Thursday, April 14, 2011

Pollyanna

I was reading a book of essays last night, mostly light-hearted stuff, when I came to an essay about something really, really sad. And I started to sniffle. And I was all, like, "Dammit! I was really enjoying this book, and they had to go and make me cry." I don't want to read anything sad, you see. And I don't want to watch any sad movies or listen to any sad songs, either.


Is there something wrong with me?


It's just ... life is hard ENOUGH, you know? We all go through our own share of sorrow, without having to borrow somebody else's. And sure, some sad things we HAVE to know about, like the Holocaust and stuff, in order to make sure that they never happen again. But in general? I'd rather be sunny. I mean, sure, I can bitch and piss and moan with the best of them (especially about Blogger, which is STILL refusing to recognize paragraph spacings), but overall, I'd rather just forget about the bad shit, when I can.


There's a scene at the end of The Life of Brian, where they're being crucified (!), and somebody starts to whistle, which leads to a song ...


"Always look on the bright side of life


Always look on the light side of life


If life seems jolly rotten


There's something you've forgotten


And that's to laugh and smile and dance and sing ...


When you're feeling in the dumps


Don't be silly chumps


Just purse your lips and whistle - that's the thing



ANNDDDDDD


Always look on the bright side of life


Always look on the light side of life"


There's another verse that starts, "Life's a piece of shit, when you look at it,", but I can't remember the rest of that one.


And I mean, OF COURSE, it's supposed to be funny, and not, like, a LIFE LESSON or something, but seriously? I'll take the bright side.

5 comments:

Laura said...

I do not willingly watch movies or read books with sad endings since my mom died. It's like I used up my life's quota of acceptable sadness.

Rob said...

I cried when you stopped doing "Freaky Friday", but then I watched the end of "Love Story" to cheer me up.

Logical Libby said...

Sometimes when I am really down I will watch "Terms of Endearment" just to have a good cry and get back on the upswing.

I hate when it catches me off guard though.

rockygrace said...

Oh, and here's the thing! - I do not possess a "pretty cry". There is no gentle dabbing of tears. Once I get going, it's all hysterics and sobbing and snot, and then I've got a headache for the rest of the day. Bah.

rockygrace said...

And I've gotta say, that "life's a piece of shit, when you look at it" line cheers me up every time.