I collected all the things people wrote about my father after he passed. Then, I put them into one of those word counters. The word most used to describe my father was “kind”. Next, was “wonderful”. After that came “gentle”, “sweet”, and “loving”. Then, “amazing”, “great”, and “special”. Then “caring”, “thoughtful” and “Godly”.

People wrote about his radiant smile. One person said he was one of the best persons they’d ever met. Another said he was one of the nicest persons they’d encountered. One person commented there weren’t enough superlatives to describe him. Someone else wrote “I love that man. I feel like your dad touched everyone he met.” Someone else similarly said in reference to my father, “Some people touch your life in a way you can’t describe.”

There are so many qualities that defined him. Humble, kind, genuine. As my mother put it, “He was the best. He was the best of the best.” The one that I always came back to was good. He was a good man. I used to tell him that all the time. I would say, “you are a good guy, Dad.” He used to respond to me with the words of Jesus from Mark 10:18: “Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone.”

After awhile I realized he would never accept me calling him good. So, to save all that trouble, I just started calling him “OK”. I would say to him, “You’re an OK guy, Dad.” And he was much more comfortable with that.

And I had to really think – what can I say to my father that he will accept? I knew he wouldn’t accept it if I called him the best father in the world. So, instead I would tell him, “You’re the best father I’ve ever had.” He was OK with that too.

I used to ask him too, “Are you my buddy?” After answering “yes” to this about a thousand times a week, he finally said one time: “Of course I’m your buddy. You don’t even have to ask.” So, from then on I started saying to him, “You’re my buddy dad.” And he was my buddy. My father, mother and I did everything together. One day toward the end, I saw a quote from Morrie Schwartz that said, “Death ends a life, not a relationship. All the love you created is still there.” So then, I changed it to, “You will always be my buddy, Dad.” I had no idea he would pass away so shortly afterward.

Despite all his wonderful qualities, I’m not sure he had even the faintest clue how much he meant to those he came in contact with. The scripture that comes to my mind when I think about him is Isaiah 66:2 which says, “This is the one I esteem: he who is humble and contrite in spirit, who trembles at My word.” As Jesus put it, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” Despite his abundance of wonderful qualities, he knew that he was a sinner in need of a savior. And he was so thankful for God’s mercy and grace.

There is a book by Eugene Peterson titled “A Long Obedience in the Same Direction.” I’d give you some quotes from the book, but I can’t because I haven’t read it. But the title was the very definition of my father. From the time I was a baby to the time my father passed away, he was a model of faithful devotion. When I was a toddler, I used to come downstairs early and find him and sit on his lap as he read the Bible. When I was old and somehow managed to get up early I’d find him reading his Bible. He was always hungry for God.

Something I wrote about my father fifteen years ago had this paragraph: “You taught me so many things, but the best thing you did for me is model what it means to love God, how to seek Him, what it means to be desperate for Him, and how to persevere when nothing goes right. Simple, pure, and genuine faith and desire for your King. I picture you like Jacob, worshiping God in his old age as he leaned on the top of his staff (Genesis 47:31). Loving God with all your strength, right to the very end.

The last couple years it was one thing after another in terms of his mind and body breaking down. He did everything in his power to get well. Despite all the suffering he went through, he never changed. Through it all he was same kind, gentle, loving person. He was faithful and he was grateful. He worshipped God while using his cane. He worshiped God while using his walker. He worshipped God when he could hardly move in his hospital bed. He praised the Lord even though he no longer knew what day, month or year it was or the steps to putting on a T-shirt. He listened to the worship song we put in the slideshow and would weep because he was so thankful for what God had done for him.

There is a quote by German theologian Meister Eckhart that says, “God is at home. We are in the far country.” And the Apostle Paul said, “I would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord.” My father was good, he was humble and he was faithful. He had my deepest love, admiration and affection. He meant the world to me and was the best man I’ve ever known. I am going to miss him more than I could ever express. But now he is home.

The post Tribute to my Father first appeared on Leaving a Mark.

I will now give you some diet advice free of charge. But first, a quick story.

