Just got back from seeing the movie Young@Heart.
I thought it would be a fun couple of hours watching senior citizens sing punk rock songs.
It was that and so much more.
I laughed, I cried, I promised my Sweetie that when we retire we can move to Northampton, MA, so that he can join the choir.
It really is a movie you should go see.
First, you WILL be entertained. Because it is impossible to not be entertained watching a room of septuagenarians and octogenarians learning to sing the song "Schizoprenia" by Sonic Youth.
You will also be inspired. Because it is impossible to not be inspired while watching seniors suffering from cancer, congestive heart failure and kidney stones (among other things) pushing themselves so they can make it to practice and perform one more time - because they don't want to let their friends in the choir done. It is impossible to not be inspired when the music director is ready to scrap "Yes We Can" but the choir insists on keeping it in because it's such a great song, and they bust their asses to learn the song and they rock it.
You will also be touched. Because if the performance of the choir touches the prisoners at the local jail so deeply you can see the emotion on their faces, it will also touch you.
At points during the movie I found myself looking forward to my senior years, because then I could do something cool like be part of the Young@Heart Chorus. When I'm 92 I want to be the only resident of my nursing home who has a key to the front door because my choir practices keeps me out until after the staff is asleep.
But the point is you've got to live your life now. And continue living it now. Making art and making friends and pushing into things that may seem outside of your comfort zone. Even if what you do isn't perfect, if you do it from the heart it's beautiful and people will love it.
On a side note - any time I see senior citizens out and about I am amazed as to how young and vibrant and alive my parents and my in-laws are. They all carry their age well. My Dad's just lucky that Young@Heart is on the opposite side of the country from him, because if they were local I think I'd force him to join. And I'd tell the director to perform "Do Ya' Think I'm Sexy" by Rod Stewart, and my Dad would be the talk of the town and the hit of the show.
I haven't seen the movie yet but I've seen a few trailers. It does give you hope for our futures.
Posted by: rhea | 10 June 2008 at 07:15 AM