rohanaka

3 Bad Men Oh April (and everybody else) Oh my goodness me... We have to talk...All I can say for now is ...Wow. (a hushed reverence ensues)

eloquent Now THERE's something I don't get accused of very often...but thank you. :-) And right back at ya!! I always look forward to your posts...and as far as looking to other's writings to see what films I might want to try next....I am sure it is no secret that this thread (And most who post here) have been a huge influence on my infamous Wanna See List. This and a couple of the western threads over yonder tend to hold a lot of sway in my bulging-at-the-seams stack of films I want to see someday. But I am really enjoying getting to mark several off lately...even if I DO seem to add two new titles for every one that gets crossed off. (I think I may need a 12 step program before it is all said and done) :-) When I lived in London CAROLINA...kid...where haven't you lived??? You are as well traveled as you are well read and I would say well "watched" too but that would sound like I was a stalker (Ha!) :-) I am trying to say...you have a really impressive list of films in your realm of knowledge...English is such a goofy language sometimes....I bet it is even goofier in London! :-) Ha! (Ok all you Brits out there....SIT down...I am only kidding) I think his life and art would make for a very interesting subject for a stage musical, if handled right. I can only imagine you are right as I know little about him as a person, only just what I have seen in the movies. But I meant to bring this up earlier and just forgot...I think he must have had at least a little sadness and perhaps even tragedy in his life to be able to convey some of the emotions that are tied to those sorts of subjects so well and so believably in his films. He really was a "master" at that from what I have been able to see. I haven't seen the Downey Jr. film either, but I did hear he was very good in it. Gotta go get the kidling off to bed here in a minute...it is a COLD WINDY SNOWY night in old KC this evening (I LOVE snow...as long as I don't have to get out in it to go anywhere...but tomorrow is going to be nasty I am sure) But tonight...(Oh BARB...are you reading this??) My sweet little "cast iron stove" space heater is cranked up on high...the cozy little afghan is on the couch....I have a nice bit of left over peanut butter/chocolate fudge from Thanksgiving still in the fridge calling my name...and inside the DVD player...all ready and waiting......... 3 (count em 3!) Bad Men...I am just about to bust at that seams waiting to hit that PLAY button!!) Have a nice night....stay warm!! :-)

At least...that's how I saw it. and me, too. Well my sister, I am glad to hear it. And w/ regard to the 40's version...I can't believe they would take so much liberty w/ Georgia's character like that...what a HUGE loss. I am glad I avoided it altogether. The Gold Rush would make a perfect Thanksgiving movie. I do believe the feast that Little Charlie and Big Jim have (boiled shoe) takes place on Thanksgiving. HA! you are right. I guess if you were so hungry you had to eat your shoe for thanksgiving dinner...the one thing you could be thankful for was that you didn't have to eat the other one too. (and I have had a few turkeys that were so dried out they tasted like shoe leather...I won't say if I"ve COOKED a few turkeys that were so dried out they tasted like shoe leather...That Grey Guy has insulted my cooking enough w/ out giving him any ammo to use against me. :-) There is the roll dance My gosh my golly I should have listed THAT as my favorite comedic moment...so..let's see THAT and the snow shoveling...yeah...and then there was the bit about..Oh who am I kidding...it was all great. the moment in the cabin when Charlie realizes that they are not coming is directed with just the right amount of pathos. The way Chaplin jxtaposes the little tramp's lonely dream with Georgia's happy go lucky party, is brilliant. Watching him listen to the strains of "Auld Lang Syne" is a chokingly beautiful scene. Oh you are so right. It was very hard to keep the tears back at one point...It is so poignant and almost pathetic...yet it also gives you a chance to really feel the depth of his love for her as he stays faithful to the way he feels for her despite her treatment of him. Then the following, when Georgia says, "The joke has gone too far...." is so heartfelt on her part, that I can't help liking her, maybe the best of all Chaplin's heroines. She is a party girl, but it shows us that Georgia has a heart, and that she is self aware.....The slap she gives Jack next is a real wallop - and it is symbolically the end of the old Georgia. I find her transformation quite convincing. I agree. And I think that moment was a "wake up call" for her. She not only sees how much he really cares for her...but she realizes how awful she's become and what to depths she's really sunk (seeking entertainment value out of someone else's pain) ...and she is ashamed. It is the beginning of the end of her old way of thinking. the two heroines I like best in Chaplin's films are the two most knowing and disreputable ladies? But this makes them more "human" I haven't seen the other film you mentioned (that I can recall) but I agree w/ you that those flaws are what makes them seem real. I think there was a lot of idealistic leaning toward female characters sometimes in films of this era...not always...but usually in the "heroine" roles..and it is good to see someone go beyond the stereotype and show themselves as a real person...with real feelings and emotions...ugly and all...and then for them to aim to rise above those flaws and become a better person makes it all the more winning of a character to me. I am glad we had this little chat!! :-)

