I was going to say that it’s all quite here in Casa de TRUE, but that’s now not the case. When I padded down here and plopped my butt in this chair, I was the only human awake in the house. Now, of course, Zach is awake because Elvis has a barking fit and woke him up. For some reason, he wants to be out in the kitchen reading olds Entertainment Weekly magazines while I sit in here and write. Huh..?
What an amazing thing this life is, wouldn’t you say? It’s painful and amazing and beautiful all at the same time, how it can jerk you this way and that way…up and down…”thither and yon” all in the course of a single day. And in the end, it’s always that magic thing called “attitude” that saves or slays you.
After I got done doing my “That Sucking Sound…” post, I decided that I needed to break out of my doldrums, and the only person that was going to do it was good ol’ me. I decided one thing that I could do is send out a couple of e-mails to the guys at Filberts Steps, to Tim McCann (our director), and to Craig Rice at the MN Film Board for all of their help in getting RUNAWAY BOYS as far as it’s gotten so far this year. I didn’t think that I would get any responses back because it was late in the afternoon, and I thought they would all be out of the office by that time. But most of them were still hacking away, like me, and I got some really great responses, especially from Al Klingenstein and Bernie DeLeo.
I am so glad that Al and I had the conversation we did last weekend. I honestly believe that, when the story is told about the making of RUNAWAY BOYS, that will be one of the pivotal–
Okay…Zach alert! He decided to NOT read EW in the kitchen, and now he’s sitting in here with me. He just asked the weirdest, cutest question: “Is is legal to use a blow dryer on a doggy?” HUH..? He’s playing with a blow dryer Lynn bought in China (it’s 220v, so we can’t use it here), flicking buttons, “shooting” things, spying at my through it like it was a spy glass. I ask him why, and he says, “Well, if we give him a bath, we should consider drying him with a blow dryer. It would go quicker.” Umm…good point. Then he suddenly pops up and says, “I’m going upstairs now.” Then he runs off.
God, I love that kid. If, by the end of my life, I can even half-understand how that amazing mind works, I will color myself lucky.
Anyway…I was writing that I believe the conversation will be regarded as one of the pivotal moments that TRUE-ly propelled it closer to actually getting made. Now all I have to do is talk to Debi. I haven’t been keeping her in the dark about it, but we really need to sit down and have a long, uninterrupted conversation. In order to get the movie made, things are going to need to evolve, and we’re both going to have to be on board with that in order for it to work. In the end, I am confident we can work through it, though. She is an awesome and understanding partner (and a fire-cracker all at the same time…one of those people you walk away and say, “I’m glad she’s on MY side). So, I am waiting for that time…hopefully this weekend we will be able to get together. I am going to try to call her on Saturday morning and arrange a breakfast.
I did call her last night about the book thing. Honestly, I am still shaking from the news. Oh, yeah…I didn’t finish my previous thought. Well, I had just gotten the responses from the Filbert Boys, etc., and I was starting to feel better. It feels good to tell someone else you’re thankful for him or her…take the focus off yourself and your own self-centered mental churning for a few moments.
My spirits were definitely picking up. Not more than five minutes later, I get a call from my friend, Jim, who tells me he’s leaving for California for amonth next Tuesday, but he wanted to call me before he left. We chat for about 15-20 minutes about stuff. He talks about how he’s more busy now being retired than he ever was when he was working. I talk about Lynn and, of course, movie stuff (he’s one of our biggest supporters).
He’s a friend of the book’s author (whom I have never met), and he has been trying to get me a meeting with the guy for about a year now (it’s just never happened because of shedules and procrastination…you know, the usual). At this time, by the way, you have to know that I WORSHIP this writer, and the book is one of three books on my list of things I want to adapt into movies (an exclusive group!). Anyway, Jim gets done telling me that the guy isn’t feeling very well these days, so he’s not really feeling up to visitors. Okay, I think, kind of bummed out but understanding. Then, Jim says that he posed the question about whether the author would let me adapt his book.
SAY WHAT?!?!?!?!?!?
Gawd! I love that man! The great thing about Jim is he’s not only a great guy, but he’s extremely well-connected (because he loves people and loves to talk), and he’s not afraid to ask people anything.
So…he’s been apparently talking me up to the guy for over a year now–whether he’s seen anything I’ve writteb, though, I have no idea. Anyway, the author says, “Tell him to go ahead and write it. I look forward to reading it.”
Wow…
Tomorrow I am going to get a nice card for both Jim and the author. I am hoping that the author will be willing to correspond a little by e-mail (if face-to-faces are a concern for him now). I would like to thank him profusely, of course. I am hoping to get the permission a little more “documented”, too…mostly to make certain he knows that, even though I am going to write and develop the thing on spec (can you BELIEVE THAT?!?!?!?), I am going to take care of him in the end. Also, I know that I am going to have questions while I am putting things together. Anyway…I am getting ahead of myself.
Talk about stuff to be thankful for, huh? The guy didn’t need to do that. Hell, he doesn’t really even know me. You know what, though? It’s what I would do if I was in his position…and that’s the coolest thing of all. He really is a real and cool and genuine person, just as I always suspected.
And the best miracle of all yesterday? Lynn, the kids, Jackson, and I attended our pre-Thanksgiving service last night, and Lynn was just beaming. She had just gotten done qi-gonging, and her evergy was great. She felt and looked like a million bucks. Everyone flocked around her with loving and welcoming arms, and it was a sight-and-a-half to see. It’s good to have my sweetie home and feeling strong…for that I am truly grateful.
Well, this got a little longer than I envisioned. People are stirring now. I must go out and put up dog fence!
Take care, and have a great day, all.
True Life 