It used to be that I got a Butter Crunch ice cream on the way to the gym every other week or so. Then, it became once or twice a week. Then, three or four times a week. Then, pretty much every day.

Spending so much time at the ice cream stand gave me the opportunity to study the menu closely each time as I waited for my ice cream. After many days, I realized that they sell other things besides Butter Crunch ice cream. I know what you’re thinking right now: “What could be better than Butter Crunch ice cream?” Well, after examining the menu I came to see that they also sell Butter Crunch ice cream sundaes!

The next day, rather than getting my usual Butter Crunch ice cream, I leveled up to the new pinnacle of ice cream existence – the Butter Crunch ice cream sundae. On top of the butter candy ice cream, there was whipped cream, butterscotch, and butterfingers. Butter heaven!

I once again know what you’re thinking right now: “This story is a lot longer than you promised and I’m leaving posthaste for my buttery treat.” Not so fast. It was simply…not good. There was so much butterscotch, I wanted to puke. It was even more sugary tasting than that Coldstone Creamery place. In short, I hated it and haven’t had Butter Crunch ice cream since.

As Nolan Ryan once remarked, “”Every hitter likes fastballs just like everybody likes ice cream. But you don’t like it when someone’s stuffing it into you by the gallon.” What is it you really like? Pizza? Have 10 pizzas tonight! I promise you won’t want pizza for awhile! You like Chinese food? Order a dozen Pu-Pu Platters and go to town! You want some chocolate malt balls? Buy all the boxes of malt balls in the store and eat them in one sitting. You’ll want to spend some time away from those Whoppers afterward – I promise! And, if your problem is Butter Crunch ice cream – just go to the Butter Crunch ice cream sundae. Why? Because too much of a good thing can be absolutely disgusting. 

The post Butter Crunch Ice Cream first appeared on Leaving a Mark.

His major contribution to the world was not a set of aphorisms. He was born in a turdy barn, grew up in a dirty world, got baptized in a muddy river. He put his hands on the oozing wounds of lepers, he let whores brush his hair and soldiers pull it out. He went to dinner with dirtbags, both religious and irreligious. His closest friends were a collection of crude fishermen and cultural traitors. He felt the spittle of the Pharisees on his face and the metal hooks of the jailer’s whip in the flesh of his back. He got sweaty and dirty and bloody – and he took all of the sin and mess of the world onto himself, onto the cross to which he was nailed naked.

In his work and in his words, Jesus is making promises to the beaten, the torn, the broken, the depressed, the desperate, the poor, the orphan, the abandoned, the cheated, the betrayed, the accused, the left-behind.

The post Fixing the World first appeared on Leaving a Mark.

This kid buried his head on my shoulder.
He was fast asleep. On the jet airplane.
I wanted to say, “Hey brother, your father is on the other side.”
But little Mexican boy was much too young to be my brother.
Still, I wanted to say “brother”, as if I were Hulk Hogan
Exclaiming to Mean Gene, “Let me tell you something brother”
As if I were a 10 year old.
Remembering when the Hulkster used to do away with the bad guys
An old person, but kid at the same time
Maybe “brother” wasn’t far off
One young in age. Another young in spirit
Both seeking rest
Dreaming of pile drivers
On this incredibly uncomfortable airplane

The post To the Kid in Seat 39B first appeared on Leaving a Mark.

The last time somebody stared at me was about a week ago. It was an African American girl sitting with her mother. We were on the train. I think she was about a year and a half old. Possibly younger. Somehow, I caught her attention. Whatever her age, she was young enough to not feel the least bit self-conscious about fixing her gaze on me the entire trip. Since she was so obviously staring at me, I plainly stared right back at her. She gave me a searching look. As she tried to figure me out, I tried to figure her out. What was she curious about? What caught her attention? What was it about me that so entertaining?

I wonder what will happen to that little girl. Perhaps she will become a famous author or athlete or musician. Maybe she will own a restaurant like Princess Tiana. Maybe she will one day become the President of the United States. Yes, maybe the future President engaged me in a stare-down on a train in Boston.

