Family Matters

Eventually they found that time weighed heavily upon them,
even though it was so precious.
-Stefan Zweig
"The Post-Office Girl"

SOME SECRETS (Czech Republic/Slovak Republic 2002)
Screened on: May 10, 2003, Tribeca Film Festival
Director: Alice Nellis

A touching and absurd road movie in which a grandmother fulfills her dream, a mother stops treating her grown-up daughters like children, the daughters stop treating their husbands like idiots, and the ashes of the late father are spread all over the countryside. Nellis creates a charming portrait that reveals how the families that seemingly get along the worst sometimes love one another the most. Winner Best First Film at the San Sebastian Film Festival.

My Comments: 5 STARS

I loved the casting of these very real-to-life characters. The subtitles were beautifully supported by music with English lyrics. The female director had a keen eye. I liked her direction of a meal at a dinner table. Throughout the film there are family squabbles (some of which we can ALL relate to).

A Family really matters as they deal with issues like grieving, accidents, extramarital affairs, growing up, neglect in marriage and the lack of communication that often occurs in family life. The road trip idea makes us realize life is for us to enjoy NOW.

In my opinion, I would say, "Bury me in the city of place that I die for it is fate that brought me there."

Twenty-five years ago today:

January 12, 1985
Saturday
My bed hasn't been made in some time. The pad is slacking off without mom's magic touch (and my laziness). I am planning on a bike ride now. It's 10AM but I may ride to ma's for a bite to start me off first.

I've practically forgotten all about meltin' Meta. I think I'll lay off of calling her and just see if she decides to call on me--or not.

The funny thing is that I was just thinking of Aubrey yesterday and this morning I heard him raking the leaves next door. Hurrah! I purposely abandoned two letters that I started to write so that I could get my bike and see him. I wanted to know how he's doing. He seems like a lonely kid. He's a nice kid, only thirteen and very bright (even if he does say that he has problems with his mathematical division). I mentioned our biking together sometime.
Aubrey said, "I brought my ten-speed, so maybe when I'm finished."

I went to mom's for a bowl of cereal and then returned. I knew Aub was still working in the next door neighbors' backyard because I could hear him. I left my front door open and about fifteen minutes went by when I heard a slight knocking on the screen door.
"Is anyone home?" Aubrey asked in a polite shout about way.
And so, we rode along the beach in our respective bicycles. We stopped to talk on the beach overlooking the Alameda Ballena Bay.
"You know, I've never even been over the Golden Gate Bridge," Aub stated sadly.
"Well, why don't we go?"
"I'll have to check with my landlord."
So, we rode our bikes to his apartment near the Acapulco Restaurant on Lincoln Avenue (between Willow and Walnut Streets).
His landlord said, "You should really ask your mom."
And so, we rode our bikes to the Alameda Beauty College where his mother was working.
She met me and said, "Okay."
Aubrey rode his bike home. I rode my bike home and hopped into my car, driving over to Aubrey's apartment house.
"Wow, I like your car."
We were about to have a fun-filled day. I was going to give Aub a tour of Berkeley but decided to go to Sausalito instead since it was something that I rarely do. Then he could experience the drive over the Golden Gate Bridge.

When we arrived in Sausalito we passed a few shops and then I bought each of us a hamburger at HAMBURGERS 1/3 LB. We ate outside and watched the passer-by folks. After searching and finding a bathroom we left for the local flea market. We didn't buy anything there. Aub wanted a knife but he didn't choose to buy it.

We ventured into San Francisco and I felt like going into one of my favorite stores called HEADLINES, a card/gift shop. Aubrey laughed when he saw a monkey key chain with the surprise hard-on. He was also surprised by the chocolate and vanilla flavored "dick" candy lollipops.

I ended up buying a $40 bullet belt that was 25% off. I bought Aub a set of silver handcuffs which, I think, made his day. It was funny, yet neat, when the sales clerk asked if I was Aubrey's guardian.

I wonder what Aub thought when he saw some of the explicit greeting cards. I know what it's like to live in suburban Alameda as a boy so it must have been a bit of an awakening. We left after the purchases. As I left the store I ran into a blond fellow that works in my office building. We exchanged "hello's" is all.

By now it was 5PM, so we headed back on the freeway for Alameda. Aub was ready for some video game playing but I had a feeling his mom may be a little worried, so I took him straight home.

I continued over to ma and pa's to show off my new bullet belt purchase. I telephoned Paloma to verify our date.

I went home and got ready. I went to mom's house again and got into a minor argument with my dad about the PG&E bill. He wants me to pay him versus my writing a separate check to PG&E. I felt it didn't make a difference, so I just left over the nonsense of it.

I telephoned Paloma once again at 8:45PM and headed out to the Berkeley Hills to pick her up for our night out to Baxter's. I took notice of one of her Halloween pictures in her black and white outfit on our way to Concord. Tonight, Paloma was wearing black leather and looked 'totally hot'! When we walked into the club we were 'show stoppers'.
Karen Melton asked, "Who are you with?"
"Her name is Paloma."
"Oh, she is cute."

Then, a fellow body-builder from Paloma's fitness center entered the club. They exchanged a few words. He looked short, stocky and husky. I was sure he was checking me out, wondering who I was in relation to Paloma. At the same time, Karen kept looking Paloma over, wondering who she was in relation to me.

Karen's geeky bartender boyfriend has a porcupine haircut. In fact, Paloma and I kept laughing about it.

We had a great time dancing. Paloma made such a sweet comment about my being so nice and truthful.
"I love going out with you."
I felt the same way of course. It made me feel good that she said this.

After a few drinks it was funny as I nonchalantly mentioned the idea of participating in a foursome (just to see Paloma's reaction).
She blew me away when she said, "Yeah...me and Karen and you and her porcupine boyfriend."
I think I may be game for that. HaHa...no way!

It was also funny when Paloma almost got into a fight with some gal who took her parking space. Paloma got out of the car and was standing in the space so that I could get it.

I drove Paloma home and I was feeling 'wasted' after my many drinks. I got home finally with my gas gauge below the E mark. Paloma telephoned to make sure I arrived home safely. She was worried. She cares.

Constantly courted by so many charming and elegant strange men, dizzy from being the center of such an intense circle of admirers, she shakes herself awake for a moment and wonders in bewilderment, "Who am I? Who am I really? Who am I? And what do they all see in me?"
-Stefan Zweig
"The Post-Office Girl"