The Lake Scene

*-Contains spoilers about Pride and Prejudice. Do not read if you have not finished either the book or the miniseries.

Even if your not a fan of Jane Austen Or Pride and Prejudice, you know the lake scene. The one where Colin Firth as Mr. Darcy, strips down to his underthings and dives into the water.

While it is not in the book, screenwriter Andrew Davies chose to include in the screen play of the 1995 Pride and Prejudice miniseries.

Colin Firth, both in and out of character is easy on the eyes, making the scene that much more fun to watch.

But what I love about this scene is that Austen does a complete 180 with her leading  couple. Both are equally shell shocked by the turn of events. Fitzwilliam Darcy expected Elizabeth Bennet to immediately and without hesitation accept his marriage proposal. What he didn’t expect was her out and out rejection. Elizabeth, upon receiving the letter following the failed marriage proposal, begins to re-evaluate her opinion of him.

Their fateful meeting at Pemberley sets the stage for their real courtship. He does not expect visitors, and she does not expect him or Georgiana to be home.  There is a sense of beginning of an emotional intimacy, of being open to the other person and the possibilities that life with that other person will be like.

Sometimes we take what we think is a wrong path, but in the end, it leads us right where we are meant to be.

 

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The Black Belt Life

Life is full of challenges. But it’s the challenges that make us stronger.

I’ve been taking Muy Thai Kick Boxing classes since last May. Stepping onto the mat at the beginning of the first class was a challenge. Every class is a challenge.

What kick boxing  and the final goal of black belt teaches is that the best way to deal with challenges is to face them head on.  Reaching black belt is not easy. It requires, when stepping on the mat, to give everything towards to the goal of black belt, even when it seems impossible.  It is the same with off the mat challenges. Whatever our goals are and the challenges that come with reaching that goal, we have to give it everything we’ve got, even when we feel that we cannot.

Keep reaching for that black belt, whatever it may be. We will all get there eventually.

Houdini Review

Harry Houdini is a g-d among magicians. From the street magician doing simple card tricks to the glitziest magician on the biggest stage on the Vegas strip, he is among the immortals. But he was also a human being.

Born Ehrich Weiss in Hungary in 1874, he emigrated with his family to America as a child. Taking the stage name of Harry Houdini, he became world famous during his lifetime and since his death in 1926, he has become a legend.

The History Channel two part series, Houdini , stars Adrian Brody as the legendary magician as Kristen Connolly as his wife, Bess. I watched the first part last night. It is a well made series, the production values are excellent. What I enjoyed was the time travelling aspect of the screen play, going back to Harry’s childhood and then returning to his adult self.  Harry and Bess, despite their fame and status are normal people with the same problems that we all face. Their marriage is not all butterflies and roses, as any marriage is. What I am enjoying about the program is seeing the the real people under the legend.

The first part aired last night at 9 PM EST, the second part airs tonight at 9 PM EST. I recommend it.