Wish Granting Factory

I bought The Fault in Our Stars last week to read on my Colorado trip. Except I didn’t make it that far. Instead, I laid in bed reading for five hours until I finished the book. That’s one of my favorite feelings in the world; getting so consumed by a book the only way to stop is for the book to run out of pages and words.

I can say of all the years of book reading, I’ve never cried in a book. Sure, I might have cried during a movie adaptation, but I’ve never cried while reading. I’ve actually found myself a tad jealous of those who can get so lost in their imaginations and the written word to produce such powerful emotion.

And then it happened. The eyes welled up. A few tears trickled down. I regained composure. A full-on sob. Followed by I-can’t-quite-breathe sobs. And then again, pulling it together to finish the ending and more sobs. Then for some reason, I felt compelled to reread the ending. Puffy eyes greeted me in the morning.

The tale is about two teens who meet during a cancer support group. You know something bad/sad is going to happen, it’s inevitable right? But man oh man, the way John Green makes you fall in love with these characters so that you’re not worrying about their stories but more so their thoughts and feelings is truly genius. You get so wrapped up in Hazel’s and Augustus’s day-to-day that you don’t even have time to contemplate, read into foreshadowing or figure out where the story’s landing.

Just like Augustus and Hazel, I finally got my wish.

The Moving Talkie

I recently finished the book, The Film that Changed My Life by Robert Elder. It’s a collection of interviews that Elder has with many of today’s top directors as they tell the films that changed their way of thinking. Their way of making. And their way of editing.

It got me thinking too. While a ton of these movies I haven’t seen, I thought for sure I would pick a movie that was a classic as mine. I thought of movies I watched growing up and continue to watch today, but did any of them really move me the way these directors were moved?

And it was then that I realized the film that truly has stuck with me, shaped me and continues to amaze me.

That film: A League of Their Own. To my mom, high school and college friends, this probably comes as no surprise. It’s a movie that I quote frequently, a movie I’m always watching and a movie I’m constantly recommending.

In his book, Elder always asked “Where were you when you first saw the film?” and “What about this film stuck with you?” I’m not a director, but I have been editing a lot of video at work, so maybe I am…

Where were you when you first saw the film?

I cannot remember where I first saw this film. It came out in the Summer of 1992, which makes me think I probably saw it with either my mom or dad simply because it was girls playing baseball, and I was a girl, playing softball. But I can remember the day I unwrapped the VHS on my birthday a few years later and the joy I felt seeing Dottie Henson, Jimmy Dugan and All the Way Mae on the cover.

What about this film stuck with you?

Apart from being a gal who enjoyed baseball, I love the drama of this film. And how it encompasses pretty much everything: love, sports, girl power, sibling struggles, war, a singing number, a dancing number and 1940s dress.

But I think my love affair with the film began when I met a “real” All-American Girl, Pepper Paire. It was one of those sports conventions my dad took me to. And it was filled with trading cards everywhere and then I caught wind of this “girl” ball player there.

She signed a photo for me that has literally followed me wherever I am. Always hanging from the same spot in the room, right by the door.. from my bedroom, to college, to Phoenix and now, Chicago. It’s very faded, her writing, “To Hanna! My best friend! Best Wishes!” is barely even visible. I’m sure my 9 year-old-self loved that “best friend” sentiment.

In fact, my 26-year-old still does.

Is there a movie that’s shaped who you are? And one you just find yourself rewatching from time to time (despite being able to play the whole movie in your head)?

Working for Happiness

I always get nervous when I come across studies based on professions. Because I get it, I know my field is rough. It’s why 85% of girls at Kansas answered the “What’s Your Major” question with “Journalism!” I know the advertising and public relations fields were super competitive. Which is why I pseudo-switched what I wanted to do for a job. I knew I wanted to do something rooted in journalism, but I didn’t want to be a reporter. I hated writing. I needed other outlets and interactions with people while being allowed to dream up crazy things. Granted, I’m writing a ton, but I appreciate it now. And cannot imagine calling myself anything but a writer.

Came across this infographic and couldn’t help but smile. via The Grindstone

It is written. 

I Write Like…

Came across this site and am officially obsessed. You type in a paragraph (or paste a past writing sample/blog post) and the site matches your writing style, tone and word choice to a famous author, writer and/or poet.

I got David Foster Wallace when I put in some blog entries. Which I think is a safe bet. After reading Sloane Crosby’s 2 essay books, I think I have the life stories to make some fantastic short snippets of my life.

Clearly we are one in the same...

First essay: Spoon playing with the band at McGurk's during the Goodwill Party