I finally got around to watching the Oprah episode which reunited the cast of The Sound of Music (aired October 28, 2010). That's what happens when you've been cooped up for two days with strep throat - you finally get around to scrolling to the very bottom of your DVR list.
So of course Oprah has a very moving tribute to Julie Andrews from, of all people, Rosie O'Donnell. But surprisingly, O'Donnell was extremely genuine and proceeds to tell Andrews how The Sound of Music helped her daydream her way through a less-than-perfect childhood, and how the movie today still touches a special place inside her.
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| Age 7 at softball game |
Which got me thinking about a movie that had such a profound impact on me growing up: Now and Then. The movie debuted in 1995 and I remember watching this movie over and over with my friend Abby. Somehow the four girls seemed so real to me -- and now that I'm older I realize that they really, truly were.
I identified with the main character Samantha most -- what can I say, she shared my melancholy outlook on life. Her disgust with her parents' divorce, her tendency to say things like, "If you don't fall in love, you can't get hurt." My melodramatic teen heart ate it up. And besides, she grew up to become a novelist! Oh, how I wanted to be her, hang-ups and all.
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| Senior Year |
Even today I still enjoy the movie, only now I relate to the grown-ups they become. The difficulty of keeping childhood and long-distance friendships in tune, not wanting to go back home, worrying that everyone might be happier than you.... been there, done that.
Now and Then taught me that problems don't go away once you get older, but that sometimes all it takes is a good girls' weekend to put some of those old hurts to rest. I'm so grateful I learned both of those lessons at an early age, and even more grateful that I still have old friends (like Abby) in my life!
I only hope to share this movie with my own daughter one day. And who knows --- maybe the four of us will watch it together. |
| Our girls, only three months apart |
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