* * *

I remember being a little boy in the first grade. At the time I attended a private school, which offered education up to the sixth grade.

I remember staring at the older kids. They were so big. I wondered if I would become big like that one day. The idea of getting big seemed a million years away – like it would never happen.

Another thing I found curious was the older girls. One in particular caught my eye. I was fascinated. I hadn’t seen anything so pretty.

One day, I was excused from class in order to use the bathroom. As I walked the halls, I noticed a classroom full of older kids. I put my face against the transparent square glass panel and peered in. It just so happened to be the classroom that the pretty girl was sitting in.

Needless to say, I was awestruck. I must’ve been staring at the pretty girl for some time, because I clearly caught her attention. This took me by complete surprise, as I was certain that I was invisible to the upperclassmen and especially the pretty girl. What did they care about a little kid?

The reason I know with certainty that I caught this girl’s attention is that she looked me right in the eye. Then, she scrunched up her face and stuck out her tongue right at me.

I was elated. I was not invisible after all. The pretty girl knew that I existed.

* * *

Perhaps I should have referred to that pretty girl by her name. I can’t do that because I don’t remember what it was. I do, however, have one other memory of her, a few years later.

We had just got out of church on a Sunday afternoon. Rather than the usual ham salad sandwiches in the parking lot of Alexander’s Supermarket, we were treated to D’Anegelos. I can’t express how much I loved D’Angelos. The diced pickles. The turkey smothered in mayo. The bread. The oil on top. I was in heaven.

It just so happened that the pretty girl was working at the store. My parents recognized her. They said hello. She spoke with them for a little bit. Unlike our previous encounter with the face and tongue, she was shy. It was likely the first job she had ever held. I think she was nervous.

I don’t recall ever saying a word to this girl. I just listened as she spoke with my parents. The conversation wasn’t long, but long enough for her to once again recognize my presence on earth.

I couldn’t help but stare at her again. This time, I also gave her a hint of a smile.

The post Pardon the Way that I Stare first appeared on Leaving a Mark.

“Here is the world. Beautiful and terrible things will happen. Don’t be afraid.”

One of my co-workers had a baby today. A beautiful baby of course – aren’t they all? A few hours later, a different co-worker received a call that his father had died. His dad was thought to be healthy. The death was a complete surprise.

Then, there is me. An outside observer in all of this. Happy for one. Sad for the other. Unsure how to be both at the same time.

I remember reading about stages of grief. We are shocked. We get angry at others. The anger turns on ourselves. We become confused. We question. What just happened? Why? What could I have done differently? How do I make sense of this tragedy? How do I move forward in life with this giant hole in my heart?

I think about the death more than the birth. I can’t imagine facing what is ahead for my co-worker. Mostly, I am afraid for myself. Scared to death of losing those I love.

I listen to the radio. Songs about new love and all the hope that goes along with it. Songs about being tossed aside like an old shoe. Songs that reflect and ask questions. Can I sail through the changing ocean tides? Can I handle the seasons of my life? I don’t know.

I’m told to rejoice with those who rejoice and suffer with those who suffer. I offer my words of congratulations. I offer my words of regret. I go back to my business of getting the day’s work done, wondering what difference any of those empty words of mine really made anyway.

I think about Elton John singing about the circle of life and the spooky quote from Superman Returns about the son becoming the father and the father becoming the son. I recall Emily from the play Our Town desperately wanting to go back in time to relive her 12th birthday until finding it much too painful and concluding that life should be valued “every, every minute”. With all the death and regret and pain involved, I’m not sure I like this circle of life stuff very much.

I think about times when I’ve messed up by not telling people how much I cared about them before it was too late and how much I never want that to happen again. I think about others who were kind to me and how much that meant to me and how much I want to be kind to them in return. I think about the gift of life and how easy it is to take it for granted.

I think about the baby. Like her, I wonder what in the world is going on. The world which manages to be so beautiful and terrifying and wonderful and broken at the same time. I think about the oft repeated statement in the Bible to “not be afraid” and how I’m never alone – even though it often seems that way. I remember that those who mourn are blessed because they will be comforted. I think about Easter and Jesus defeating death and promising to make all things new. Even me.