You write exceptionally well and with such feeling. Well April...you are half right. I am sure my high school English teacher would disagree w/ you about the "well" part...but I told someone on here once that I tend to be a "this is what I saw...this is how I felt about it" kind of post-er. And this film just has so much in the way of emotion. Was there ever a character like the little Tramp? I think where he touches me the most in how pure and idealized his love is in every movie.I I am sure I haven't seen as many of his films as you have, but I think you are right on target...he is almost TOO good...for his own good. But then again...he DOES have an ornery streak in him sometimes and he can really instigate...but it is usually some sort of payback for someone else's actions. Those are the times he can be at his funniest. I hope you do get to see this one again soon. I wish I had a copy of it myself...(it's airing I think in February on here...I would think surely I could get the QT to help get that vcr hooked up by then...MAYBE. :-)

I'm still hoping you'll ramble about The Man from Laramie or The Gold Rush HA! April... My crsytal ball must have a time delay on it because I did not see your post as I was typing up my own!! :-) I will have to work on the Man from Laramie later as I need to head back out...but wanted to get all these emotional thoughts out on TGR first anyway...oh...this one is still in my heart even a few days later. I really enjoyed it so much. I'd be interested in your take on the whole "love" story part of this film too. Talk to you later!!

THE GOLD RUSH. Such a marvelous interweaving of light and dark, Hello April...YES...that is a perfect way of describing this film. It is such a combination of hilarious pranks and gags, mixed with subtle and even overt moments of absolute heartbreaking emotion. And there are a lot of "layers" to those emotions. Spoiler Alert... The first thing I have to mention in my little ramble here is of course, the comedy. Because when the film starts out, it is a huge focus. I watched this w/ the kidling and we were both in stitches laughing ourselves silly over all the physical comedy and the situations that were exactly what most people think of when you think of slapstick/Chaplin sort of movies. The "chase scene" where Big Jim keeps looking at Chaplin and only seeing a giant chicken instead were almost sidesplitting, but there were also a few less "in your face" funny moments...like when the little dog follows the one man out through the door and all of a sudden Chaplin gets this look of panic on his face...too funny. And there were plenty of laughs during the whole shoe eating thing...the little person especially liked it when he twirled the shoestring around like spaghetti. Too funny. But then things grow REALLY serious when the old bad Black Larsen goes off on his own and meets up w/ the two guys in the tent...EVERYTHING suddenly comes crashing down to earth and you realize he isn't just some sort of "comic" bad guy...he really IS a real bad guy. And that was when I really knew for sure that there was going to be more to this story than just a few good laughs. This part of the story is over pretty early...but it influences everything that happens in the end...(and I love the eventual "payback" for all his misdeeds he receives in the end...very well deserved and fitting ending to his life of crime to be sure...) And I really wasn't sure I was going to like old Jim until he turned out to be as decent a guy as I would hope he would be after Chaplin helps him get his memory back. (I was glad the "gold" didn't get the better of him in the end) Oh...the part w/ the cabin on the edge of the cliff... later on when they've gone back to look for the lost claim....I am still cracking up over that one. And I have to mention one of my other absolutely favorite comedic parts...when he is out shoveling the snow to scrape up enough money for the dinner party...CLASSIC!! :-) And now...the rest of the story. Georgia is such an interesting character. At first she only wanted a few laughs off of him and she didnt' even have a thought for the hurt that might be involved. I think when she and her friends first see him at that cabin and she realizes he has kept her rose and a picture of her under his pillow, that maybe she is flattered, but she also thinks he is a bit pathetic and doesn't mind having a good laugh at his expense. At this point in her story...I also think she doesn't like herself too much, so she allows herself to behave in ways that really go against her natural character because she is desperate to find love and happiness...but not "worthy" enough in her own eyes to know where to look for it. The prank she and her friends play on him on New Years Eve is so sad that I was almost crying when he woke up after his "dream" at the empty dinner table and realized he was all alone. UGGHH...too much emotion for the old ticker to bear almost. :-) But I also like how she felt remorse...even if only a moment when she realized the lengths he'd gone to for her....and how she must have hurt him. She shows for sure, in case there were any doubts, that maybe...eventually...she could have the potential to be worthy of such a love as the one he had for her. (at least in my mind anyway) If she had LAUGHED after realizing what she'd done...I think I would have kicked in the tv....but her reaction was everything I hoped it would be, and it gave me an inkling of her true character behind all the facade. When he is on the ship....after all is said and done...and we find out that she is there too...totally unaware of his success...you can see that she is leaving the yukon a little "wiser" than she was perhaps when she got there...and you feel sorry for her as you can tell she wants to move on and "start over". And then...he all but drops right in her lap...literally. And she tries to protect him....because she realizes now how good he really is and she cares about what happens to him now. I love how he takes hold of her and stands next to her just sort of staring at her as they are waiting for the photographer...absolutely adoring her unconditionally. You know he can't take his eyes off of her even if he wanted to. (sigh) And if he stood any closer to her...he'd have been on the other side of her. (Ha!) He has waited so long for this moment, and he is overjoyed. And she is overwhelmed as much by his absolute love for her as she is by the surprise at finding out how successful he really is and that he would still want to be with her after the way she treated him...and she loves him even more for that than she did for who she thought he was just moments before. At least...that's how I saw it. Which brings me to the thing I have always liked about silent films...when there is no dialogue...you can personalize the emotion even more than you might be able to in a scene like this....someone else might have a totally different perspective. But even so...the end result is that they both are in each others arms at the end...and they're hearts are full of love. The best kind of happy ending to me...(I'm a sucker for a good teary-eyed storybook ending to be sure) PS...Jack.... The re-issue left out some terribly important stuff. That is something that I recall hearing from someone, (at least I think so) about the 1940's one..I just thought I wanted to see the original instead...because I get disgusted sometimes when folks come along and "rework" something that already works just fine for itself. Thanks for letting me ramble folks.

