#486 Savor

I recently watched a movie. “Mrs. Henderson Presents” I think it was. About a prim English duchess type that had a nude review during some war in England. Quite risqué for its time. And fairly risqué for ours too, as one scene featured full-frontal nudity with that Bob Hoskins “Who Framed Roger Rabbit” guy.
Fortunately, this scene wasn’t animated.
But it got me wondering, why the sudden rush by all these aging actors to appear nude? I mean, Diane Keaton, Laura Linney and Harvey Keitel barely scratch the surface of middle-aged actors rushing to don the robes of Oscar respectability while they doff the robes of self-respect. Let’s face it, a bare tush does seem to put one to the head of the line in the Oscar competition. Perhaps because it’s a testimony to how much you will sacrifice for your art. I don’t know. All I’m sure of is it definitely counters the trend of our anorexic-driven women’s magazine culture. No could accuse Kathy Bates of terminal thinness. But she did have the substance for an Oscar. Too which I say, go for it. If there’s one thing America needs, it’s a healthier outlook on body image.
We all start out looking pretty much the same—squirmy little diaper-fillers whose only saving grace is big-eyed cooing. Then we go through our middle life looking pretty different. All the genetic possibilities unfolded, all the wings unfurled and the peacocks tails arrayed to display our individuality and fecundity. Then, as we descend the steps of our final years, we merge again. Spine contracts, faces shrink, ears and noses continue their infinite growth.
I was driving behind some guy the other day and I thought, wow, that's my Dad. It wasn't, of course, but it was another 80 year old. Same silhouette from the back, big ears, hunched posture, baseball cap. It's as if all the genetic variations we have in the fullness of life reduce to the same basic structure. Grapes are varied but every raisin looks the same. Is there a lesson there somewhere?
Yep. Make wine while you can.
America, ya gotta love it