I didn’t see the movie that line is from, but then I didn’t need to in order to understand the mood behind it. Of course, you are probably well aware of the line yourself as it’s been a standard “joke” used in various routines over some years now. Our new rescue cat, Lexi, gives new meaning to it as you can see here.
Sometimes I wonder if she’s watching me so intently, trying to figure out what I’m reading. That thought usually lasts about as long as it takes her to abandon her igloo and come over to see if there is a spot between my feet for her to sit. She’s still very shy, she had a tough life before we rescued her, but she loves to sit between my feet and often she even sits there long enough to get brushed. With her long hair, I think brushing feels really good; it’s trusting someone with a brush that still has her flummoxed.
Lately, she’s been watching me a lot since I’ve had a boot on my foot for the past month. It’s hard to get much accomplished with a boot, so I’ve spent lots of time reading. Lexi’s not sure she’s thrilled, though, since I tend to keep my feet up with the boot on; that’s where the igloo comes in. She’s started curling up in it and we’re pleased. To us, that means she is getting more interested in being with us, being social, and the igloo gives her the protection she needs to feel comfortable.
For the past two days she’s seen me totally engaged in the short book This is Not My Memoir by Andre Gregory. It was a fascinating read, not just because of my connection to the theater, but also because he has interesting things to say about aging, how to approach it and how to grow with it. For more information, here’s my review.
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A short, fascinating look into the musings of Andre Gregory, an exceptionally talented actor/director. The book is written almost as a stream of consciousness style; or at least reads that way. The narrative wanders through subjects which seem to be on Gregory’s mind at the time of writing.
There is some history that describes life for him as his family escaped the Nazi’s as well as some information regarding his reportedly unhappy childhood. There are also details about his first marriage to Chiquita which, based on the writings, seemed to be more a mutual partnership/friendship than one of deep love. After Chiquita’s death, Gregory determined he was done with love and marriage; that is until he met Cindy, his second wife. With his second wife he details having discovered love in a totally different way.
There are many short episodes in the book, like the story of his going to an Ashram and meeting a famous guru that offer insights into a life filled with exploration, creativity, and individuality. Some of the more recent stories detail Gregory’s latest endeavor of taking up painting and his unique beliefs regarding how he paints and what painting has done for the development of his soul.
As a brief history of a person’s life, this book is both interesting and engaging. Also, for anyone aging, there may be some kernels offered of how to approach that process as well as encouragement to continue opening up and allowing one’s self to be changed by new experiences. Regardless of what the reader’s approach is toward this book, there is bound to be some information or encouragement or enlightenment they find within the pages. My thanks to Farrar, Straus, and Giroux for providing me an advanced copy for review through NetGalley. The opinions expressed here are entirely my own.
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You don’t have to be a theater/film/actor/director/enthusiast to enjoy this book. Most likely there is something for everyone within these pages. If you don’t want to read this one, there are lots of other things that you can try for enjoyment or education or both. In any event, Happy Reading.
