Gimmie that Old Time Religion...

Hello there,

The reason why I entitled this blog 'gimmie that old time religion' is two-fold. A) It is the title of a hit gospel tune from quite awhile ago and B) after just returning home from seeing the new romantic comedy "Must Love Dogs" (sidebar: It's cute. I'd recommend it), I've realized that things just aren't like they used to be.... and I really wish they were.

Things... and I'm talking about the important things... are just different these days. Religion is different. Love is different. Movies are different. Music is different...the list goes on. As I sat in the theater tonight it dawned on me. Things have changed and even though I wasn't really around for 'things' prior to the change... I wish they had stayed the same. I don't know if many of you are familiar with the works of John Cusak, but I love him. I loved him in High Fidelity, loved him more in Serendipity and tonight my love for Mr. Cusak was topped off with Must love Dogs. One of the main reasons I am drawn to his movies (besides of course his distinguished yet childish good looks and unbelievably dry humor) is because he seems to choose movies that are honest. Really true-to-life movies. Movies about love or lack there of. Movies with wit and joy that manage to touch the heart without even trying. A wash in a sea of sex-filled 'made for teen' movies and Japanese horror remakes, these kind of movies, Cusak or not, are rare. I haven't seen many of the good old black and whites like Casablanca or It's a Wonderful Life, but I have a feeling that those are just honest movies, too.
That's the same with today's music. Where did all the truth go?? I often find myself listening to the smooth voice of Harry Connick, Jr. and, although, I assume some of my affections towards the handsome crooner come from the fact that my father is also a fan, I can't help but think his songs are as honest as a good Cusak movie. Granted, in a way, maybe today's music IS honest but because society changed so much the truth changed with it. In fifty years, instead of classics like "Days of wine and roses" or "Let me call you Sweetheart" we'll have classics like "She thinks my tractor's sexy" and "Drop it like it's hot". I'm not looking forward to that! Maybe my thoughts tonight come from spending most of my time with the elderly. Eight hours a day around folks no younger than 70 can make a girl yearn for the 'good old days' (even if her good ol' days were in 1996). I just really wish life was like that still. I'm sure they had their fair share of hangups back when love was choosing "your song" on the jukebox and religion was more prevalent than Christmas Eve and Easter, but I can't help but wonder if I have a heart that would have beat a little faster back in the day.

Oh well, I'm living my life now and loving it... and until someone invents a time machine to take me back to 1943, I'll have to settle for Connick and Cusak. Quite frankly... I'll take them ;)

Peace, Love, and the Good Old Days~
Tempa