will just make you just, well, nod your head along in complete agreement.
Andy Griffith is in the film and I couldn't help but wonder how on earth he had spent so much time with my own Uncle Paul. It was eerie how well he channeled him. I'm not joking about this. If you're a member of my immediate family and you go see this film, you will know exactly what I'm talking about. Andy Griffith playing the role of Joe in this movie could play Uncle Paul in the ABC movie of the week about Uncle Paul's life without changing one thing! Not a thing!
The saddest part for me, though, was the final credit of the movie. In case there are those of you out there who like me, before I saw the film, still somehow don't know, that's all I'll say. But I will also say this. I am having a lot of trouble understanding the karmic good in the universe.
C. Spock Rocks!
Who knew that Leonard Nimoy cared about women's body image? Apparently, he really and truly does. Or at least that believes that all women are beautiful and that, as I'm often saying, we shouldn't ascribe to the distorted and often unattainable images that the media is so fond of feeding to us. In this article in the New York Times, Nimoy actually says,
“The average American woman, according to articles I’ve read, weighs 25 percent more than the models who are showing the clothes they are being sold,” Mr. Nimoy said, his breathing slightly labored by allergies and a mild case of emphysema. “So, most women will not be able to look like those models. But they’re being presented with clothes, cosmetics, surgery, diet pills, diet programs, therapy, with the idea that they can aspire to look like those people. It’s a big, big industry. Billions of dollars. And the cruelest part of it is that these women are being told, ‘You don’t look right.’ ”
You don't look right, indeed.
Mr. Spock? I think you just became a true Nakedjen hero. And it isn't just women who have this problem, as I am always reminding. It is ALL OF US. Our American culture, especially, is just far too concerned with the number on the tag inside of our clothes that absolutely no one can see.
Let's remember that a healthy body isn't necessarily a size 2. And that it is even far more important that we love the beautiful body that we have right here and right now, all parts of it, big, round, voluptuous, or thin and flat. Loving ourselves is the first step towards being able to love one another, it's our first step towards true peace.
Kudos, though, to Leonard Nimoy for showing the world that there is beauty in women of all shapes and sizes!
