New Favorite Flick: Young @ Heart

The best movie I have seen in a very long time is "Young @ Heart," a documentary chronicling the lives of some very inspiring folks who have two things in common: their average age of 80 years old and their love for music.

Thanks to Netflix's recommendation (it must know my dorky obsession for human-interest documentaries for some reason...), I added this to the top of my list immediately upon reading the description.

The video above is a song by one of my favorite members of the chorus, Fred Kittle, a hilarious man who sang this beautiful rendition of a Coldplay classic, while hooked to a breathing machine. Sadly, I just learned he died in January.

Regardless of the raw emotion associated with real life displayed in this movie, the docu really shows what life is about -- living it to its fullest and making people smile. Watch it when you're feeling down and you are sure to be lifted instantaneously.

Sunday Song - Skillet's "Rebirthing"

I know I've mentioned this song in a previous post, but I've decided it's worth its own individual post.

I can't get enough of Christian rock band Skillet's rock opera "Rebirthing." I generally like hard rock, but often times I don't like/agree with the message inside in the songs lyrics. This is one I can rock out to and not feel like I need to wash out my mouth out with soap afterward.

I just love the start to the song -- it's almost like going into battle...Plus, I love the female guitarist!

Give it a listen.

Yippee! Norman Rockwell's Art Coming to the Detroit Institute of Arts

"I paint life as I would like it to be." - Norman Rockwell

When I was a kid, we had two huge built-in bookcases in our house. The shelves were filled with encyclopedias, books about amphibians and apes, and of course, tons of children's books. I remember spending rainy Saturday afternoons plopped down on the floor admiring the pages of books filled with information I had yet to fully comprehend. One book I constantly looked through (besides the 'D' encyclopedia -- D for dogs -- I loved to look at the pics), was a book about Norman Rockwell and his artwork.

Rockwell was one of the first artists I learned of as a kid. My grandpa was an oil painter, so I've always assumed my "artsy" genes came from him and fueled my fascination with a book about art at a young age.

Rockwell, to me, is the one of the best artists ever (although snobby art-lovers might turn their nose up at that notion). He painted what he saw...many times things that were invisible to the naked eye, and many times seeing right through to the heart of the matter. He painted about controversy -- war and civil rights, but also painted what people knew and understood -- love, humor and everyday America.

The painting shown above is my absolute favorite of his. I have a print of it hanging in our guest bedroom. I remember reading somewhere that the painting (from 1961) was a depiction of how Rockwell saw the world and how he wished the world would be. To me, it represents world peace and that's absolutely beautiful, especially considering the time in which it was painted (during Vietnam).

I was ecstatic today when I heard on the news that some of Norman Rockwell's collection is coming to the Detroit Institute of Arts starting on Sunday. I'm excited to have the opportunity to see some of his work in person, right in my own backyard.

"American Chronicles: The Art of Norman Rockwell," will be at the DIA March 8–May 31, 2009. The exhibit includes 44 paintings and 323 original Saturday Evening Post covers.

I began with a quote, and now I leave you with a quote:

"The secret to so many artists living so long is that every painting is a new adventure. So, you see, they're always looking ahead to something new and exciting. The secret is not to look back." - Norman Rockwell

Sunday Song: Peter Gabriel - "Down to Earth" from Wall-E

In honor of tonight's Oscars, I've picked one of the songs up for a golden dude grab.

This song is so fitting for this ADORABLE animated movie. If you haven't seen the flick, I highly suggest you give it a watch -- there are lessons for both children and adults to learn.

And, Peter Gabriel's unique voice never gets old!

Love at 90

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!

I had to post this amazing heartfelt story from The Oakland Press in honor of the lovey day...

Love at 90

Saturday, February 14, 2009

By CAROL HOPKINS

The Oakland Press

Robert “Bob” Porter was having his usual lunch at the Clarkston Senior Center seven years ago when he spotted a newcomer at one of the tables.

“I said to people there, ‘Who’s that cute gal?’ ” recalled Porter, who was then 83.

Porter — a widower — didn’t speak to Treva Chivers that first day.

“I was too bashful,” he said.

But the two senior citizens did begin dating and eventually married, proving this Valentine’s Day that you can fall hard for someone no matter what your age.

They now happily share an apartment at the Inn at Cass Lake in Waterford Township.

