following atticus BY Tom Ryan

following atticus BY Tom Ryan

This year (2012) my mom got a dog. Her dream was always to own a Cocker Spaniel and now she does. While helping her look for her dream dog, now named Bingo, I came across many Schnauzer puppies, so very cute and I fell in love! Then for the Salt Lake County Library System’s Reader Choice for July-October, one of the selections was following atticus BY Tom Ryan. I instantly wanted to read this book and am so glad that I did, I loved it!

This true story is about a great adventure in the White Mountains of New Hampshire! This is a touching tale of man and dog and how they help each other through tough times and life in general. Tom & Atticus’ journey is worthy of this book and more.  Among their personal struggles, they set out on the greatest adventure of a lifetime; to climb all the four thousand footers in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. I can see this venture being on the bucket list for many people, especially after reading this book. No, it isn’t on mine, but I can’t bring myself to make a goal that involves climbing to heights that would make my heart stop, literally…not wise for a person with a fear of heights and no courage to overcome that fear! I will just happily continue to live vicariously through others, like Tom Ryan & Atticus! Especially if their stories are as amazing and interesting as the one we read in following atticus! Besides, my bucket list is pretty full, in my opinion, but that is a topic for another post on a different blog! (www.watsit2u.com)

I love quotes and here are three great ones from this book:

The genealogist in me loved this quote from pg. 83 and I emphasize to make note of said memories for those to come: “I could almost hear her southern accent as she typed, “Keep making memories…and send them by the wagonload!””

Another great quote that the genealogist in me loved is from pg. 112: “Death, like birth, was part of the package of life. She had come to peace with that. It was those of us who were left behind who struggled with it.”

In closing and to summarize their journey, let me share what I believe is the best quote and also a piece of wonderful life advice, it is from pg. 53: “…I’d like to think that if we can get our lives just right and become who we were always supposed to be – if we become the people we dreamed of being when we were young and pure and innocent, then and only then do we find our way home again. I don’t think many make it. There are just too many distractions and obstacles. Yet I’ve come to believe that the worst we can do is to give up looking for it.”

You can view the same review on goodreads, where I gave it 4 of 5 stars! Now, you go read it, live vicariously through Atticus and Tom and then come back and let me know what you think, K?! 

It's A Wonderful Life (movie) (1946)

Ok, so most of you know that It's A Wonderful Life is my absolute all-time favorite movie! 

When I first heard they were showing it at the new Viridian Center, I was so excited…then life happened and I really did forget about it…until…I happened to go in there last Tuesday afternoon and saw the sign again! YAY for good timing!

I have seen this movie so many times that everyone has lost count. My sister has refused to watch it with me for many years because without even thinking about it or realizing it, I start quoting it out loud! I did catch myself mouthing the words during this showing and a group of Young Women sitting a few rows ahead of me noticed…I could see them pointing and looking and giggling about it! Oh well, ask my sister, I never cared much…

This was the first time I was able to see this classic movie on a sort of big screen! The screen was not full theater size, but way bigger than any TV I would ever be able to watch! Ok, so I know, I should have gotten the dimensions, but it really doesn't matter to me, I was just so excited to see my favorite movie on a big screen! Also, given all the ickiness of this year, in our family, I had been feeling the extra strong need to watch this movie and what better way than with a big group of people on a big screen with free hot chocolate and popcorn?!

Yep, when you walk into the room, this is what you see:

Then, to your right is where they have free hot chocolate and popcorn throughout the evening:

A couple of the images scrolling through on the screen prior to the movie starting and while they had Christmas music playing in the background, what a nice pleasant welcoming atmosphere!

Even a shot of something to spark discussion, do you know who any of these people are? Leave answers in the comments below, more for my curiosity, than anything!

Here is the first scene of my all-time favorite actor, Jimmy Stewart:

Then just had to try capturing my favorite line ("I wish I had a million dollars, {click}, HOT DOG!") from the movie, it happens twice, once when George is a boy and once when he is a man, this is the latter: 

(I was given permission to take some pictures, so I did.) I was told they are working on other similar events for the Viridian Center in the months to come! I was grateful for this opportunity and hope they have many more, classic movies and more current movies…pleasing to all! I was also told that the week before for the showing of A Christmas Story, they had about 70 people, I think it was pretty close to 70 people again for It’s A Wonderful Life. I won’t be able to attend tonight’s showing of The Polar Express, but with the popularity of that movie, I expect they will have a great turnout….go, be one of them! Enjoy, then come back and leave your thoughts in the comments!

*I recently discovered a book by Jimmy Hawkins, who plays Tommy Bailey, you can read my review of that book here! It is called It's A Wonderful Life for kids! A short sweet read, go read it and let me know your thoughts about that in the comments to that post, k?!*

It's A Wonderful Life for kids! BY Jimmy Hawkins (2006)

It's a Wonderful Life for Kids, Too by Jimmy Hawkins
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I saw this book in a holiday display of books and movies at the Lehi Library. Of course, with my favorite movie being It's A Wonderful Life, I could not resist picking this up and reading it! I love that Jimmy Hawkins, the author of this book, was actually part of the original cast! He played the role of little Tommy Bailey! Tommy happens to be the main character in this sweet short story. The theme is the same but altered for a child’s point of view!

Tommy has had a wonderful life and has touched the lives of others in a great way over the years. He is 11 years old when he is in a dilemma surrounding money for the library fund that has disappeared. He is so upset he thinks he would be better off running away or even that everyone would be better off if he’d never been born! Sound familiar? Yes, this story takes on pretty much the same course as the movie, but in some ways even better!

In this story, as in the movie, there is an angel who has yet to get his wings. Arthur, Angel Second Class, is sent to help Tommy, much the same way that Clarence helped Tommy’s Dad, George! Even at age 11, Tommy has greatly touched the lives, even changing their course, of his family and friends! In the end, everything works out perfectly, but you will have to read the story to find out how!

I believe that everyone goes through periods of doubting their worth, many even to the point of wishing they’d never been born! I know I have…but I also believe that we each touch the lives of so many and never know about it or think about it or remember it! Maybe the solution is to help others know and remember how they have touched your life? There’s a thought…

Well, I loved this book almost as much as I love the movie, which happens to be my favorite movie of all time…and it HAS to be the one with Jimmy Stewart and Donna Reed! Let me know what you think?