Crashing Into Each Other

In 2004, Joy and I took a trip to Quebec City. It’s a place that feels like someone put Paris, France and small town Canada in a bag, gave it a good shake, emptied it out, and built a wall around it. We enjoyed the beauty, the historical landmarks, and even enjoyed a charcuterie picnic in the grass (How could we not??). But then we had to leave the area for the important stuff… we headed outside the walls to see a movie. It just happened to be the film that would win best picture for that year:

It opens with Don Cheadle giving a reflection about cars and living in L.A. that I find profound: 

“It’s the sense of touch. In any real city, you walk, you know? You brush past people, people bump into you. In L.A., nobody touches you. We’re always behind this metal and glass. I think we miss that touch so much that we crash into each other, just so we can feel something.”

Not living in southern California myself I tend to try and apply this to where I am, or even where the rest of us all are. Every day in our own little worlds we say things to people and (more commonly) about people that we didn’t need to. Sneak in little comments that may or may not hurt someone, but will make us feel good for a moment. Statements that have more to do with what is inside of us than with what someone needs to hear. Maybe we “crash into each other” on purpose with our words, body language, and facial expressions. Hurting each other is just a byproduct of our need to defend ourselves, to deal with our loneliness, to get emotions out that have been bottled up, to feel something.

But these little crashes increase the possibility of a big crash happening. In a car it can be something as serious as turned upside down and set on fire. In personal interactions it could be yelling something hurtful at someone you love, making fun of someone in front of others, driving a wedge between two other people with gossip, etc. The “crash” could even end up being a physical altercation.

I don’t have a solution to it all. That would be naive and pretentious. Though I will say that exposing ourselves to the difficulties that others may face and trying to understand them goes a long way for me. Reading, watching, listening, joining a discussion (even if it puts me “out there”). I don’t want to crash.

Congratulations This is your week.

Best Actress:

Kiera Knightly as Sabina Spielrein in

Best Actor: Jeff Goldblum as Seth Brundle in

Best Quote: “I am angry all the time… and I don’t know why.” – Sandra Bullock as Jean in

Well, I’m this close. One more movie to watch and I will have seen all 94 best picture Oscar winners!