Inspirational Movie Quotes? Respond sil vous plait.

Hi guys--

Been a long time since I posted here. Today, in an email, I received an inspirational movie quote from a friend. Here it is: From American History X.  The email was from a woman from Romania, and I am surprised at her choice, not because it is a good choice, but because she knew it. 

”There was a moment, when I used to blame everything and everyone for all the pain and suffering and vile things that happened to me, that I saw happen to my people. Used to blame everybody. Blamed white people, blamed society, blamed God. I didn't get no answers 'cause I was asking the wrong questions. You have to ask the right questions.”

 ” Like what?” 

”Has anything you've done made your life better?”

So, I responded with my own movie quote, one which you have all heard I expect, and not nearly as deep and profound, but one I wished I followed more. It is from The Wizard of Oz:

"...if I ever go looking for my heart's desire again, I won't look any further than my own backyard; because if it isn't there, I never really lost it to begin with."

Do you have an inspirational movie quote you would like to share? I know my audience is small, but I hope this might take off. Send it onto me, or post it here. 

Thanks.

LIVE!

Stop the Clock
FC 3/12/14


When did the clock stop for you,
Miss Havisham?
Who are we humans,
that we wait in our graying
wedding gowns?
That life stops,
at some point,
and we give up?
We give up.

MAN RAY

We have decided nothing else
will stir us from our
uneasy slumbers.
No glow of love
can warm our hearts.
We hobble about our
candle-lit rooms
in one shoe
awaiting our call.
Goodbye Miss H.
I wind the clock
and kiss your hand
goodbye.

On My Brief View of Fame

On My Brief View of Fame

Also posted in An Evening's Entertainment.

FAME

I have had a very brief fling with a sort of fame. Three of four years I attended the Santa Barbara Writers' Conference. Two years running, I won awards for my writing there. I got to go up on stage with several hundred people watching, and collect my award. I skipped a year, then attended the conference again.

I wrote a prose poem that year entitled Are You Listening? The poem was about the death of my grandfather. I remember, a workshop leader at the conference—my mentor, did not ask me to sit near her in the audience as she had when I won awards for my writing. I should have known something was up I suppose.

My poem did not win any awards. Nor did any other category of my work. Another fine workshop leader in writing non-fiction using fiction techniques said she had considered putting me up for another award, but a woman who's husband had died also had a piece that ultimately got an award. So, dead husband trumps dead grandfather. I have no problem with this. Her work probably surpassed mine, and deserved an award. I'd gotten my glory. Subsequently, I received a nomination for a Pushcart Prize, which is a national award for writers published in the small press. (Of course, I only got nominated by the publication, and I did not get onto the short list for the award. As such, I might as well have not received the nomination at all as far as the committee for the prize was concerned.)

I have been searching for my Are You Listening? poem. When and if I come across it, I will post it here. It used to be online but is alas, no more. Guess no one listened.

Found it. Yes, my name is misspelled.