"And then there was the one Chris had...." ...and it turned out to be really great. :-) (You didn't know I had a crystal ball, did you???) :-)

Hey there April....Woo Hoo (HOO--HOO--HOO!) (Ok...can you tell I am doing my little "happy dance of joy right now??) I went to the library today and found out what my "mystery" films were....BIG surprise...not just two but THREE count em' three of my orders are in....NOT the Horse Soldiers--tough break for me--but I am STILL not disappointed. So...what DID come in??? The Informer....Two Rode Together....and (drum roll PLEASE).....3 Bad Men!!! I am so excited I am about to just quit work early this afternoon and stay home to watch movies....ok...no I won't do that....but I AM very tempted! I also was able to "re"-check out Emma and so I hopefully be able to get to it later...and Jack...I found Walter Mitty again so will be getting to that one hopefully too. (oh good...just as I finally got Beautiful Dreamer out of my head) I got to see The Man From Laramie this weekend....I will maybe ramble on that one later over in westerns....but wanted to give a BIG shout out and huge "SIGH" for The Gold Rush. Oh....April....I have a new one to add to my list of all time favorite love stories. I know there is a lot of comedy running all around this film....but the love story angle...oh wow... That Chaplin was a genious. (you know....the Guy who looks like Rober Goulet) Ok...you'd have to go all the way back to a long conversation this summer to get that one ,if you don't know what I am talking about....Jack...did you ever get your computer screen cleaned off from the soda pop??) I am SO happy to have seen this film and would like to chat more about it, but have to go back to work here in a minute. Any one else wanting to ramble...feel free. Maybe will be able to find more time later...but I will say that I watched the original silent version ONLY because I was lucky enough to get it from the library...the actual DVD was the later version but it had a Special features disc included and THAT one had the original on it, so I bypassed the later version...(does that sound snob-ish??") and just watched the silent one instead...Oh...I wish I had more time to ramble...what a great time it was just to watch and enjoy.... Talk to you folks later... :-)

civil war aficianada like you and Kathy Whoa, April....better take me off that list....I barely pass for a mild observer...I do like fiims and stories set in this time period, but I have little actual education or experience to back up my interest. But you do appear to have some folks who seem to know their stuff here...hats off to you all. I am enjoying the conversations and working to put this movie into the context of the things you all are discussing. PS....went to the library...my Hot Fudge Sundae is still on hold...see me over in movie rambles and will let you know what DID come in. :-)