Treva Chivers was born in Illinois but when she was 14, her family moved to Texas.She married at 16 and she and her husband, Norman, had four children. She was a housewife and for a decade worked as a nurse’s aide. When one of her sons moved to Michigan in the 1950s, she and Norman followed. Later in life, the couple moved to Florida. When Norman became very ill, they returned to Michigan to be near their son, Stephen, and his family in Clarkston. Her husband died in 2001.

Robert Porter was born in Pontiac and worked for years as a die designer for Chrysler, making fenders and hoods.He and wife Edith had two children, Ken and Connie. The couple lived in Florida for 23 years. They moved back to Michigan to be near family. After Edith died in 2000, Robert had his own apartment in Clarkston.

Then came the fateful day at the senior center. Robert eventually asked Treva out for a date and they began courting. Treva lived in her son Stephen’s basement apartment in Clarkston.

One day when Robert took Treva home in his car, he turned to her and asked her for a kiss.“I told him I hadn’t kissed in so long,” Treva, now 96, said. Robert, now 90, remembered the day.“I told her, ‘Let’s practice!’” he said. While they were kissing, Robert’s foot slipped off the accelerator and the car rolled into the garage, damaging the door.“I jammed on the brake,” Robert said, a big smile spreading across his face.The kiss was worth it, he said.“Look what I got for it,” he said, glancing at his petite wife.

The two dated for a year and married in May 2003. Treva wore a long dress for the occasion.Treva’s daughter-in-law, Debbe Chivers, was one of the attendees.“It was wonderful,” she said of the wedding at Clarkston Community Church. “We had a small reception and all the church members attended.”

The couple moved to their Waterford complex in 2006. They are often seen holding hands and walking arm in arm.

“I love to kiss her,” Robert said.

Each day, they sit side by side and complete a crossword puzzle together.

“She is a little better than I am,” said Robert about their puzzle-solving skills.

Family keeps track of them. Robert has three grandchildren and five great-great grandchildren.

Treva has five grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren and three great-great-grandchildren.

Their advice to the lovelorn is simple.“Be honest and love each other,” Robert said.

Treva, a self-described optimist, admits she wasn’t even considering marriage when she met Robert.

She smiled. “But when you meet someone and fall in love and they tell you all these wonderful things, you change your mind.”

Sunday Songs: Songs of LOVE

So sitting in church yesterday I learned it was World Marriage Day. How fitting, considering I was hoping to write a post of Sunday songs full of love in anticipation for the upcoming Valentine's Day holiday....

During this particular mass, the priest was renewing the vows of couples that have been married for 20+ years. They went through the different milestones (20 years, 30 years, etc.) and at the end, the entire congregation was surprised when he announced a couple that has spent 71 years of their life together. 71 years! I started thinking about that...That means they were married around 1938. I can't even begin to imagine how much they have experienced together. And to me, that is absolutely amazing. In a world that sometimes feels filled with hatred, divorce and infidelity, I am glad there are couples like this defying the odds.

This playlist, full of some of my all-time favorite love songs, is dedicated to that couple, whatever their names may be...

1. At Last, Etta James

2. Cowboy Take Me Away, Dixie Chicks

3. Out of My League, Stephen Speaks

4. Ribbon in the Sky, Stevie Wonder

5. Everything, Michael Buble

6. Love Of My Life, Dave Matthews & Santana

7. You Make It Easy, Air

8. Can't Take My Eyes Off Of You, Lauryn Hill

9. Forever, Ben Harper

10. Green Eyes, Coldplay

11.Grow Old With Me, Postal Service

12. I Cross My Heart, George Strait

13. If I Ain't Got You, Alicia Keys

14. Johnny & June, Heidi Newfield

15. God Bless The Broken Road, Rascal Flatts

16. Somersault, Zero 7

17. The Luckiest, Ben Folds Five

18. Me & You, Kenny Chesney

19. More Than Words, Extreme

20. My Favourite Book, Stars

21. When I'm 64, The Beatles

22. Sleeping To Dream, Jason Mraz

23. Stand By Me, Ben E. King

24. Ring of Fire, Johnny Cash

Interesting Video: Lost Generation

This video was submitted to the AARP "U@50" video contest and placed second.

Amen, sister! I refuse to be part of a generation who doesn't move this world forward.