The post The Circle of Life first appeared on Leaving a Mark.

Editors Note: It’s time for a special guest post! Friend of blog (FROB) Danielle sent this princess fashion clip to me (via Pinterest!) with the following comment:

Well, that took an unexpected turn… This is stupid though, Mulan is way too girly, Ariel is supposed to wear pink. Pocahontas looks like a fashion model… I could go on…

Having enjoyed her perspective on this and other matters, I extended an invitation for Danielle to be a special guest contributor to this blog on any topic she wished. She chose to write about Pinterest, which continues to be largely a mystery to me, though less so than previously, thanks to Danielle’s help. Check out her post below and then follow her on Pinterest (@Danielle0100) for cool pictures you can look at, send to people and do things with. I hope you enjoy this post like I did. Thanks Danielle!!!

 

To pin? Or not to pin? That is the question!

Have you been on Pinterest? Do you know what the buzz is all about? Pinterest is the ultimate time sucker! It’s like signing into a vortex where you can find limitless amounts of information about whatever you could possibly think of.

Let’s start with the basics. First, you need to create a board of Pinterest to pin on. You can categorize your boards and have as many as you like. You can also make boards secret so that not a soul can see what you pin. Second, you can search for things to pin to your boards. This is where things get fun! There’s all kinds of catagories: humor, DIY home stuff, baking, crafts, exercising, inspirational quotes, birthday party ideas, meal prep, hair styles, etc etc. The options are limitless. Finally, when you click the pin, it links to the webpage for more information.

My personal favorite is humor because who doesn’t love to laugh or need a good laugh from time to time. I also enjoy looking at ideas to bake and arts and crafts. I may not ever end up doing things but it’s still inspirational. Here are some examples!

How could those not make you laugh? Or at least smile? They are all so true and relatable. So Pinterest is good for when you need a little pick me up regardless of the time of day!

Ah! How could I forget? One of my absolute favorite parts of Pinterest is that you can send messages to people! So when you find something hilarious or interesting you can send it to someone. Whenever I get messages, it brightens my day because I know that someone was thinking of me! I also love to send messages in hopes that other people will laugh.

Finally, not every idea comes out how you imagine it will. I was inspired by Pinterest two years ago to make an Easter bunny cake with my little brother. Here is the inspiration:

Looks easy enough, bake a circle cake, smoosh it together, frost it, and you’re golden. The result: first brace yourself! It came out looking more like something from a Zombie apocalypse. Terrifying! Apparently, eyes should not have been added!

EPIC PINTEREST FAIL! Oh well! It sure made for a good laugh and immediate enjoyment! Thankfully, it did not taste as bad as it looked!

One last warning about Pinterest. Once you get sucked into the vortex, it’s difficult to quit. It’s like crack! But it’s fun, enjoyable, and sometimes inspirational! Hopefully, I’ll see you around! Feel free to follow me @Danielle0100. Or better yet, send me pins of what you find hilarious or inspiring!

The post To Pin or Not to Pin first appeared on Leaving a Mark.

The following is a free preview of Chapter 3 from my eBook on dating and relationships. 

Early in the relationship, each party must ask him or herself, “Why am I going on this date?” Yes, it could be to have fun. Sure, it might be to gain be to gain valuable experience. Obviously, it could be to score free pizza. And, of course, free pizza should never be taken lightly – especially if it is kind with cheese in the crust.

• Do you think Larry Bird was an angel?
• Would you agree that Hulk Hogan was the best wrestler of all time?
• Do you like poodles?
• Do you know who the Old Man on the Mountain was?
• Did you cry when he died?
• Do you think the song “I believe I can fly” is stupid? (Nobody can fly, sorry)
• Was the Cookie Monster a key influence on you growing up?
• Do you still miss Antoine Walker?
• Do you like this cologne that makes me smell like Taco Bell?
• Do you think it is a good idea to always poke the people in your Facebook “Suggested Pokes” list?
• If you had to choose between me and Tom Brady, who would you choose? (Trick question, no right answer)
• Was “Endless Love” performed by Lionel Ritchie and Diana Ross the most romantic song ever made?

