So, I'm taking advantage of not having a full-time job to lay around with this sinus infection and do nothing. Yesterday I watched one of my favorite movies - Fried Green Tomatoes. I've always loved the story of Idgy and Rose and how their friendship made them both stronger and more mellow at the same time.
As I was watching yesterday it hit me for probably the first time - throughout history the characters of Idgy Threadgoode and Rose Jamison have been viewed as the two options for women - the two polar opposite choices we have - saint or sinner. Check a box, take your pick, you are in one category or the other, end of story. But, these two women show us that real life is a lot more complicated and messy and often most of us - men and women - are both saint and sinner. Like Rose, we come to see that "poker ain't half bad" and charity for others requires action, not just words. Like Idgy, we see that there can be a real strength of character, a "steel magnolia" as the saying goes, even with those who appear calm and collected at all times. The two women learn from each other valuable lessons about how to treat people and how to trust one another...and how to let one's hair down from time to time and just not care about what others think.
I know I often times care too much about appearances and what others will think. I'm afraid to really live because of the consequences that are perceived and often only in my own head. Other times I'm loud and self-centered and hurt people when I stubbornly refuse to do anything other than what I want to do. I feel the pull between the two sides and pray that this year, each year, I can get a little closer to walking the fine line of balance between the two extremes that culture and religion say is the accepted code of behavior for women. Neither caving in and submitting fully, nor throwing it all away and ignoring care and concern for others.
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