Diversey Rock & Bowl was the site of Chicago's Lebowski Fest last night.
I knew it would be an awesome experience and my expectations were surpassed. Here I am in my Viking Maude outfit (sewed on my machine that very morning!). I'm hanging with my eldest son Rory, who knows every line of dialog from the movie.
Being a thirsty crowd, we consumed some White Russians during the evening.
We cheered on the bowlers who threw lots of gutter balls, but improved as the evening wore on.
The Achievers!
Many years ago, I interviewed Judith Guest, author of Ordinary People, for a piece in Writer's Digest magazine. I loved how her first novel started out as a short story with characters that she just couldn't put down. One thing she mentioned was that her publisher wanted to change the book's title, but she wouldn't hear of it.
The concept of "ordinary" is a huge part of our favorite Christmas movie, It's a Wonderful Life. Told through vivid imagery and metaphor, this classic tale transcends time and technology. How does a b&w film from 1946, in the days before cgi, grab us year after year? For one thing, it's a heartfelt story that celebrates a hero who emerges from his ordinary life to accomplish something meaningful. With compelling characters and a pinch of quirkiness such as the squirrel running up Uncle Billy's shoulder, It's a Wonderful Life illustrates how accidents and unanticipated events bring out the best, or worst, in people. That's the way ordinary life works ... in 1946, in 2007 and beyond.