The post Dating & Relationships: Core Values first appeared on Leaving a Mark.

This begs the question, is 14 too many? If so, who should be the first to get voted off Princess Island?  I think we all know the answer to that one (sorry Pocahontas). In the meantime, I say we handle this like the NBA and have an all-princess first team of 5 members, all princess second team of 5 members and then MAYBE an all-princess third team. I’ll revisit this after I’m done watching them all, along with who else gets voted off Princess Island. Now, on to Mulan.

3:10: Mulan is memorizing a list of qualities she is expected to have in order to get a husband. These include “quiet, demure, graceful, polite, delicate, refined and poised.” Snow White and Aurora silently nod their heads in approval.

5:48: Best character in the movie so far goes to Mulan’s grandma, who looks and acts like a female version of Mr. Magoo. She even made 2 jokes, which is the same number of jokes in Pocahontas.

6:29:  Mulan is late for her beautification appointment. If the 1980s and 90s Disney princess movies have taught us anything, it’s that punctuality is not a core princess virtues.

6:54:  The word honor comes up multiple times already in this movie. One of the lyrics in this song is: “With good fortune and a great hairdo – you’ll bring honor to us all.” Speaking of great hairdos, let’s give it up for Pocahonatas one more time.

7:00: Mulan not doing much for me so far. I think I’ve entered the winter of princess movies. If Pocahontas and Mulan were months of the year, I think they would be January and February. Can I just watch The Little Mermaid again?  Look at the books on my shelf. Aren’t they neat? Wouldn’t you say my collection’s complete?

7:30 – According to this song, “men want girls with good taste, calm, obedient, work fast-pace.” Sounds like better qualities for a MacDonald employee than a wife.

9:18: Apparently Mulan’s name is actually “Fa Mulan”. I like that. I’m changing my name to Fa LaMarcus from now on.

13:45: Mulan sings a legit sad song. I don’t like feeling sad, but after Pocahontas I guess I’d rather hurt than feel nothing at all.

19:00: In order to prevent her father from having to go to war, Mulan disguises herself as a man. The montage of her cutting off and then knotting her hair is fantastic. It’s like the female version of Rambo tying the headband.

40:46 – Mulan gets off to a shaky start in the army, but gets better and better through sheer grit and determination. It was just like a Rocky movie! This got me thinking, “I wonder if there are any videos that combine Mulan training and Rocky?” Well, guess what? The power of YouTube everybody!

48:50 – One major problem with this movie: Mulan does not look like a guy! I’m sorry, not even close.

51:00: Bad guy wipes out an entire army.

60:00: Mulan saves the day, and gets wounded in the process. First a scene with dead bodies everywhere and then legit bleeding. We’ve come a long way since Bambi. I think they’ve taken this Rambo stuff a little far.

60:30: Someone pulls the scrunchie (is that what it’s called?) from Mulan’s hair and poof – everyone knows she’s a woman! Apparently it has the same magical powers of disguise as Clark Kent’s glasses.

61:41: Woooooooow. Harsh treatment after the army members recognize Mulan is a woman. She saves all their lives and then they leave her by herself cold, ashamed and broken on the ground. In other news, this movie came out right around the same time as the TV show “The X-Files” and the song “Torn” by Natalie Imbruglia. Coincidence? The truth is out there.

64:00 – Bad guy just came back from the dead like Super Shredder in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Secret of the Ooze. By the way, what exactly was the secret of the ooze again? I don’t know for sure, but it probably had something to do with Vanilla Ice.

65:00:  I just want to pause here. We’re 65 minutes into this movie and there haven’t been any kissing scenes yet or potential kissing scenes. All I can say about that is thank God! What a welcome break! I’m all kissed out. Finally a princess action movie! Oh, and she better not kiss Captain Shang. He was a jerk to her. I am so happy there hasn’t been a kissing scene I want to kiss her!

