A RIVER RUNS THROUGH

Just some thoughts:​

“We can love completely what we cannot completely understand.”
(A River Runs Through-Norman Maclean) 

Some things that are said are worth repeating. Well, I think the same goes for things that are seen, some are also worth repeating.

The older I get I find myself going back and watching movies I have previously seen a second, a third and even more times in some cases. Too often I think we have the idea both with books and movies, “once seen, once read,” move on.

Such movies as “Places in The Heart,” “Mr. Holland’s Opus,” “A Summer Place,” “Inventing the Abbott’s.” “Cool Hand Luke,” “Tender Mercies,” “Junior Bonner,” and of course, two of my all time favorites, “American Graffiti” and “Hoosiers,” should be seen more than once. Maybe yearly. 

​
Another such movie for me to watch again is the film, “A River Runs Through,” based on the novel of the same name by Norman Maclean. It is said to be a true story. It is about two brothers growing up in the 1920s’ in Montana who are returning home after becoming adults. Their father is a Presbyterian minister. One son is the “good son,” the other son is rebellious. A theme often brought out in the film is the love of fly fishing in the Blackfoot River and how it impacts the lives of all three of them. Much of the film is told from the “good brother’s” perspective. If one is not careful they can get caught up in the beauty of the film that they miss the wisdom of Norman and his observations about life. Some classic lines are said in this film. 

“Eventually, all things merge into one, and a river runs through it.”
 
“Slowly we became silent, and silence is an enemy to friendship.”
 
“At sunrise everything is luminous but not clear.”
 
“All there is to thinking is seeing something noticeable which makes you see
something you weren’t noticing which makes you see something that isn’t visible.”
 
“When I was young a teacher had forbidden me to say, “more perfect” because
she said if a thing is perfect it can’t be more so. But by now I have seen enough of
life to have regained my confidence in it.”
 
“I guess in the lives of all of us there are some things that bear repeating.
There are some things in life worthy of a “do over.” 

​“As I get considerably beyond the biblical allotment of three score years
and ten, I feel with increasing intensity that I can express my gratitude for still
being around on the oxygen-side of the earth’s crust, only by not standing pat on
what I hitherto know and love. While oxygen lasts, there are still new things
to love, especially if compassion is a form of love.”

​Yes there are some things worth experiencing over again. Books, movies, music and working on relationships. They all are worthy of another try, for I think with each of us there are some things we wish we could do over…I certainly have a few. You?
======================================================================================
July 19, 2016
Keep on,
​Larry Adamson