Thanks, Blake Lively, for teaching me a valuable lesson

Guess where I went yesterday? Have you seen this trailer?

Last night, I took a break from my normal life to attend a special preview of The Age of Adaline with my 12-year-old daughter, Vivien. She’s been wanting to see it since the trailers first came out. And, of course, it’s rated PG-13. For that reason, I was a little concerned about taking her to a movie I knew so little about. But I talked to Dave and showed him the trailer. And we finally decided just to let go and assume good things would follow. Actually, that’s sort of the whole message in the movie. Eventually.

Don’t worry. I’m not going to give anything away.

Blake Lively, who I’ve heard of but never seen in anything before (because I am SO not the Gossip Girl-type) did a nice job of portraying a pretty old broad “trapped” in a young person’s body. Of course, when I first saw the premise, I thought “Oh, yeah. That would really suck. No wrinkles, no grays, no saggy boobs. Talk to me when you have real problems, Adaline … or whatever alias you’re sporting at the moment.”

Nonetheless, I liked the movie. Quite a lot actually. Sure, it made a few convenient choices. And there was a coincidence or two that was truly mind blowing. But, despite its silly shortcomings, the movie does, in fact, make you stop and think. And, if I’m being completely honest, cry … just a little bit. Because I’m a mom. And probably also because I’m a little hormonal at the moment. (“At the moment” meaning daily.) Because as a daughter and a sister and a wife and a mother and a friend, all I kept thinking about was ….

How could you ever allow yourself to love anyone if you knew you would always have to watch them die before you?

Never mind her fear of probing scientists or her woes about living like a refugee and needing to reinvent herself every decade. I think the choice to witness the loss of every single person I ever loved OR be alone for eternity would literally do me in. No, thanks, fountain of youth. I’ll gladly welcome the aging process. (pause for reflection) It’s an interesting movie. Definitely worth the price of the ticket. Plus, according to Vivien, you just can’t get popcorn like that anywhere else in the world.

I so love that kid.

The Age of Adaline

It’s like Benjamin Button with a side of Dorian Gray and just a hint of Groundhog Day … all thrown into a blender and poured into a tall, blonde glass.

“Let us never know what old age is. Let us know the happiness time brings, not count the years.” – Ausonius

Mamakat’s writing prompt – Write a post inspired by the word break.