75:00: Mulan steals the bad guy’s sword, sweeps his leg like Johnny Lawrence of the Cobra Kai and sends a rocket his way which causes bad guy to explode in combination with a bunch of firecrackers. Incidentally, this was the same way my Grandmother died. Such a terrible way to go.

78:00: Don’t kiss the guy. Please don’t kiss the guy. This has been a surprisingly good movie. Don’t ruin it! He was a jerk. No kissing!

80:00: Another touching scene as Mulan reconciles with her father back home. Then, Grandma Magoo makes a good joke. Finally, Captain Handsome come for a visit and they don’t kiss. Of the first eight princess movies, this was the best ending of them all.

Closing Thoughts:

Mulan is clearly struggling as this movie begins. She is clumsy. She doesn’t fit in anywhere. She is told repeatedly that she will never bring her family honor. She can’t please anyone, no matter how desperately she tries.

She disguises herself as a man so her father won’t have to fight in the war. At the same time, it provides another benefit in that she effectively gets to run away. But Mulan is not a coward. She is strong, courageous and brave. The only problem is that nobody can recognize who she is or she can become – not even herself. – especially not herself.

At this point, I think Mulan has given up on trying to bring her family honor. I think she’s been told so many times that she’s destined to bring her family shame, she’s probably concluded that it must be true. In this sense, the only way to please them is to leave.

Mulan wanted to see was something worthwhile in the mirror. Eventually though, she gives up on ever receiving positive feedback. Instead, she throws herself into doing what she believes in the right thing. She sacrifices herself for her family. She battles for her country. She’s rejected over and over and over and over again but doesn’t lose heart. She fights and fights and fights until, at the end of the battle, after being mistreated all movie, Mulan is finally honored.

Mulan is given many rewards for her heroic deeds, but at this point all she wants to do is go home. While she was gone, her father has changed. As G.K. Chesterton put it, “The way to love anything is to realize that it may be lost.” His daughter was away for a long time. He wasn’t sure if he would ever see her again. He had valued tradition more than the needs of his daughter. His behavior was partially responsible for pushing her out the door. When Mulan gives her father the gifts from her heroic deeds, he tells her, “The greatest gift and honor is having you for a daughter. I’ve missed you so.” Finally, he gets it right.

Mulan is different. She’s not obsessed with kissing handsome men or overly concerned with outward beauty. She struggles to do the right thing despite everything around her falling apart. Like Aladdin, she is another diamond in the rough. As the movie puts it, “The flower that blooms in adversity is the most rare and beautiful of all.”

The post Mulan first appeared on Leaving a Mark.

2:23: Only a couple minutes into this movie and John Smith reminds me of a young Fabio. Speaking of Fabio, do we know what ever happened to that guy? Did he just pass out and die one day after being completely flummoxed that what he was eating truly wasn’t butter?

4:45: We have a bad guy and… it’s another man! That makes 3 bad guys (Gaston, Jafar, Ratcliffe) in a row after starting off with 4 evil ladies! Although, can we really call Gaston a bad guy? I think he was quite a charming fellow – much more than that fellow on the horse in Sleeping Beauty.

8:00: First description of Pocahontas: “She goes wherever the wind takes her”. I’ve been doing the same thing lately, but it keeps taking me to Taco Bell. It’s almost as if the wind wants a burrito and some nachos.

8:09: First sight of Pocahontas and she is standing at the top of a very, very, very, very tall ledge. Don’t jump Poco, there is always hope.

8:44: Pocahontas declines my advice in favor of a massive swan dive into the water. Though we can’t be sure if it was Pocahontas or really a stunt double.

11:31: Apparently Poco’s Dad is arranging a marriage for her to a guy who is “loyal and strong” and will “build her a good house with sturdy walls”. I was tracking until that last part about the sturdy walls. It’s no wonder Poco isn’t into this guy. I just can’t see sturdy wall builder on most women’s top 10 list of things they want in a husband.

