A Sad Farwell to a Legend ~ Dixie Carter

I have been meaning to do a post about my love (aka obsession) with Designing Women, especially since I recently discovered that the first three seasons are available on DVD, with seasons four and five on their way. Who knew? I'd been holding on to my "best of" DVD for years thinking that was the only one available.

However, I never wrote that post and now I'm sad to be writing this one. The recent passing of Dixie Carter left me remembering just how much I adored Designing Women and the women (and men) behind the characters. Growing up in the South, these character represented stereotypes for sure but as we all know there are hints of truth in every stereotype.

Each of the women in this series brought a sense of compassion and honesty to their characters. It was a uniquely special group that ably tackled the most controversial topics of the day just as easily as they did the lighthearted comedic ones. From AIDS to malpractice to pornography to women in the priesthood theses ladies handled themselves and the issues with grace, sincerity, humor and in Julia's case a whole lotta Sugarbaker fire!

If you didn't already know both Ms. Dixie and Ms. Delta's real life husbands played their on screen love interest (or ex-husband and occasional love interest) - Reese Watson and Dash Goff. One of my favorite stories was shared by co-creater Linda Bloodworth-Thomason. When discussing with Hal who he thought should play Dixie's on screen love interest he expressed a strong dislike of any male. So Ms. Linda decided to cast Hal instead.

I could go on and on about this show and for those that know me you've likely heard me ramble on aimlessly quoting my favorite episodes. You in particular Mr. G (and you'd quote them right along with me!). Instead here is my "Best Of" List.... okay so I started with my top 10 but this post is already rediculously long so here is my top five instead.


5. Bernice's Sanity Hearing
As a Southern woman myself I couldn't love this clip more. Of course this episode also features Mary Jo lying on the ground in the judges chambers illustrating to a very pregnant Charlene how to put on her panties without bending over. I snort just thinking about how funny it is.  Oh and just so you know, I've got crazies on both sides as well.




4. The Beauty Contest
This episode is quintessential Julia... defending those she loves eloquently and with dramatic flare.




3. How Great Thou Art
I love this episode for so many reasons. For starters hearing Bernice go toe to toe with Charlene's minister about whether or not women should be allowed to be ministers is a riot. But seeing the conviction that Charlene must muster to stand up for her own beliefs is truly moving. And not just because my own mother (yes mamere) is a priest but because don't ya think we all deserve to grow up believing we can do anything we set our hearts and minds on? I do.  Plus, Julia sings an incredible version of How Great Thou Art and even hits the dreaded high note perfectly.

2. Killing All The Right People
This makes the list not only for raising the issue of AIDS at time when hardly anyone was talking about it but because Julia delivers one of my all time favorite lines. "If God was giving out sexually transmitted diseases for sinning you'd be at the free clinic all the time. And so would the rest of us." Amen Sister!



1. Dash Goff, The Writer
With out a doubt this is my all time favorite. Not only does Gerald McRaney's southern accent lull me into a dream like state but he also plays a romantic etheral writer from another era. Hellooooooo?? Does it get any better? At the very end he sends the ladies the note below. We are treated with a fantastic snapshot of his descriptions that is forever burned in my memory.

"Yesterday, in my mind's eye, I saw four women standing on a verandah in white gauzy dresses and straw colored hats. They were having a conversation, and it was hot --- their hankies tucked in cleavages where eternal trickles of perspiration run from the female breast bone to exotic vacation spots that Southern men often dream about. They were sweet smelling, coy, cunning, voluptuous, voracious, delicious, pernicious, vexing and sexing --- these earth sister rebel mothers, these arousers and carousers. And I was filled with a longing to join them. But like a whim of Scarlett's, they turned suddenly and went inside, shutting me out with the bolt of a latch. And I was left only to pick up an abandoned handkerchief and savor the perfumed shadows of these women. These Southern women. This Suzanne, this Julia, this Mary-Jo and Charlene. Thanks for the comfort. " 
---Dash Goff, the Writer

Cheers, to a wonderful elegant honest Southern lady who reminds us that the purpose of etiquette is to make those around you more at ease and not to be used as a tool to exclude or intimidate. (Yes, if that sounded familiar it's from "The Engagement" another fabulous episode from this classic series.)

xoxo,
Ouiser

LOST ~ Bringing Dialogue to Marriages Since September 22, 2004

Do you watch LOST? No? Okay, I'm going to shoot strait with you. Go ahead and stop reading. Aside from my witty, charming and endearing writing this post isn't going to be of any interest to you. shoo. 

Okay, fellow Lost fans (stop snickering DH~ I'm still a fan.) now that it's just us.

