Sometimes all that a busy, burnt-out mom needs to do is slip away.
That is exactly what I did last night. In lieu of the Haagen-Dazs and pizza that my tattered nerves were craving, I spent the evening at the movies with a dear friend and a diet root beer. Much better for both the spirit and the figure!
No Reservations is fun and funny and not offensive in the least–the perfect get-away. Its major theme is one of letting go of one’s need to be always in control—having too many “reservations,” get it?—yet the real beauty of the film for me, as I am not (yet) a 4-star chef and do not particularly care about the placement of the garnish on my meals, was in thinking, really thinking about the love that the little girl in the movie had for her mother.
The mother had won her daughter’s love, you see, in a hundred happy ways. The mother’s smile was radiant and her playful sensibility, ever-present. Life, for her, was fully worth living…and her child was at the top of her to-do list.
I am thinking today about the ways that I’ll be remembered, and about the fact that I am so very important to five young lives.
And though it’s not (yet) my gourmet sauces for which I’m noted, perhaps the recollection of my family’s laughter will top the menu.
Find a friend and go to this movie. The pizza beforehand is optional.
*The parenthetical “yets” in this post are tongue-in-cheek. Just so you know. : )
I love that you break away from the hectic every day life and spend time with friends or your dh. This is something I need to work on, it never seems to happen. The movie sounds wonderful, I am glad your day got better!!
It’s funny you should say that, Jamie, because in reflecting upon it all this morning I thought about how you had said in your comment yesterday that you’d pray my day got better.
You do much good with your prayers, my friend.
Do yourself a favor and find the original… a German film called Mostly Martha. You can compare and contrast the two.
I can’t wait to see No Reservations. I love Catherine Zeta Jones and it looks like, from the trailer, they did a great job with the American version!
I’ve been wanting a dependable review of this movie. I think hubby is treating me to its viewing Friday night.
God Bless
Great to know there is a good movie out there! Thanks Margaret!
The review on ScreenIt was less than stellar. The man wakes up in the woman’s home, on more than one occasion and a little girl (her niece) is in the home. While nothing is shown ScreenIt mentioned that immorality is definitely present in this movie. An immorality that was not present in Mostly Martha.
Actually, one scene fades to black with Martha and Mario kissing and then the next scene shows Mario making pancakes for the girls for breakfast wearing the same shirt implying that he spent the night there with the niece in the same flat. They are also shown dressing for their wedding as the credits role in the same apartment (he comes out of the bathroom to ask which tie to wear) which implies that it is their apartment as in they both live there together even though they aren’t married yet.
Check your facts, please.
Besides, I don’t think Margaret was suggesting we should take our children to see this movie. Certainly as Catholics, we understand that much of the “art” in the world does not conform to our Catholic standards of morality but this does not mean that adults exercising prudence and due discretion cannot enjoy some of these less than perfect works, especially when the over all message is uplifting and life affirming.
And here’s me thinking that he had slept on the couch! 🙂
Oh Margaret, now I want to see this movie! I wonder if our kids will let us get away. I don’t think there’s a movie out there that doesn’t have its worldly (or even just plain dumb) part. Your thinking that he slept on the couch is actually a great memory for me. Before we were married, my husband visited me when I lived with two other girls. He used my bedroom. I slept on the couch! We fell completley head-over-heels in love in the 10 days he visited.
Good for you Margaret! I say…if they don’t show it, you don’t have to assume it. You can choose to assume the moral choice was made.
Or…as my husband wryly commented, “He’s a guy. We don’t always remember to change our clothes.”
Thanks for the review, Margaret. I was wondering about this one.
He’s a funny one that husband of yours! I’d bet that he and my husband would get along great.