Place Your Bets

I’m a pretty loyal Kansas basketball fan. Surrounded by those schools that I just loathe: Kentucky and Mizzou. When Kansas played Kentucky either this year, made a bet with Kentucky man, the loser had to wear the winner’s jersey. I lost. And I’m pretty sure wearing a Kentucky jersey burned off a few layers of skin.

Last weekend, made a bet with a Mizzou alum. The stakes: you have to wear your holiday party attire (it’s formal). So I did what any creative gal would do, I figured I could wear a tiara and carry a scepter and wear pearls. Oh, and do it all in a hideous dress in a rock chalk blue hue.

People in the office have finally likened me to a princess. Not sure if I really lost here…

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)?

If the Shoe and the Dress Fit

This post is two-fold. One, last week’s Parenthood episode reminded me of my Prom. Which led me to really see the beauty in that night. And two, The Glass Slipper Project officially kicked off in Chicago!

First up: Prom. Prom night holds many expectations, which most of us are accustomed to seeing as we survived and made it out to the other side. For me, it was an awkward time. Mainly because a friend’s ex asked me to the dance during a fire drill. And I thought it was a prank. It wasn’t. I learned I sealed my fate with this date while in Spanish class after Homeró (we had Spanish names in class) said Benjamín was going to ask me, but no longer could because Dan did.

Awkward.

Did I mention he was one of my good friends’ exes? Double awkward. The only saving grace was the fact Dan and I basically grew up together as we went to school together for 10 years.

And prom was fun. I don’t remember dancing with Dan, though I’m sure I did. But I do remember dancing with Kelly’s dad. I remember standing on the stage of the Fox Theatre and looking out and thinking, life is only going to get better for me. And I remember being there with all of my closest friends singing Bon Jovi songs.

We also had a pretty fantastic prom song.

Second: As prom season begins to come around, I find myself just wanting to shake girls from the pop culture prom expectations, Parenthood depicted pretty well in their episode. Last weekend, I did my first shift with The Glass Slipper, an organization I’ve been a part of since I moved to Chicago (it’s my 3rd Anniversary!). The organization outfits (see what I did there) girls in the Chicago area with all of the prom fixings; from dresses, shoes, makeup, purses and anything else a gal might need. And the girls get personal shoppers (enter me and thousands of other volunteers) to cart dress after dress around on their arms while commenting on choices. It’s quite a day as the process usually takes 2-3 hours per girl to dress for the event.

The best part besides seeing a girl smile and get excited for her day: it’s all free.

As I’m not a shopper by nature, or much of a girlie girl to be honest, I live for this day. Aside from getting a fantastic workout (I still cringe when a girl picks dresses with heavy beading knowing I’m going to have to lug it around), you get a chance to meet a girl you normally wouldn’t meet. Often times, these girls have completely different backgrounds than I have, making me that much more thankful, while at the same time challenging myself to do even more with what I have.

Kind of makes me wish I still had reasons to get all dolled up for dances. But then I remember the bobby pins and the headaches and suddenly find it’s okay that chapter’s closed.