Skip to main content

Good morning, lab rats!

One of my favorite movies is “A Good Year,” starring Russell Crowe.  It’s a fun little romp through the South of France, filled with wine, romance and very poignant moments of clarity.

Max, is a driven, pompous business man who is willing to use, abuse and finagle his way to the top, and then gloat.  He is never satisfied with his accomplishments.  "Good morning, lab rats,” indicates his ‘tude.

Fanny, on the other hand, is a bicycle wielding, passionate woman.  She is suspicious, short-tempered and very jealous, yet content with her way of life; minding the business of others.

The storyline is obvious:  opposites attract, love blooms and then blows up.  Reflecting on the vast difference in their existences, this dialogue is uttered:

Max:  This place does not suit my life.
Fanny:  No Max, it’s your life that does not suit this place.

Makes me wonder how many times I have said no to things because it didn’t fit into my preconceived ideas of how events should play out.  Could it be my choices and selfish ambitions that don’t allow me to take part? 

This all sounds a bit stop-and-smell-the-roses-ish, but it’s more than that.  I’ve talked with several people recently who are looking for answers to the age old question “what am I supposed to do?  Where am I supposed to be?  Who am I, really?”  Honestly, I ask the same things.  We all want some sort of a nav-system blurting out “you have arrived,” instead of “recalculating.”

When Max returned to France, where he had spent his early childhood years, he discovered that in his lab-rat mentality, he had lost something dear to him.  Recollections flooded him, brought warmth to his dark soul, but at the end of the day, he was still going to return to his lab-rat life.  He wasn’t willing to let go of his picture of how things should be, squeezing out any other possibilities.  Abrupt stop…as I realize this could be me; time to recalculate.

Oh, Maxey pay attention, use the lavender or the scorpions will get you. 

Missy


If you have been mildly amused, challenged or inspired by what you have read, please pass on my blog to a friend, colleague, family member or even random acquaintance.




Comments

  1. ah what a great metaphor for all of us..are we like Maxes????

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I think we probably are, at least to some degree. It's not all bad, we do need to be a part of something, but what determines the quality.

      Delete
  2. I like this a lot. I have not seen the movie nor heard the expression of using lavender to keep the scorpions away. Something new to understand. I'll have to see if I can rent the movie. Am I a Max??? I don't know but I do know I'm in search of it all. Trying to understand why I'm still here and what I'm supposed to be doing at this different point in my life. It's always changing as are we and I'm thinking our purpose changes as well. May never get the answer but without the question, there is no possibility. Thought provoking post, Missy. Hope to see you next week.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes, Marlene, even your blog says that you are searching. Don't you think that we are all actually seeking in some way or another? I think that not ever really answering the question keeps us seeking and discovering new possibilities...so much more fun that being bored.

      Are you planning to come to our writer's lunch on Wednesday? It would be nice to see you.

      Delete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

lent, not lint

says it all - the grotto It sticks to your clothes and shows up splendidly on black, it gets caught on the screen in the dryer and socks elaborately decorate your toes with the stuff.  Yep, lint:  the fuzzy, ravelings of fabric that cling to everything; like Velcro, only different. Lint actually has a purpose.  By scraping it from linen it can be made into a soft, fleecy fabric.  Cotton staple – lint fibers – are spun into yarn.  While all of this is riveting, especially while staring at the lint in your belly-button, there’s more to Lent than its sound doppelganger. lint: fluffy, minute shreds of yarn lent: a season of preparation These two tiny words sound similar in our vernacular, but have massively different implications in our lives.  We clean-up lint and toss it in the trash.  Lent, however is a prepping time for us to realize we’re not great at cleaning up our own stuff. Lent was originally a season between winter and summer, now called spring.  The s

road tripping: french glen and steens mountain

we took a stinkin' lot of dirt roads, but i wouldn't have it any other way The drive wasn’t long by west coast standards, a mere few of hours; which meant there was plenty of leisure (interpreted coffee time) before leaving on another road trip escapade.  I can’t begin to tell you how much fun it is to pack a bag, gas up the car and set out to see what can be seen. An interesting thing I’ve discovered on these exploits, is that having lived in Oregon for the majority of my life, I’ve missed “seeing” a lot of things. You know, I think we all get into the habit of going to the same places, which is a good thing, but we forget about the “other” places that are right in our own backyards. Case in point, yesterday afternoon, when my darling man and I went to Tumalo Falls. I’ve been to Skyliner Snow Park, but never gone the few more dirt road miles to see the falls. Holy cow! Is that lame, or what? a sweet little place, no frills, but plenty of yesteryear

pebbles

strewn pebbles Walking on the path I noticed the pebbles. I stopped and picked one up, holding it in my hand to feel it’s texture. Tiny and smooth, it felt warm from the sun. Continuing on my walk, the way was scattered with pebbles of different shapes and sizes; some flat and polished, others round and craggy with sharp edges that could cut the skin. I considered the meaning, if any. Some had been sanded to perfection by time and wear. Others recently broken and chipped were harsh, ugly to feel and look at. No matter, all were pebbles; that was fact. Missy If you have been mildly amused, challenged or inspired by what you have read, please pass on my blog to a friend, colleague, family member or even random acquaintance