IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE

This year marks the 50th anniversary of the release of my favorite movie, Frank Capra's "It's a Wonderful Life." I've recently seen it described in print as "too long, sexist, and probably racist." The writer who wrote those words also called it "one of the greatest films ever made," and went on to describe his first, accidental viewing of it as a moment when his life itself was altered, and greatly for the better. I agree with his opinion, except for the parts about the movie being "too long, racist, and sexist." It is steeped in the popular notions of a time that was much less enlightened than our own (in some ways), but my only thought when it ends is: "I wish it weren't over yet."

When my wife Leslie and I were first making a home together and trying to figure a good way to get our respective families together for the first time, we came upon the idea of screening our well-worn tape of the movie for our parents, none of whom had seen it, amazingly enough. Let me tell you, that was a real good idea. I recommend it highly as a strategy to overcome shyness, or misgivings of almost any variety. Our families bonded that day through the common experience of REMEMBERING how lucky we are to be drawing breath on this little blue planet.

NBC did me the great honor of inviting me to the taping of "Bob Hope's 80th Birthday Celebration," way back in 1985. My wife and I were really jazzed to get to go. In addition to meeting Bob and his wife Dolores, we got to hook up with Lucille Ball (she had a little silver flask working through the evening, and was very, very funny), Sammy Davis, Jr. (he greeted me with, "Hey, it's CRUZ - How's it hangin', man") and most memorably with the great Jimmy Stewart. For my money, acting does not get better than the best work of Jimmy Stewart.

I introduced him to Leslie, told him that "It's a Wonderful Life" was my all-time favorite movie, and thanked him for his astounding work in it. In the time it took him to reply, "It's my favorite movie, too, son," his eyes had filled with tears. I've never thought about that moment since and not had goosebumps come.

What always annoys me is how easily I get annoyed - with these little annoying details that pile up around the day-to-day business of conducting one's life. It's so easy to become obsessed with them and to forget to pause and experience the old fashioned virtue of "counting your blessings." There are very few of us who are truly so burdened as to be unable to find reasons to be thankful for the simple gift of life.

If you know someone who is under such stress, I hope you're doing whatever you can to help them get over. To "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you," as my mama pointed out to me early, is really the only decent and reasonable way to go. It's so easy to look away and keep our "post-modern" distance, but in the long run, the good habit of caring and giving your fellow humans the benefit of the doubt leads to a life that enlightens and truly resonates - the kind of life that keeps you open and soft enough inside to continue to grow. "It's a Wonderful Life" is about that kind of corny and precious stuff.

If you've never had the pleasure of watching it, I hope you'll do a little research and make it a point to catch it. And if you've already seen it, but not for a while, go ahead and do yourself the favor of checking it out again. We can never be reminded of that simple fact too often.

Happy Holidays, and thanks for dropping by,

A