“…Sure there may
be risk involved, but that's true for anybody. But you get through it and life
goes on. And when it's all said and done there will be a little piece of
immortality with Jackson 's
good looks and my sense of style, I hope. Please, please I need your support. I
would rather have thirty minutes of wonderful than a lifetime of nothing
special.” …
~Shelby quote in Steel Magnolias
“I'd rather have 30 minutes of wonderful than
a lifetime of nothing Special” … I can read this quote out loud over and
over again as I love the sentiment, the principle and the thought behind it…but…where
do we draw the line? Or should we draw a line?
Last night I watch “Steel Magnolias” (the
remake) and even though I totally remembered the emotions I felt when I saw the
original, back in 1994-1995 (I’m truly a sucker for them feel good or emotional
movies…you’d think I could cry on command J), watching it this time brought back another flow of tears, uncontrollable tears, as it hit me even harder. I was sobbing, with snot
dripping down my nose (thanking God that “the hubby” was fast asleep and my
daughter had just left me to go to bed. She had already seen the movie and I
would have never ever heard the end
of it!) but then 10 seconds later, I was laughing hysterically through my tears
at one particular scene. The one where M’Lynn is so upset and hurt that she is
screaming her pain and she feels like she just wants to hit something, someone
just to take her pain away. After that, Clairee grabs Ouiser, hides herself
behind her as if she was a shield and then tells M’Lynn to go ahead and hit
Ouiser… hysterical!
The emotions I felt this time around were
very much different. While I remember being emotional, it sure was not to the
level I felt last night and it was so clear to me why I was so out-of-sorts
this time.
It was simply because I am a mother. And
other than the joy she experienced, the anxiety, worry and that pain M’Lynn is
feeling throughout the course of the movie are all feelings brought on by a
situation that is my worst nightmare…
In the movie, “Steel Magnolias,” Shelby - who suffers from
diabetes and who regardless of the doctor’s pessimistic prognosis in regards to
the impact that carrying a pregnancy will have on her health - decided
regardless of the risk to have a baby. She said, “I'd rather have 30 minutes of
wonderful than a lifetime of nothing special.”
Was that selfish on her part to want to
bring a child in this world knowing the possible consequences? Was that
self-regard on her part to want to fulfill her dream knowing that she might not
be there to see it fully come to term? Was she just thinking of the moment and
forgetting the consequences? Was she being egotistical, not thinking of who could potentially be left
behind? Your parents, your siblings, your husband… and that child you’re so
willing to sacrifice everything for…
I thought of my children and prayed that if
ever in that predicament, they will know to make the decision that will never jeopardize
them being with us, being with me…
But isn't that “the pot calling the kettle black”, isn't that me being the selfish
one? I know the joy of being a mother. I had that yearning of wanting to give
birth. I know the pain of trying and having a hard time carrying through… so
how could I not understand and want someone else dear to me to want to
experience, to live that love?
My answer is again simple… I am a mother…
This situation is a worst-case scenario and
hopefully I will never have to live it. Yes, there will always be a reason why
you can’t do something but I would never want to be the road block in my child
life.
There are so many “wonderful” things that we want to experience and the question is:
are you going to let anyone stop you? So just where are you today, I don’t need
to remind any of us how time is speeding ahead of us. It’s time to start living
now…
Right
now, right here, what 30 minutes of wonderful would represent for you? What
will be worth achieving, acquiring, experiencing if only but 30 minutes?...
What
comes to your mind as you read this question? A word, an image, a feeling or a
thought…what is missing that if only you will feel complete once you realize
it.
Write
it down, pin it on your “must” board and let the piece of paper give you the
motivation you need every time you walk in front of it…
To our 30 minutes of wonderful…
RosieSandz
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