14:08: Poco singing a stirring song about wanting to know what’s “just around the river bend”. Another princess longing for adventure and wanting to escape the expectations of her father.  Sounds a lot like Ariel. Princesses just gotta be free, yo!

28:00: Bad guy wants gold in the worst way. John “Fabio” Smith, meanwhile, just wants adventure. And a low calorie butter substitute to spread on his blueberry muffins.

31:00: After stalking him for a solid 5 minutes, Poco and J-Fab Smith finally make eye contact. Poco’s hair is whipping in the wind something furious.

31:20: Poco and J-Fab are staring into each other’s eyes so deeply, I am getting mildly uncomfortable.

31:40: First, Poco stalks the man. Then, she gets his attention. And now, when he likes her, she run away! Women I tell you…

31:53: Ok, so apparently J-Fab had a gun in his hands and that sort of spooked Poco. I suppose that’s a pretty good reason to run away. Maybe Al Capone was wrong when he said that a smile and a gun would get you a lot further than just a smile.

32:20: J-Fab runs after Poco and sticks out his hand. Poco has to decide if she should take it. The whole thing goes down kind of like this:

40:30: This is it! Poco is singing the only song I know from this movie – Colors of the Wind (or, Colours of the wind if you’re British). We’re finally having a moment! The song isn’t as good compared to Part of Your World or Tale as Old as Time, but has some deceptively profound lyrics. Though I must say that after all these years I still don’t know what a blue corn moon is.

46:00: I’m not gonna lie, I’m not really paying attention anymore. That song was pretty much the only thing I was looking forward to in this movie. Like the chopped sycamore tree, this movie has nowhere to go but down.

47:00: I think something important is happening. Maybe I should put down the nachos and get off Facebook.

50:00: J-Fab tells Poco to meet him again later that night at the same place. Somehow, the two have managed to spend half the movie apart from their groups frolicking around in the woods and making little romantic plans under the blue corn moon. I think we know what the theme song to this movie really is:

60:00: Oops, they aren’t alone any longer. And, I think someone just died? Non-bad guys aren’t allowed to die in Disney Princess movies! He can’t really be dead??  To top it off, he’s the guy who makes the houses with the really sturdy walls. I can’t imagine how difficult this part of the movie must’ve been for Bob Vila.

62:41: In another stolen moment alone, J-Fab tells Poco:

I’d rather die tomorrow than live 100 years without knowing you. No matter what happens to me, I’ll always be with you forever.

NICE LINE BUDDY!

65:00: Wow, first a guy legit dies and now a song about war. Yikes. This Disney movie is really getting serious.

66:30: Poco is determined to stop the war. Her hair is once again absolutely rippling in the wind. With nature, love and volumizing Pantene on her side, nothing can stop her.

67:40: In order for Poco to stop this war, I wonder if the greedy bad guy will have a change of heart.  Other than the Beast, I can’t think of any bad guys turning into good guys in these princess movies.

70:00: Nope, bad guy still bad. Oh well, it was worth a shot.

78:00: Speaking of shot, J-Fab takes a bullet for Poco. He then tries to get Poco to go back with him to England, but she makes the difficult decision to stay in Virginia, with her people. Had there been any chemistry at all between the two of them, it may have been an emotional moment.

80:00: When they’re about to leave, Poco tells J-Fab that “No matter what happens, I’ll always be with you, forever.” Somewhat mercifully, the movie ends.

Closing Thoughts:

After the last 3 princess movies (The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast and Aladdin), it’s natural to be disappointed in Pocahontas. The music isn’t as good, the chemistry with John Smith isn’t quite right and the ending is somewhat anti-climactic. Still, Pocahontas brings more to the table than her wavy hair. She is another adventurous princess, but has a soft and gentle spirit at the same time. She is wise beyond her years, but full of wonder too. Her motivations are pure and she single-handedly prevents a war. As a quote from the movie The Village puts it, “She is more capable than most in this village. And she is led by love. The world moves for love. It kneels before it in awe.”

The wind doesn’t blow where you want it to go. No, the wind just goes where it will and you follow.

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