Well, it looks like another Thursday is here which means it’s time for my “Thoughts for Thursday” which really should be titled “Thoughts for Every Other Thursday or When I Actually Have Time or Thoughts That I Can Share When I Get a Chance”, but that title is a little too long for marketing purposes.
So here it is just the same for the 4 of you out there who feel enough pity to read this and let me know that maybe I added a chuckle or two to your day- I do this for you!
Just in case anyone thinks that these posts are some well thought out essay that I give great time and consideration to prior to spilling my brain’s contents out all over the internet, boy are you confused. I literally have no idea what I’m going to put down here until I actually sit down and start typing and it is at this exact moment that I begin glancing around looking for some Divine Inspiration that I might actually have a thought about.
I’ve done this exact same thing so many times over and over again while nothing seems to change that it’s like I’m living this day on repeat- and there it is! February… Same Day Over and Over… Nothing seems to change… Groundhog Day it is!
Ok, so I make an annual event at this time of year to watch the amazingly fantastic film, “Groundhog Day”, with the wonderful Bill Murray and the effervescent Andie MacDowell. I’m sure all of you have seen this film (It came out in 1993? Damn, I’m Old), and if not- go watch it now. I’ll wait until you’ve finished… … …
Ok, Done? Awesome, you can thank me later. This is a really fun comedy that delivers laughs and a great message at the same time. But that’s just on the surface. When you watch the film a few dozen or so times, you can’t help but think about the dark, frightening story that lies below the humor.
By the time the film ends, and (Spoiler Alert!), Phil (The Bill Murray Character not the Groundhog), has finally become the type of person he should have been all along, he has lived the same day over and over so many times that according to an early draft of the movie- 10,000 years have passed.
10,000 years!
That is insane, incomprehensible, unfathomable, inscrutable, and many other words that could be read from a thesaurus.
It’s February (Do you have to say that in your head as “Feb Broo Wary” when you spell it like I do?) 2021. The Covid Pandemic is not even 1 year old and I, like many of you, feel like every day is almost exactly the same at this point. Get up, get a mask, go to work (if you’re lucky to have a job still), go home, go to bed, get up, do it again. Maybe the highlight of the week is a trip to the grocery store if we don’t just order the food to be delivered so I don’t have to risk going out.
Thanksgiving, Christmas, Birthdays, Valentine’s Day- all look pretty much the same as every other day right now, and boy is this getting old!
I’ve often joked that my life looked a lot like quarantine before this all started (I’m much more of a “home body” than a “social butterfly”), but this is absurd even for me. I miss restaurants and movie theaters and mini-golf and bowling and walking through a store without getting angry over the people who wear their masks under their noses (seriously, it really isn’t that complicated people!). So, with not even a full year yet of living my “Covid Day” over and over again- I can’t even imagine what the same day would feel like after 10 years, or 100, or 1,000, or for the love of all that’s holy- 10,000 years.
You’ve watched every TV show and movie known to man (thankfully, I have Hulu, Netflix, Disney+, and many others). You’ve read every book, eaten every food, played every game, met every person, and done everything possible to make this day different from all the others (with the exception of watching that live action “Cats” movie- not going to happen even with 10,000 years to work with).
Yet somehow, Phil managed to eventually figure it out and work on doing what he could with what life offered him. He starts off as a complete jerk who treats others like Democrats treat Republicans and Republicans treat Democrats! (I wish that was a joke- Ha!) But as time goes on, he helps others when he can, he improves himself as a person, learns piano, reads books, earns the affection of the aforementioned Andie MacDowell, and still finds enjoyment in doing the same things every day. Every freakin’ day. 3,650,000 of them.
If he could make it through that, I suppose I can manage for a while longer.
I’ll look forward to better days ahead for all of us, but in the meantime, do what you can to help those around you who are struggling as well. Be Safe, Be Healthy, and Most Importantly, Be Kind.
We may not have as many years to get this right as Phil did.
As a bonus for any of you who actually read this nonsense all the way through- here is a list of movies like “Groundhog Day” that use the same- live the day over and over again plot, along with my ratings.
12 Dates of Christmas- I love this film! One of my favorite holiday movies that I watch with my wonderful wife (Hi, Steph!) every year. Not to be missed. 4 Stars
Christmas Every Day- It’s ok. Worth a watch, but not one of the best. 2 Stars
Edge of Tomorrow (Live, Die, Repeat)- an awesome sci-fi film starring Tom Cruise (not my favorite guy, but try to ignore that)- Action, Aliens, Awesome! 3 Stars
The Final Girls- A comedy/horror film. What’s not to like? Trapped in a horror film you’ve seen a hundred times! Lots of fun, a little juvenile in the humor but still a good watch. 2 ½ Stars
Happy Death Day/Happy Death Day 2U- Another comedy/horror film that is so much fun that they made a sequel and may even be working on the 3rd. Smart and funny. Well worth the time. 3 Stars
Palm Springs- A decent comedy with Andy Samburg on Hulu. Enjoyable! 2 ½ Stars
Source Code- More Sci-fi goodness starring Jake Gyllenhaal in a very well done film that I’ve seen several times. 3 ½ Stars.
Triangle- A somewhat confusing horror film that needs to be seen more than once to sort out what the heck is going on, but it is so good. 3 Stars
A Map of Tiny Perfect Things- a new film that I just watched this week available on Amazon Prime- not bad, not great. A good romantic dramedy, perfect for family viewing. 2 ½ Stars
Christmas Do-over- what’s with all the Christmas movies that use this plot? Jay Mohr, comedy, not terrible. 2 Stars
Well, there you go. Maybe one of these will help make your today more entertaining that your yesterday’s tomorrow. Huh? I’m confused.
I’ll leave you with a quote from one of my favorite movies that isn’t about living the same day over and over again: Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, but today is a gift. That is why they call it the Present.
Uncle Steve
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