Relax, it's just a parade.
I’ve been thinking about a scene that Bradley Cooper directed and stared in on and off for weeks. This morning scrolling Instagram it came to mind again. The post that triggered my memory was from one of my favorite instagram accounts TheHistory.source. I love when their reels pop up and today it was dedicated to the first Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. “This rare footage from the 1931 parade captures the excitement of the event and also offers a glimpse of the then newly completed Empire State Building.”
After this amusing little reel my thoughts went to a less amusing scene in Maestro. A love story that chronicles the lifelong relationship of conductor-composer Leonard Bernstein and actress Felicia Montealegre Cohn Bernstein. Bradley Cooper plays Leonard and Carey Mulligan plays Felicia. I could go on and on about this film but the Thanksgiving scene has stuck with me. Felicia is furious with Leonard and has called him into another room. A fight is sure to ensue the decor is flawless and lighting dark all you see is her smoke exhaling as she waits for Leonard to start talking. I teared up when I got to see this at the premiere. Somehow Bradley had captured what so many holidays become, a family fight. The way he lightened the mood for the audience by using Snoopy was pure genius. It made the anger seem childlike, which aren’t all fights? I could go into my personal family drama but will spare you all this time. I want to focus on Snoopy.
Snoopy’s Creator, Charles M. Schulz describes him as a little bittersweet. “The famous beagle is a very strong character. He can win or lose, be a disaster, a hero, or anything, and yet it all works out. I like the fact that when he’s in real trouble, he can retreat into a fantasy or his doghouse.” As the Flying Ace, he heroically battles the Red Baron. This is your reminded to be more like Snoopy this holiday season. Relax, take a nap, enjoy the view, maybe go on an adventure even if it’s just in your neighborhood.
The Holidays can be such a rush of emotions. Today I’m a little sad because I’m not home. My sisters have been taking turns helping my Mom clean out my grandparents house, I did my duty back in September but still I wish we were all together cleaning. Rummaging through old things is a passion of mine but for my Mom it has frozen her in time unable to move forward. I can be harsh when I know the goal I want to get there as quickly as possible, complete the task and get back to chilling with Snoopy. But that is me, Mom wants to harp on every newspaper clipping, every piece of china, make sure the things that we are giving away go to a loving home. etc.etc. My sisters and I have been doing this little dance around her to keep the spirits high but to also achieve the goal. We lost Dad almost two years ago so there are no more parental tensions at the holidays just these moments of reflection. Be gentle with your parents they won’t always be there. Make a memory today that you can cling to like the string of a parade float.
Years ago when I was in High School I was cleaning the kitchen with Dad. He was complaining about my maternal grandmothers cooking and said he didn’t like the Thanksgiving casseroles all made from canned food. I agreed, to this day even the smell of canned green beans, cream of mushroom soup and whatever fried onion horror make me gag. So we get to my Grandparents house and I proudly declare that I will not be eating canned food this year. My Dad in shock, he knew it came from him, yells Ansley!, when they use my first name I know I’m in big trouble. My Mom freaks does the grab you by the arm thing and squeezes really hard as my sweet grandmothers’ face drops into a frown. All her hard work and war rations squashed by some snobby teenage girl. Nina, as we called her, had raised three girls and had four granddaughters making her accustom to such the verbal attacks. She was graceful and simply said ok, shrugged and moved on. I felt bad so I sat right next to her and ate all the casseroles.
Today my sister is probably throwing out what expired food remains in Ninas’ pantry and Bobby Kennedy is likely working to make canned food a thing of the past. For me, I will hold on to those little strings attached to my memory balloons forever.
P.S. If you want Bradley’s anatomy of a scene from Maestro here is a great link with him explaining his directorial decisions. I love an inside look like this.
Here’s my photo from the screening when Bradly and Carey were talking about the film. If you haven’t been to the David Geffen Theater at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures in Los Angeles I highly recommend it. They are next door the LACMA and worth exploring.
P.S.S. The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade also made me think of my time shooting the department store ad as a child in Atlanta. Macy’s had a Headquarters there and I was often in the news print Ads. I was a little younger here than when I declared I would no longer eat preserved food. Love the Coca Cola in my hand too. I remember the photographer telling me to make sure I covered the logo because they did not want to deal with branding issues. My first lesson in product placement. Cheers y’all give your Mom a hug today. Are these pants back in style? And I would totally wear the riding gear button down. Giddy up!