I'm sure I don't even need to ask if you watched this week's episode cause its Thursday. And even if you were stuck at the office err gym.. okay the bar and missed the episode, you've surely seen it by now online or courtesy of your Tivo. 

There are a million and one theories out there on the island, the characters, the "monsters" ... blah blah blah blah. I won't bore you with discussing them all. I do however want to discuss what I think it all means. Helloooo this is my blog ~ what, were you expecting a democracy? not here people. 

So, it just so happens that I'm in the midst of reading Dante's Divine Comedies ~ Inferno, Purgatorio & Paradisio. Ah yes, thank you twilight fanfiction for turning me on to said reading.

I'm more convinced than ever that the entire Lost series is based on these Medieval poems. I don't want to turn this into a lecture so I'll be brief but if you want to discuss further by all means leave me a comment... or email me. I'd love to discuss.

1. Being "Lost"

Divine Comedies (DC): We first meet Dante when he is lost. Literally in the woods and figuratively~ his soul's path toward salvation. 

Lost: Each of the characters who find themselves "lost" on the island also seem to be struggling to find their way in their real lives as well as physically on the island. 

2. Good vs. Evil - The Rules

DC: There are clear rules that seem to be unbreakable in hell, purgatory and heaven (paradise). One being that the devil is unable to leave hell. He there for can not enter purgatory nor can he enter heaven.

Lost: IF the island is hell as some have described and our new "friend"- the man in black/smoke monster is indeed the devil he is physically unable to leave. Of course there have been hints at a loophole that would allow him to leave. Alas, am thinking that in Dante's time "loopholes" to your salvation did not exist.

3. Pennace is required for one's salvation.

DC: The entire Comedies are based on this notion.  Accepting God is without question the most crucial step towards salvation however, your past sins aren't exactly wiped away. You must repent and pay penance for your sins before you are invited to paradise. In the Comedies these sinners are forced to pay penance (in some pretty creatively nasty ways) for hundreds and thousands of years before they may assend.

Lost: Our lovable sinners are given a much easer time of their penance if in fact that's what is happening. Regardless, it is clear that they are all being forced to work through their "real life" issues and behavior.


4. Virgil & Hurley
DC: Dante is led through Hell by the Greek poet (and one of Dante's heros) Virgil. He is able to calm, instruct, persuade and even scold Dante when needed. 
Lost: Hurley is the most genuinely good figure in this story. He is innocent but wise and often scared but always brave in the end. He is the "voice of truth" expressed by those unable to do so themselves (usually because they are dead but that's another issue)


okay... seriously peeps I could go on, (ie Jacob being the Angel at the gates of Purgatorio keeping the devil out) but nap time is almost up and mommy needs to get started on today's errands....so this is it.


5. Beatrice & Isabella
DC: She is at the very heart of Dante's life and his writing. To quote an incredibly talented author. "she represents courtly love, poetic inspiration, faith, hope, and charity. She is the ideal of feminine perfection, at once intelligent and compassionate, and vibrant with the kind of selfless love that can only come from God. She inspires Dante to be a better man." She is the driving force and the reason that Dante's soul may be saved. 
Lost: It is clear that Richard and Isbella have an epic love as well. Their situation seems to be oddly reversed from that of Dante and Beatrice. Richard was able to spend his "life" with Isabella but now must face eternity with out her. Despite this separation, on more than one occasion Isabella "saves" Richard. Even now she is only concerned with his salvation. She is clearly watching over him and appears (through Hurley) to remind Richard not to stray from his intended path.


And more to this point ~ the names Isabella and Beatrice. During the time which Dante is writing (late 1200's) the name "Beatrice" was understood to be a personification or the human beautification of love- from the Greek which has four versions of love. Eros (sexual), Agape (sacrificial), Philia (friendly), and finally Storge (familial).

Isabella, as you can guess is a form of Bella - meaning beautiful in Italian, incidentally this is Dante's native language. And speaking of Italy, Sandro Botticelli, the famous Italian Renaissance painter did an entire series of paintings depicting Dante's stories and his "image" of Beatrice. The woman depicted in his paintings is often referred to as his muse, La Bella Simonetta. Take a look at these painting and tell me she doesn't look a lot like Richard's Isabella?

This last one is Botticelli's painting representing the four types of love....

NOTE: The main issue for me remains to be Bernard and Rose. Why they are there? Is it a reward because she was sick in "real life"? Are they meant to be an example for the other characters? Oddly enough this is one point which DH and I completely agree on ... we are flummoxed. 

So my dearest DH, if you don't share a comment on today's post I don't imagine you ever will. ;)

Cheers, 
Ouiser