Well Barb....I have not seen too many castles in this neck of the woods sorry to say....but I DID manage to think of some "royalty" that you may be interested in (And April...there are plenty to choose from...I bet some of them would even be willing to relocate to your Rancho de Big Apple) Each year, every year...The American Royal is the big show in town...Granted there are no lairds or dukes, etc...but... PS...I would GLADLY trade my sweet little space heater for a gorgeous wood burning fireplace...you have such a persuasive sales pitch! :-)

Chris, Thanks for helping to clarify things a little more for me. April did a good job of answering some of what I was asking, but I think I was also wondering about (and I may just need to reread some of what has already been said here to totally get myself straightened out) is out of the two basic groups I mentioned, where would this movie fall? And I like your list of references there...I have seen a lot of these films, but not all of them. I think you are right about this style of film generally following 3 "avenues" To me, I've always kept it even simpler than that and thought these sorts of films usualy fit into two seperate groups--Basically they are either movies that are about the actual civil war (or at least specific portions of it, etc--such as Glory) And movies that just took place during the civil war but that was not necessarily the main storyline. The war is all around and through the story, but the characters and their own personal situations are the focus. (like GWTW, etc) But now I like your breakdown of the categories a little better as it is more descriptive of the group of films as a whole. And I wonder if THS is not a combination of "types". From the sounds of it, it could be like mixing "Gettysburg" with "Gone with the Wind." (if that isn't committing some sort of Fordian blasphemy to say so) :-) Of course I could be reading all this wrong. If so...forgive my erroneous ramblings. I don't even know why it matters that I am asking the question...I have been reading all the talk about this one for some time now and April's thread here is like the big fat cherry on a the huge overly tempting hotfudge Sundae on someone else's dinner plate. And I'm sitting at the next table in the big movie restaurant watching and waiting for my own order to arrive....So you all will have to pardon me while I ask you to tell me all about how the hot fudge tastes and how do you like the whipped cream, etc. (leave it to me to use a food analogy) :-) Thanks for sharing your thoughts w/ me on all this as my little foot keeps tapping away at the library. :-) This hot fudge sundae sounds like it will be well worth the wait.

The Horse Soldiersseems more personal, perhaps, than other movies on the subject because it's giving us, if imperfectly, one man's unique perspective---one that not only doesn't take sides, he asks us if there really are sides when men are willing to kill for no other reason than that they will do what duty demands or are simply following orders. Well, for someone who didn't know how to answer a question, you did a mighty fine job of answering. (I probably did a poor job of wording what I was asking, but you made sense of my intent very nicely) I personally have always been fascinated by man's infinite capacity to tear down, to destroy, to explode when the best of him is his capacity to create and build. It's a really scary paradox! I call it the "3 year old" syndrome. At some point (especially in war) everybody ends up back where they were as a toddler...building towers of blocks and then knocking them back down...just because you can...but the problem comes (both for toddlers and for adults) we don't always stop at our own "blocks" and we take to crashing in to everyone else's. Then sooner or later....they crash back..and there you have it...The 3 Year Old Syndrome...on sale now at Barnes and Noble...I'll be having a book signing tour next month in an area near year. :-)

I'm Talking Barbara HA! Just don't build any stairs onto my house... I actually like the picture of the bedroom (w/ out the antlers) best...though the other one is kind of nice for a more woodsy cabin sort of feel. I like the less cluttered look, (though at the moment you would not be able to tell if you looked around my house) I don't know if we have any Archies around...(I am sure there are plenty of Jughead's though) Would you settle for a wealthy restaurant owner? And there are also a few TV personalities nearby as well...I don't think there are any bloodlines going that far back( as Victoria) around here unless you can find one of the Indian Casino owners...those are a little further out from where I live but it's still not too far away. :-) will have to dispose of your space heater, my girl. Oh do you have to?? This is the first year we've ever had it and I am getting so addicted to that pretty red glow. (not to mention that warm cozy feeling) I may have to hide it from you and only pull it out when you are out visiting w/ Archie....or Chief Running Elk...or whatever his name may be :-)

The fact that these were two groups from the same country fighting each other may also lend weight to Wayne's attitude. How pointless it must have seemed to some. But even in the war their is honor among the enemies. Chris (and April)..you touched on an aspect of this film I wanted to ask about... How would you compare this to other films in terms of the telling of the "civil war" tale. Is it pretty reflective of other films set in this era is do you see things in this one that might not really lend itself to what you usually think of for a movie like that. I have always had a special interest in this time frame of our history and was just sort of wondering.

"True".

