My wife is thankfully working another per diem shift, which delayed me sitting down before my computer to blog this morning. But I’m free to write now.
Always the gentleman, since Lisa was being selfless, and it was early and dark, I made Lisa tea and offered to drive her to work.
And after I got back, and after my rounds, my very demanding creatures of Casa Claire decided to interfere with my blogging.
But while I was hustling around back home caring for the creatures of Casa Claire,
I got to think about the madness that led me down this path. And realized what a blessing it has been for me.
Now, to set the table, last night Lisa and I watched the film, Field of Dreams, with its brilliant cast of Kevin Costner, Amy Madigan, James Earl Jones and Burt Lancaster, in his final film.
To begin with, I would like to note, that this perfect 1989 film is based upon a 1982 novel by the Canadian author, W.P. Kinsella, entitled Shoeless Joe. Hollywood, please note that all perfect films have similar prior wonderful novel pedigrees.
Now a quick summary for all of you who may have missed this gem of a film: KC’s Ray Kinsella is a bright young man from the East Coast in his mid-thirties who, along with his very supportive and spunky wife and daughter, end up in Iowa farming corn. One day, while Ray is in the cornfield, he hears a disembodied voice tell him – “If you build it he will come.”
This aural supernatural event is the trigger that leads to a series of other supernatural events mixed in with Ray’s real life, including bits of time travel, and lots of ghosts.
The superb acting, scenery and music score help carry the viewer along on this wonderful experience where Ray and Annie risk everything to execute the mystical instructions – on pure faith – that keep filtering to Ray and his growing collection of supporting characters, who ultimately hear the siren song and join in on the quest.
While on its face Field of Dreams is a sports themed movie, like another comparable film, The Natural with Robert Redford, it’s emotional magnetism runs so much deeper. This movie is a magical and mystical quest by an everyman who for no apparent reason is unexpectedly drawn into the supernatural world in order to come to terms with his own life.
What man has not shed a tear when Ray calls out to that departing catcher John (Kinsella) towards the last scenes of the film “Hey Dad . . . wanna have a catch? . . . “
That was the end of Ray’s quest. But he only got there by selflessly attempting to help others in resolving their own journeys. Their own quests.
Now that I’ve completed(?) The Claire Saga, and just watched KC’s wonderful film, I can see a parallel storyline of an East Coast everyman – Jimmy Moran (along with a supportive and equally spunky wife, Gina) – who ends up unexpectedly in the heartland of America – and through divine, magical and extraterrestrial intervention, including ghosts, builds his own Field of Dreams – Casa Claire – that draws to him everything he needs to complete his own quest. Which he finally(?) does in Where The Ley Lines Meet.
Now, for those of us old enough to remember, the 80s were a turbulent time in our country. Lots of political strife.
We are experiencing a lot of turbulence again. Far more than we may have seen before.
I think literature reflects the psyche of the time it is created. Hopefully, it doesn’t arrive to lecture or instruct. It can be framed by a contemporaneous lens, but its main goal should be to offer an emotional escape to the readers that helps them cope with the reality they may be experiencing.
I think The Claire Saga finds its surprising success because it offers that same kind of emotional escape to its readers that made the novel and film that most of us experienced as KC’s Field of Dreams what has proven to be a timeless masterpiece. Even when your world seems to be collapsing around you, if you “Go the distance” it will work out okay.
As I sit here looking out my office window at Claire and Honey standing on the edge of the large field in the back of Casa Claire,
I realize this is my Field of Dreams. I will keep listening to the voices in my head and hope that Claire’s epic story someday translates as well into a timeless series of films. And if the books help my fine, five readers escape some of the crap this crazy world subjects them to, then I will be thrilled.
But now that I’ve written this blog ass backwards, my next move will be to head out back, so I can shovel some snow covered mule muffins, and refill some water troughs. And at some point I will retrieve my own spunky spouse after her hard working day has concluded.
The rest of you get your asses in front of the largest TV’s you can find and watch the Super Bowl. Hopefully with your closest friends and family. Enjoy your day watching someone else’s field of dreams.
Go Christian McCaffrey!
And no matter what else we do, let us make today a great one.
Oh, and Happy Birthday Kyle Dooley!
6 Responses
Ok, so maybe my Hudson News book sales idea didn’t pan out. But after reading your blog today, I have an idea for getting you another source of income and lightening your load of shoveling duties. And possibly some of your mule excrement accumulation as well.
“If you build it, they will come.”
It’s time to open up Case Claire as a destination attraction. You charge people admission to come in and walk the property, climb Hadrian’s Wall, meditate by your animal graveyard, commune with the gnomes and faes, and admire the mules up close, but separated by a fence. Then you sell tix to specific activities, such as:
1) Walk among the mules — limited tix per day, both for humane treatment of the mules and to increase demand –> increasing prices),
2) Feeding time tour,
3) Live & authentic Americana pioneer experience of shoveling real mule dung (including photo & certificate!),
4) Wheel-barrel races to Hadrian’s Wall with age-appropriate loads of mule dung,
5) Create their own personalized mule muffin plaques or statuettes (or order them to be created — with premium upsell).
I’m sure your family of fans and followers can provide more ideas. Plus you provide a donation box for care & feeding of your fur family. (Oh, and your feather family too to be fully inclusive.)
Of course, it would help if you already had at least one movie out. But again, remember —
“If you build it, they will come.”
BC – you are brilliant! But I may have to include a BC – from KMAG – in the stocks exhibit. People can toss as many mule muffins as they can at your locked head – or if reversed – your ass – in the stocks for 60 seconds. That would bring all of the Clairettes streaming into Casa Claire like the line of cars at the end of Field of Dreams!
LOL! I would be honored!
This blog was more than worth waiting for today. Inspirational!!
Great response by BC…. You can transform to a Druid/Amish hybrid (you already have the beard), open the ranch to the public and set up a redux of the Catskill Game Farm w the whole feeding/petting thing…
I do like the way Pete thinks! In fact, I like the ways both Pete’s think. So I was thinking you may also want to add a little chapel in one back corner of your lot called Fr. Pete’s Chapel where you can officiate marriage ceremonies, similar to the Elvis chapels in Las Vegas.
And lastly, maybe add a small outdoor Shakespearean amphitheater in the other back corner where you can have local actors come in one weekend each month (regional weather permitting) to perform select chapters from your novels.