imkittymyers at hotmail dot com
Thursday, August 25, 2005
BIRDS DO IT, BEES DO IT, BUT NOT MY MOM
Raise your hand if you want to hear about your mother’s sex life. Just the thought is usually greeted by LA LA LA LA LA, I CAN’T HEAR YOU! So imagine coming across your mother’s journals, after she has died, and reading, in throbbing detail, how she met a stranger and screwed around with him in your home while your dad had taken you and your sibling to the county fair. Picture their lusty adventures in your parents’ bed, and in the bathtub. Read how he held her and touched her and kissed her. Did he slip your mom some tongue? Imagine reading, in her own words, how she longed to run off and live with this stranger, choosing him over you.
I have no problems reading about illicit affairs, screwing around on your loved one. That’s not my problem with The Bridges of Madison County, the movie (I didn’t read the book). I had a problem, however, with the idea that a mother, who supposedly loved her children, would keep journals of her affair with another man, while still married, and leave these journals for her children after her death. I don’t care how old these children are, either. It’s cruel and selfish to do that to your children. I had a big problem with the idea that women considered this a heart-breaking love that was “So Sweet, So Sad, So Unselfish a love...” Puke.
Just for fun, reverse the roles. Picture the father screwing around with a stranger while the mother and kiddies are off to the county fair. Picture their lusty adventures in your parents’ bed, and in the bathtub. Read how he held her and touched her and kissed her. Did he slip her some tongue? Imagine reading, in his own words, how he longed to run off and live with this stranger, choosing her over you. Instead of choking up over this story of “so sweet, so sad, so unselfish a love,” NOW would hunt that guy down and hang him by his genitalia from the nearest streetlight, and every single wronged woman would cheer.
Rachel recently blogged on the MOVIES WE’RE SUPPOSED TO LOVE but actually hate. Citizen Kane topped her list: “What a crushing disappointment.” The Bridges of Madison County tops my list. Also on my list is Raging Bull, but I’ll need to think about the rest.
What’s on your list?
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