John Aldrich
2005-08-29 01:41:50 UTC
Well, I watched the last show one more time and it occurred to me that
besides being a great episode, in many ways, it was a show about how one's
biggest fears in life never actually come true. Destiny is what we make it.
Some examples.
Ruth's biggest fears always seemed to be living alone, not being a good
mother and ultimately dying alone. In fact, she became the glue that held
the family together, helped her children through some of their most
difficult times with love, support and encouragement and died with those who
loved her the most at her bedside.
David feared not being accepted, not "measuring up," and also being alone.
However, he maintained a successful business, was married and raised
children. It seems he died happy. I would describe the look on his face
during his last moments as "relieved" in a sense.
Brenda who feared insanity at its darkest managed to become the consummate
modern woman. A stellar career, was married and raised children. The
super-mom so to speak. She obtained what she desperately wanted - normalcy.
Claire, the free spirit, feared never finding her way in life and being
"invisible." Instead, she did marry, became a famous artist, married and
died at a ripe old age. Ironic don't you agree that it was her mother, who
at times she seemed to loathe in her younger years, who gave her the courage
to finally strike out on her own and find her own way.
Keith, feared becoming his father, an abusive parent. Instead, he met his
demons head on, married, ran a business and raised a couple of kids by the
kindest of standards were "challenging." Dying such as he did, violently,
was also an ironic twist in my view, but there seems to be a lot said for
going out happy.
Billy - who really cares? There wasn't enough info to tell us if he was at
a house on the beach or an insane asylum. I remember an episode where he
told Nate "happiness is a concept I try not to buy into." But as much as he
could be, Brenda was with him until her last breath. To be honest, that was
all he probably ever wanted.
Nate - who died too young and never fully reached his journey, in a way
freed, or shocked, everyone else into getting on with their life. Remember
the line he said in an early season when asked, "Why do people have to
die?," Nate said something like, "To show us what a gift life is."
Ultimately, I think he was the one who "got it" the most."
George - who had many marriages and messed up kids finally reached a place
of being a stallwart companion and a bedrock for Ruth. Another person who
feared insanity turned out to be probably the person on the show with the
most humble of nature's and the most common sense.
Well, anyway, those are my final thoughts.
besides being a great episode, in many ways, it was a show about how one's
biggest fears in life never actually come true. Destiny is what we make it.
Some examples.
Ruth's biggest fears always seemed to be living alone, not being a good
mother and ultimately dying alone. In fact, she became the glue that held
the family together, helped her children through some of their most
difficult times with love, support and encouragement and died with those who
loved her the most at her bedside.
David feared not being accepted, not "measuring up," and also being alone.
However, he maintained a successful business, was married and raised
children. It seems he died happy. I would describe the look on his face
during his last moments as "relieved" in a sense.
Brenda who feared insanity at its darkest managed to become the consummate
modern woman. A stellar career, was married and raised children. The
super-mom so to speak. She obtained what she desperately wanted - normalcy.
Claire, the free spirit, feared never finding her way in life and being
"invisible." Instead, she did marry, became a famous artist, married and
died at a ripe old age. Ironic don't you agree that it was her mother, who
at times she seemed to loathe in her younger years, who gave her the courage
to finally strike out on her own and find her own way.
Keith, feared becoming his father, an abusive parent. Instead, he met his
demons head on, married, ran a business and raised a couple of kids by the
kindest of standards were "challenging." Dying such as he did, violently,
was also an ironic twist in my view, but there seems to be a lot said for
going out happy.
Billy - who really cares? There wasn't enough info to tell us if he was at
a house on the beach or an insane asylum. I remember an episode where he
told Nate "happiness is a concept I try not to buy into." But as much as he
could be, Brenda was with him until her last breath. To be honest, that was
all he probably ever wanted.
Nate - who died too young and never fully reached his journey, in a way
freed, or shocked, everyone else into getting on with their life. Remember
the line he said in an early season when asked, "Why do people have to
die?," Nate said something like, "To show us what a gift life is."
Ultimately, I think he was the one who "got it" the most."
George - who had many marriages and messed up kids finally reached a place
of being a stallwart companion and a bedrock for Ruth. Another person who
feared insanity turned out to be probably the person on the show with the
most humble of nature's and the most common sense.
Well, anyway, those are my final thoughts.