It really is a Wonderful Life

It has been an emotional twenty-four hours. Last night there was a big fight in the family which had been brewing up for a while, which was upsetting for all concerned. I will not go into the details because some things should remain private. Today was my last day at school before the holidays, which I normally enjoy, but I was tired after last night and it didn't give me my normal feeling of excitement, although it all went fine. So when the five of us met up to see "It's a Wonderful Life" at the GFT I was worried that it would not be the joyous celebration that I had envisaged! However I need not have worried, the film worked its magic on all of us and we had a great evening. "It's a Wonderful Life" is such a good film, and even though I watch it every year I never get tired of it, and in fact I always notice something new in it. Like most people I am moved to tears at the ending, especially when George's brother says, "A toast to my big brother George. The richest man in town", but the film is full of wonderful moments. This year I was thinking about how bad guy Henry Potter seems to understand the frustration that George feels about his life, when he is trying to tempt him to come and work for him; in a way George's enemy understands him better than his own wife, brother and mother, none of whom support George in his quest for adventure. It's not as if they don't know that he is desperate to try pastures new. When his brother comes home from college with a new wife and a job offer, why doesn't their Mum say, "Great idea, but first work for four years in the Building and Loan so that George can have a break." James and I smiled at each other wryly when an anguished George says to Mary, "You call this a happy family? Why did we have to have all these kids?" but in fact I do think we are essentially a happy family, despite our differences in personality and occasional dreadful clashes, because even though this has been a difficult few days we all turned up to go to the film and then out for dinner together. And at dinner (in Red Onion, very nice) we all chatted and laughed about all sorts of subjects, from science to medicine to politics to chat-up lines to James' work to films and holidays. Friendly relations have not been completely restored but I am optimistic!