He can't be tired after all that is he Well...I am chalking it up to him still fighting off the end of that awful cold that we had Thanksgiving week...but if he doesn't snap out of it soon...I may have to threaten him with putting up the Christmas lights or something as punishment for all this goldbricking. :-) Actually what I ought to do is start trying to hook the vcr up all by myself...and then of course I will have to make a big production about how pitiful I am w/ the moving of the armoire and then trying to get all the cables pulled out from behind it and of course I will pick a time when he is just lounging around or something so he will have to feel guilty and come help me....I have my methods. :-)

pointless(?)) No way...way cool fact, I'd say. I bet it was fun getting to see all those cars the first time you saw that movie.

I believe you are displaying your knowledge when you can figure out what the movie is, and where to go to get the information. The exercise has value in that while going through the process you are learning more about film lore. Gus...you are truly an asset to this thread. I am so glad we started it just to be reading all these great quotes. Almost all of them have been way out of my reach, but I am really having fun trying to place a few of them. Some are easily recognizable...but others really have had me searching. Hat's off to all you more "expert" posters. It's fun watching and learning.

Thanks for the offer on recording. I am sure I will get a chance to see it one of these days...I am just going to keep tapping my foot with impatience until either the library or TCM (or even AMC) gets around to it. :-) You may be wisest of all in sticking with a VCR. Well...that will only work for me if TWO things happen first.... 1) if it is in fact a working VCR (still haven't tested it yet) And... 2) if I can ever get my "technophobic" husband off his duff to help me hook it up because it will involve some moving of furniture and such...He only works 10 hours a day and does chores around the house and keeps busy taking care of the yard and the dog, and helps with the kidling. I just don't understand why he hasn't made this a priority....he KNOWS I am waiting after all! (Of course if I were to tell him that he'd likely say something like....Kathy get over it...the earth revolves around the S-U-N not the Y-O-U!! The very idea! :-)

Wow....April. I want to restate something I know I have said before....If you don't already...you should write this stuff for a classic movie magazine or something. At the very least you ought to seriously consider submitting to one. EXCELLENT ramble and first rate screencaps. I haven't even seen the movie (except for one part i will get back to in a moment) and yet, I can tell you have such keen insight into the characters and their motivations and their personalities. I think from what you've written Wayne's character sounds like it is perfect for his abilities and strengths as an actor. I like the way you focused on his talent for "making every gesture count". I have been noticing that in him in a lot of films as I have started paying more and more attention. I have been more in tune to his facial expressions too, but I also have noticed his movements and mannerisms. He really had a knack for that sort of thing that has somehow escaped me until recently. the love story between Wayne and Constance Towers is one of my favorites so far in Ford?s films. It is very muted and they never exchange so much as a kiss but Ford manages to make holding hands seem like a declaration and Wayne?s removal of Constance?s scarf a gesture of almost unbearable intimacy. The movie capitalizes on the ability of a good director to coax our imaginations to respond to the most subtle gestures and to maximize the meaning of stolen glances. HOO-ray. I think this is one of the best and most effective ways to "do" a love story in films...especially in films that are not "love stories". The "less is more" aspect of this sort of story telling is almost a lost art in modern movies, to be sure. the encounter with the ?Jefferson Military Academy?, a boy?s school. Led by their clerical headmaster, I about fell out of my chair when I saw the screencap for this earlier...because I have not seen this movie I know for sure....but I have seen that scene. I don't know when or where, but the minute I saw it I remembered it. Maybe it was a "channel flipping" moment or something and I just did not know what I was watching. It has been a long time ago....but I know I remember that whole bit. Now I REALLY want to see this one if only to put that moment into it's proper context. A movie filled with paradoxes. Oh I am SO keeping my fingers crossed as I never made it up to the library today so I still do not know what my "mystery movies" are that they have on hold for me....I know I had this on my list....I hope this film is one of them. What a great ramble...(and PS...no caffeine needed whatever) Nicely done, young lady. :-)

April...I just went in there for a quick peek...I am going to come back later and give it the full attention it deserves. (supper time is calling) But I can already tell it is going to be a good one. Those screen caps are first rate and I can't hardly wait to read the ramble. Talk to you later! :-)

