Art CAN Imitate Life!

I have always looked at movies, tv, and books as an escape from life. A way to immerse myself in the impossibilities of otherworlds, you know, the made up and imaginary. But then, I found an incredible link to reality, that I never expected in television shows such as Brothers and Sisters, and Parenthood. The reality I saw in these made-up television shows, were uncanny similarities to my own dysfunctional family. Zeke Braverman in Parenthood was my father. When the show ended this past season, I cried. No, I balled. It was as if I was reliving my father's death all over again. The poignancy of Sarah's wedding struck a deep heartache within. My father died unexpectedly after an accident. The crazy love-hate relationship of the siblings, but knowledge that no matter what, they would always be there for each other echoes the strident chords of my own siblings.

The other night, while my husband was out of town, I was bored and flipping through the many Prizm channels and came across a movie I hadn't seen before. "This is where I leave you". Oh My God! I was dying. While the story itself was not anything like my family, some of the actions and reactions were so my family. All I can say is that I am soo glad my mother was NOT a therapist! I can just imagine the book that would have come from my mother's typewriter. Hmmm......*shakes head with an evil little laugh*. I happened to talk to one of my sisters after watching it, and she too agreed there are uncanny similarities between these Hollywood interpretations and our own "loving" family. Funny stuff!