Sue's Revues: It actually IS a wonderful life

Its a Wonderful Life was on the other night. I haven't seen it in a long time so I thought I'd give it a whirl. Deep in my film school bones, I know it's a great movie. Frank Capra, James Stewart, Clarence the Angel. But watching it again...it really IS a great movie. Frank Capra pulls emotion out of people in an almost Spielberg-esque manner (in other words, I assume Capra was one of Steven's inspirations?). It's really funny, too. Jimmy Stewart's delivery is well timed and snarky. I like it! And if you look really close, you can almost see a bit of Drew Barrymore in Lionel Barrymore's face. True acting royalty.

Watching this film got me thinking about my own life. I really do love my life. I don't mean this to sound all Pollyanna. I have issues, everyone does. But here are things I know: I am blessed with amazing people (both family and friends) in my life, I live in the city I've always loved and am so lucky to be consistently working yet get this absolute gift of forced time off. As soon as my kitten settles down, things will be close to perfect (let's not discuss the "baklava incident").

At Thanksgiving I was able to go back to Boston for a week and visit with my mother's side of the family. I wanted this post to be a shout out to my fabulously crazy Greek family (I include the non-Greeks here as well because as you all know, we absorb you if we love you).

The first time I met this group I was 3. I don't remember that time.

The second time I met this group I was 15. This trip is burned in my memory. My mother took me out to visit her family for 6 weeks over the summer. it had been several years since my brothers had moved out, so I was basically raised like an only child. I lived in a relatively quiet household (Turkish dad... he didn't like hullaballoo) and I was very used to being alone. Well. I walked into something that I had no idea even existed. First, there were so many girls! I lived in a house full of dudes so meeting a bunch of women (all in their 20s and 30s at the time) that were related to me was MIND BLOWING. Seriously. Plus they were hilarious and boisterous and fun! I was plied with pink champagne and side trips to Salem. I was hooked.

I hadn't visited with that family in quite a few years as our lives all got busy working, raising children, etc. Our last remaining relative of that generation is our aunt, Ronnie. A few years ago it was time for her to move out of the apartment she lived in for over 30 years. She has no children so I volunteered to go to Belmont, MA and help with the move and cleaning out her apartment (I terrorize my niece, Laney, by telling her that someday she will have to do this for me. I'm taking precautionary measures by making many trips to Goodwill now). I'm so glad I did because not only was I able to help my aunt but it jump-started my relationship with my cousins. So now I go back and visit every year at Thanksgiving (I may or may not insert some Greek guilt here about my cousins coming to the West Coast to visit now and then) and every time I'm there my Grinch heart grows three sizes bigger.

While I was watching George Bailey's town rally around to help him, I kept thinking about my recent trip and what my family is all about.

My cousin Cynthia and her husband Joe (honorary Greek) open their home and heart to me every year. When I am there I get the best meals (Cynthia is an AMAZING cook!). We lay around (covered in two dogs and one cat) and watch a ton of Hallmark movies. Well, Joe doesn't watch that many with us. And we laugh. A lot. She is like the big sister I never had. I love spending time with them.
Like brief sightings of a rare bird, I get sporadic visits with Cynthia's delightful daughter Caterina. I love this kid. She is gonna do great things, mark my words. I love spending time with her.
My gorgeous cousin Elaine is ridiculously generous with her time (with everything, really) when I am there. I get to see her nearly every day and she drives me all over the place (Massachusetts drivers are a bit scary, so I haven't ventured into renting a car or anything). We have great conversations, even when we don't agree on things. I love spending time with her.
My cousin Maria is one of the strongest women I know. Even with some severe medical issues, she remains extremely independent. I love spending time with her.
My cousin Cathy and her family hosted a beautiful Thanksgiving dinner this year. She is the ultimate hostess. We had a fantastic meal, then the men (far outnumbered in this crowd) went to watch football and the women stayed in the kitchen and had a massive dance party. It started with some Greek dancing (duh), then morphed into everything from We are Family to Paradise City. Even Aunt Ronnie danced from her chair. It was one of the best times I've ever had. I don't get to see Cathy's family every year as they travel quite a bit, so this was a particular treat.
Also at Thanksgiving I got to sit a a table of 3 generations of Caragianis women (Ronnie, myself and my second cousins Caterina and Christina) listening to tales of my aunt's life. She moved to Los Angeles when she was 19 to work for "Mr. Statler" at the LA Hilton in the 50s. She lived in Greece for 10 years in the 70s where she was CEO of a car rental place. Then she worked for a long time at a famous local Boston restaurant, Jimmy's Harborside (http://www.libertywharf.co/home/history/) that often had folks like the Kennedys in attendance. And now she's the "ambassador" at her assisted care facility, welcoming all the new tenants. She also started a Poker Club, teaching a bunch of her neighbors how to play. It's a dime a game. The best part of listening to these stories was watching the young girls hear them for the first time and realize was a complete badass their great aunt is.

And that's just a few. There are so many more stories. Every day with that group is a treat.

Look, it's a shitty, scary time in our country and in our world right now. This is the first time in my life that I even thought I might need to be an activist. I think it's up to each of us, though, to remember what it is about our lives that make them wonderful. What fills your heart? Remembering these things and making new memories is the only way we are gonna get through these next few years. Right?

Pair this post with a big glass of Ouzo and enjoy some family pix.