Mini Review – Reagan

This is not a political post. So please, don’t be like some of my friends on Facebook and try to make it one.

My wife and I took advantage of my newly-minted retirement and our first “free” Saturday since the offspring went back to campus to have a mini date night, including dinner and a movie.

We had a nice dinner and then saw Reagan which opened last week, starring Dennis Quaid as Ronald Reagan.

Was it a perfect movie? Was it the best movie cinenmatically or dramatically?

No, of course not. But it’s darned good movie.

The weaving of the historical footage and document is fascinating and accurate. Dennis Quaid totally nailed his performance as Reagan.

Perhaps most significantly, if you lived through the Reagan years, this will resonate. I remember the events, I remember when he was shot, the Reykjavik summit, the speech at the Brandenburg wall. And I remember how he faded away from us after he was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. I was a young conservative working in DC during the last of his term. There was no better time to be there. We were at the Inauguration of George H.W. Bush and watched the helicopter take the Reagans away for the last time.

The critics were never fans of Reagan, and he didn’t care. And quite frankly, neither do I.

Ronald Reagan was a pro at exposting the frauds and the hucksters, you know like the film critics and media who are panning the movie today.

Okay, so maybe that was a little political.

The movie also showed his genuine friendship with Tip O’Neill. Bitter enememies politically who fought it out during the day, but were men enough to set that aside and share a beer in the evening.

Ronald Reagan wasn’t perfect. None of our leaders ever are. But he was darned good.

If you care at all about history (even if you don’t like Reagan which, quite frankly, baffles me), it’s a movie worth seeing.

Ronald Wilson Reagan
February 2, 1911 – June 5, 2004

One Week

It’s been officially one week since my retirement. I’m still getting acclimated.

Sure, I have a list of things to accomplish, but there’s still a sense of not knowing exactly what I should be doing.

There’s a little guilt in thinking “I can’t just sit here.”

I’m not planning to do that, but it’s been a slow week.

In my defense, I had tech Saturday for my upcoming show (opening September 13 with River City

River City Community Players
September 13-14, 20-21

Community Players), then the wife and I took a quick trip to a family reunion.

Along the way, which involved ten hours of driving in two days, the arthritis in the knee flared up and that meant no walking routine on Tuesday. I’m getting there and the knee is much better.

That did, however, change some plans.

At night in rehearsals, and in the day I’m slowly figuring out things.

I did manage to finish the draft of my next children’s book.. And yes, when it’s ready, you’ll know.

It’s not all been fun and games.

Yesterday my son said goodbye to his dog. Nola was the most faithful, loving, exuberant, and strong-willed dog I’ve ever known. But the cancer was taking her and the treatment options just weren’t there.

Rest in Peace, Nola Marie Fletcher. Grampy loves you.