Sarah Rubin Crystal 1921-2008

I attended Marsha's mothers' service today, I plan to write more later, and in greater detail, when I have time.

Nicolle, my daughter, and I have been in a fight over something that now seems silly, stupid and pointless. Needless to say, Marsha and her family gave me all the reasons in the world to why God placed me today in this setting. After the service, as I drove off to my hurried life and a Christmas Eve business meeting, I called Nicolle and repaired the rift between us through my tear choking words. What a great gift to me, from God and to use the people who spoke at the service, to clear my head and fill my heart.

It was simple, yet a meaningful tribute, to a woman who loved her family, challenged the world, overcame adversity and was a teacher and example to
her faith, friends, community, and most of all, her family.

Since 9/11, God has given me many opportunities to be involved in death, I have been placed in spots no one could expect, the gift of death, if you might, and I have come out the better for it all, and this day, from this family, that service, has only added to my life.

May Sarah Rubin Crystal rest in peace, I would, should I some day having earned that much respect, love, and admiration from the people who matter the most.

Definitely, Maybe out on DVD

I am like a romantic film viewing boxer waiting to get punched to the canvas with heart touching humor. I am the past victim of Love Actually, As good as it Gets, My big fat Greek wedding, Bridget Jones Diary and Wedding Singer.

So it will be of little surprise that I am gushing all over this title. Having low expectations going in of any film certainly sets the stage for the knock out punch. Another sign of how much I liked the movie was that I could not wait to see it again with someone else to enjoy them enjoying this title. I did that last night, and she was as thrilled as I was with the film.

Ryan Reynolds, “Van Wilder” and a trio of formidable actresses star in this smart and touching romantic comedy about a little girl trying to understand her father's complicated history with women. Will Hayes (Reynolds) is in the midst of a divorce, and his 11-year-old daughter Maya (Abigail Brisling) wants to understand what went wrong with her parents' relationship. She prods her father to share the historical tale of how he met her mother. Will accepts this assignment but changes the names of everyone involved, leaving it up to Maya to decipher who in the story is her mother. Will begins his comedic, yet cathartic, history lesson, weaving a romantic and amusing maze of missed connections and bad timing of three lovely ladies, Summer (Rachel Weisz), April (Isla Fisher), and Emily (Elizabeth Banks).

Abigail Bresling is her warm and believable self, her part is smaller, but is the backdrop of the entire film as it explores past relationships and future hope.


The writer/director does a masterful job of keeping us all guessing who Maya’s mom truly could be. I am generally disappointed with a resurrected romantic formula film; yet definitely, certainly, this DVD separates itself from the standard bowl of film cereal that the producers place on the table.

I was immediately drawn in with the first meeting of April and Will. The on screen chemistry was something Luis Pasture might be jealous of. The writing is brilliant and even the side characters are well positioned, none better than the role of Kevin Klein. The dialogue works on almost all levels, and generally a two-hour comedy struggles to fill the time, not the case here, the story lends itself to full exploration and it doesn’t disappoint.

No great film misses an opportunity to enhance its chosen words by failing to deliver a special musical backdrop. The entire Music bed is worthy of purchase

I cannot shake the fact that I have my mom’s incredible romantic heart, as I gravitate to films like this like a young discovery seeking Isaac Newton.
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This is a very sweet film, added to my list of great love stories that use comedy to enjoy the tale.