happy endings .. kill me now
Happy endings, kill me now.
I’m not sure what generation bastardized my ‘happy endings’ but trust me I am not happy! Don’t get me wrong though, I love happy endings, both kinds it seems. Getting caught in a ‘double entendre meaning’ is not good if you belong to a writer’s group based in Toronto. Well, no one called me on it, but they are being polite I’m sure, while I’m somewhat mortified.
The group meets for two hours every Monday on Zoom. I sent in a piece for my presentation, three people usually present a ‘story’ for critiquing and discussion after. Along with my story, I sent an apology for my critique of another writer’s piece from the past Monday. I didn’t care for his story at all, it was depressing and devoid of any hope or happiness.
To be fair, he’d sent out a message while we were critiquing it “Don’t hold back on your critiques.” Those of you who know me, know that’s all I needed to let it all out. “Well I’m sorry (person’s name here) but I would kill off both characters in your story, it was so depressing I considered killing myself as well.” This was my way of adding some humour to lighten it up.
Now as I’m writing this I’m trying to remember if I said “Well you all know that I’m a fan of happy endings.” Lord kill me now, did I verbalize that at the meeting? Well, I certainly put it down on paper when I sent in my piece for next Monday. So sending off an apology on paper, for killing off his characters, I mention how I’m a fan of happy endings (thank you, Dan). Dan is another writer whose stories always make me laugh and feel good. So now I involved Dan (not his real name) in my happy endings .. oh God, can it get any worse?
Most in this group of writers are younger than me and very good at their craft. I feel like the token oddball, which I am because everyone else is an Easterner (Toronto) and I’m from the West (Saskatchewan). I’m just a blogger trying to be a writer and I have started writing a book, two books actually.. don’t even ask.
Nothing is ever simple for me, I make my own rules and create my own excitement apparently. These happy endings are a thing with me, I hate a story that has no redeeming features. Remember that movie, No Country for Old Men, it won an Academy Award for Best Picture years ago. Well, that was the worst movie I have ever watched! There was not one ounce of redemption or happiness in that movie whatsoever.
My daughter informed me of the other meaning of happy endings some time ago, but I keep forgetting. She also clued me in when I was lamenting the fact that I needed a ‘facial’ soon. Now, why did they have to bastardize that as well? Seriously, some things should be non-negotiable, and having a facial and enjoying happy endings should be on that list. That I wear ‘thongs’ on my feet is fine with me because I still have trouble saying flip flops, which is for people who keep changing their minds or their political affiliations (flip-flopping.)
There is surely a whole ‘whack’ of other sayings that the younger generation has sexualized, unbeknownst to us old people. I appreciate the heads up when I use them, trying to be a writer I need to be careful with my words. That doesn’t stop me from making up my own words though, it happens. My dilemma now is how to quit saying happy endings. My son says I say “you know” a lot and you know son, I’m working on it… it’s not easy, you know.
Being older it’s hard to let stuff like this go, my memory screws with my mind, you know, and not in a happy way. I think I went too far with that one.. ah well.
We need to be mindful or maybe we need less on our minds .. geez, when did all this shit get so complicated? At least my kids know when I mix up their names, it’s not personal, and they also know what I meant to say when I get confused sometimes. That salad I forgot in the fridge last Thanksgiving, well it wasn’t the first time and it certainly won’t be the last. So now that I have written about it maybe I can let that one go.
Two more sleeps until Monday and my Zoom meeting with my peers. Lord help me get through this without making an ass of myself. Happy endings will probably be the death of me, and if perchance Tom Selleck is involved then you should know that happy ending was the climax of my life, sorry/not sorry : )
copyright October 22, 2020
#mythirdlifeblog #lmbl