Musings From the Dark Side

Friday, May 27, 2016 I am not okay. I’ve come to this realization over many years of searching, questioning, and introspection. It seems to me that life is a series of losses, and the aftermath of those experiences are the things that define us as individuals. Dealing with loss and grief is universal, as much a part of life as breathing and eating. For instance, the death of a loved one is always traumatic and overwhelming. There often is the horrible pain and suffering that the person went through, its effects on the person’s family members, and the arrangements that must be made after the person is gone. I have been through this a few times in my life, as I’m sure all of you reading this have, and I still feel the void that my grandmother, grandfather, grand-uncle, and aunt left in my life, even years later. I can even feel the loss of my pet dog who passed on ten years ago. I don’t think that pain ever goes away. Even though death is probably the major source of these ...

May 19, 2016 There’s a great scene in Tim Burton’s underrated 1992 film, Batman Returns , in which Bruce Wayne (aka Batman, played by the fantastic Michael Keaton) and Selina Kyle (aka Catwoman, portrayed by the incomparable Michelle Pfeiffer) share a quiet evening by the fire in Wayne Manor. In the midst of their date, the conversation turns to Wayne’s romantic history. Selina asks Bruce if he’s ever been involved in a serious relationship. He says he had one, but it didn’t work out. “What went wrong?” Selina asks. “Hang on, I think I know. You kept things from her.” “No. Told her everything,” replies Bruce. “Oh, yeah?” says Selina, a bit surprised. “And the truth frightened her?” “Well, there are two truths…” Bruce answers. “She had trouble reconciling them because I had trouble… reconciling them.” Selina smiles knowingly in response. Bruce continues, “See, Vicki thought...” “Vicki?” Selina chuckles. “Ice skater or stewardess?” Bruce laughs a little. “No, she was a...

May 7, 2016 Sometimes life surprises you in ways you don’t expect. Yesterday, I went to therapy. It was my second session, and I desperately needed it. You see, the past week hasn’t been rainbows and lollipops for me. Well, the past couple months, really. Hence the therapy. Anyway, without going too deep into it, sometimes talking your feelings out with a professional is a very good thing, and can offer a perspective you may not see on your own. We all get caught up in our own stuff, whether it be work-related stress or things that happen at home. I urge you to seek help if you need it. I certainly did. Before going on, though, I want to reminisce about one of my favorite scenes in Spider-Man 2, starring Tobey Maguire and directed by the great Sam Raimi. In this particular scene, there was no action, no explosions, not even a guy in a costume. Instead, there was a table and three chairs, occupied by Peter Parker (Maguire), Dr. Otto Octavius (the perfectly cast Alfred Mo...