Episode VII: Return of Meyer Strikes Back

(This reprinted from another blog I post at, www.bringmyshuttle.blogspot.com, but I thought the subject matter bridged both subjects, so here you go...)

In 14 weeks, my son will be born. And, obviously there are a lot of expectations as to what I will show him, the things that are important to me, for whatever reason, the obsessions, the rites of passage, my favorite foods. However, one thing that's been burning in my mind, something I haven't until now had a forum to release my frustrations on, is what the hell am I going to tell him about Star Wars? Am I going to only show him the original, unedited old versions, tell him that this is what moviemaking was like in his old man's time? Tell him, over time the megalomaniac, wanton perfectionist billionaire decided that his masterpieces were not quite right? That after these movies became classics, became ingrained into our brains from such an early age, and that there were so many of us who felt the same way, that this saga, in reality, no longer belonged to him? Or do I let him be free, let him choose what he wants? Let him ooh and aah and at what he sees, the same way I did when I was younger, not caring at all about the purity of the image? What is my parental responsibilty here? IS he going to be able to tell the diffrence between CGI and models, stop-motion, and optical printing? It's getting harder, even for reservists like us, when Mr. Lucas advances his own bionic war-machine to the point that there is no difference between his reality and the fictions he creates. Geez...am I gonna have to tell my son that when the Wampa gets his arm sliced off, those 3 extra seconds of the Wampa gripping his arm is not original? These heartaches are hard to take for me.

What is my responsibilty? Yes son, the first death star really took 18 years to be completed, while the second, larger, more powerful and more accurate one was built in less than 3. I feel sorry for him in some ways, because what movies are going to be his influences? I made my Mom feint in utero in the lobby for The Last Hope...what will be there in the future? No movie we have seen yet has made my son make his Mother feint in the lobby...I'm only 27 and I blame Mr. Lucas for foreshortening my youth this way, for forcing me to take the things-were-better-in-my-day attitude that was once anethema for me, and that the once bright boy who not afraid of new special effects technolgy and ways of telling the story died. Died remembering The Story of Our Lives...

The "Movie"

Anyone who knows us knows that Drew and I love movies. We go to the theater to watch a movie at least once a week, we have a constant stream of Netflix DVDs going in and out of the house, we talk about movies a lot and, occasionally, Drew even makes a movie of his very own.

But yesterday, we saw THE movie. The one that apparently we should have seen in health class but never did. The one that is meant to instruct us on just what exactly a live birth looks like. And, oh yeah, it sure did show us, in intimate detail, exactly what to expect.

Drew’s reaction: That wasn’t nearly as disgusting as I thought it was going to be.

My reaction: That was WAY more disgusting than I thought it was going to be.

Oh well, it’s not like I have to watch. I think it was just this realization to me as the head popped out, blue and wet, that all these little kicks and jabs I’m now feeling, all my symptoms over the past 7 months, all of it is really because, holy cow, there is a PERSON INSIDE OF ME! And it’s going to have to come out sooner rather than later.

I know, it sounds crazy but I guess somehow it was just not connecting for me until last night…the process that my body is really going to have to undergo to give birth to Meyer. It’s incredible and scary and all sorts of things at once.

Your First Chaunakah - Celebrated More as a Christmas

We just returned from Hawaii...ten fun filled days spent in the sand and under the Hawaiian sun. It was quite nice. Highlights included snorkeling at a coral reef, finding an almost deserted beach and playing in the ocean, witnessing the power of a volcano close up and generally being in a warm, humid, flower-filled paradise.

The snorkeling was truly amazing. I'd never done it before and, to be honest, I was scared out of my mind! I'm not sure why, I've always been a strong swimmer and I LOVE spending time in the ocean but, for some reason, being able to SEE the bottom had my entirely creeped out. However, once I actually got in the water, put on my goggles and checked it out I was in awe of how wonderful of an experience this was. All the fish and urchins and what not just hanging out, snacking among the coral, the sunlights coming through the waves was beautiful. It was both the most relaxing and exhilerating thing I did in Hawaii. Drew attempted some underwater shots with a disposal camera...hopefully some will turn out.

Meyer, surprisingly, didn't seem to care for my swimming too much. Maybe it was because I was being active but as soon as I hit the water he would stop moving. I thought it would be a thrill for him but, nope, nothing. Conversely, he was a ball of activity on the plane rides. Constant movement, more than I had ever felt from him up until that time, the whole way there and back. Maybe the pressure was making his feel weird or something. *shrugs* Who knows?

One of the most shocking parts of the trip was, for the first time, people (strangers) actually recognizing that I'm pregnant. There was a barista in Starbucks one night after a big meal who looked at me, smiled and ever so kindly said, "are you due soon?" When I replied no she continued, "are you having multiples?" I just smiled and said no all the meanwhile freaking out in my head that there is something wrong with Meyer or me because I'm freakishly HUGE at 5 months. A few days later, when our flight was leaving Kona and I was in a seat assignment/gate agent mess from hell apparently the lady that ended up sitting next to my sister noticed me and asked my sister if I was pregnant. So, yay, I finally have a real belly and don't just look like I'm packing it on!

Anyway, there was a bit of family drama. It wasn't pleasant and I hope the fallout doesn't get too bad. But, eh, I'm 24 weeks pregnant and getting ready for the arrival of our son! I think Drew and I have really become aware of the reality of what the next few months will bring and we just get more and more excited.

Aloha!