I'm convinced your little one is a doll and very well behaved She is a doll...but sometimes she reminds me of that Talking Tina on the Twilight Zone....she is a bit rotten when she wants her own way. (but aren't we all) :-) Actuallly she is a very energetic and enthusiastic kid....and usually well behaved but sometimes quite a handful. , Kim Myles, host of that HGTV "Myles of Style"? I haven't ever caught that show....will look for it sometime. (I love HGTV) I would love a sophisticated rustic lodge look but with our tiny house it might come off more like a sophisticated rustic "little log cabin" But....I'll take it. We don't have a fire place, but we do have this nifty little space heater that looks like a cast iron stove with fake glowing logs behind a glass door. It actually looks like a real fire...It is very cozy on a cold afternoon. (I know...fireplace owners all across North America are rolling their eyes at me right now going, "how pathetic is that??" :-) We are fresh out of eligible lairds in this neck of the woods...but we do live within about 10 or 15 miles or so of the one of the wealthiest cities in the wealthiest county over on the Kansas side....lots of rich doctors and lawyers and such....probably even a few pro-football players etc...Let me work on it.Could be there is a transplanted laird in amongst all that :-) PS...the only tiaras around here are thel ittle plastic rhinestone play ones...and you'd have to fight "talking Tina" for one of those....

Barb...diplomacy is a wonderful thing! :-) If it will help, I will give the little kidling a perm and teach her to sing On the Good Ship Lollypop. :-) Ha. Let me know what your fee is for an "extreme makeover, household edition" sort of deal...just don't bring any bull horns. I live in kind of a quiet neighborhood...the neighbors might complain. :-)

Hiya Barb... I want to hire you to come to my house and help me pick out new carpet this spring...I am keeping my fingers crossed that we will get to that project sometime by then (that's the plan anyway) And then of course after the carpet, there is the kitchen floor, and I need a new stove too...and oh wait...what about the wood trim...we need new baseboards...and there is also...hmm..I may have to build on another wing of my house if you are going to be staying long enough to help w/ all that too....how do you feel about cocker spaniels and five year olds??? :-)

my mom ramble. Thanks for letting me jabber on Hello Molo. Thanks for the Mom Ramble. It really made my day to hear how well you two are getting along in the face of such a rotten time. I hope things go well as you wait for Thursday. Thinking about you getting a favorite tune stuck in your head made me remember how much music can really help when we are stressed out or just need to train our mind to think on something esle for a while. I am " nervous hummer" when I need to distract myself, so I totally get what you were talking about. Here is a little story told only to maybe (I hope) make you smile: Think of it as a little "musical" ramble w/ an oral surgery twist.... :-) Several years ago, I had two wisdom teeth removed that were horribly impacted and I had a lot of nervousness about the whole thing. The oral surgeon advised putting me to sleep for the procedure, but being a bit of a control freak at times, I told him I would feel better if I stayed awake. I wanted to know what was going on the whole time. Well, he finally at least talked me into having a little of that nitrous oxide stuff along w/ the Novocain shots and so they had me all hooked up to that for the whole process. It took FOREVER because although the first tooth came out easily, the second one broke into a lot of fragments...and I will skip any more gruesome details. But my point in telling you all this is that through out the whole thing I was "humming" in the back of my throat as a sort of "tension breaker" . (It's hard to really 'hum" when you have a bunch of tubes and tools in your mouth, so it was kind of a funny sound. I was in that chair for over an hour and a half, and I must have hummed every song in the Southern Baptist Hymnal. After the first few songs, the Dr. asked me...."Is that music coming from you? " And I had to confess it was and he just sort of cracked up and kept on working. I think he got a big kick out of it, because I just sat there gripping the arm of the chair and kept on humming the whole time. By the time he was almost finished, he looked at me as he was stitching me up and said...."I think you forgot one:" and then he started singing Amazing Grace and the nurse joined in with him and then I started humming along too. It was both hilarious and very sweet all at the same time. Music is a great tension breaker so enjoy that little tune bouncing around in your brain, especially if it helps. And one other thing...If you will permit me one more personal reflection, my Grandma (94) was very ill and was in the final stages of a long battle w/ congestive heart failure several years ago. I knew she could hear us though she was totally unresponsive to anyone when they would talk to her, so I got behind the head of her bed and just leaned down and sang some of her favorite songs to her every so often. Before you know it, the nurses and other folks that came in and out of the room would join in and sing too from time to time. It is a very special memory. So the next time you are "brain singing" share a tune w/ your mom as well. I bet it will make her smile and might help take the tension off when she starts to get a little restless. And you never know....since it's almost Christmas time, maybe if you sing O Tannenbaum the German Doctor will join in too! I hope things go well and will keep praying for you both. Take care and keep in touch. Kathy