March 14, 2009
Hey Guys,
In my first entry I said that my job was akin to that of a bartender – lending a sympathetic ear to lonely people. Now, however, I would say that I see myself as more of a spiritual leader. On top of listening to people’s problems, I refer to “scripture” to give them guidance. (By scripture I mean the movie store canon: movies!)
“As the priest is to his congregation, so the video store clerk is to his community of movie watching disciples.”
Next I’ll come up with Ten Video Store Commandments.
A couple of days ago, an elderly guy with a disheveled combover, Meyer Schmelling, rented a pair of DVDs. He comes in from time to time, always wearing the same ill-fitting jacket, and usually rents classics; things like The Maltese Falcon, Rebel Without a Cause or The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance. His shirt is always stained with drippings of his morning’s coffee and his suspenders keep his trousers up around the high water mark. He’s very entertaining, tells lots of jokes and I must admit that, behind his back, Steve and I make fun of his accent, despite the fact that we’re pretty sure he’s going senile.
His stories are long winded and totally disjointed, yet somehow amusing and occasionally contain small but profound scraps of wisdom. This time he told me that he was once a Rabbi, but his aging, impoverished congregation had deserted him because the synagogue was too cold and they couldn’t afford to heat the building. That’s probably why he likes to talk so much – he is used to preaching every Sabbath and he misses having an audience.
When he told me that, I considered joining the clergy. If he could be a Rabbi, then I could be a Rabbi! It would probably be similar to running the video store. I’ve never stood on a pulpit and delivered a sermon, but I am like a shepherd leading my flock – recommending movies, giving advice and providing comfort to people who need support. Perhaps my true calling comes from a higher source.
Yet at the same time I’ve been consumed by more earthly desires. I’ve been overindulging my coffee habit trying to run into my café princess once again. So far I’ve only succeeded in exacerbating my insomnia and the tremors in my hands.
I’ll close up this blog entry by talking a little bit about Casablanca, which I watched last night. It’s the most classic movie of all time, and for good reason. The chemistry between Bogart and Bergman is off the charts. There isn’t much to say that hasn’t already been said. I did some research, and it was released in November, 1942, not just during the war, but at the same time as the Allied conquest of North Africa and the Casablanca Conference, a meeting between Churchill and Roosevelt. While I watched the film, I really felt like I had stepped into the past.
Tonight I think I am going to change things up. I brought home My Cousin Vinny, a famous comedy from the early 90’s. It’s got Marissa Tomei in a role that won her acclaim and Joe Pesci in one of his first forays into comedy. How will these two Italian New Yorkers fare in the Deep South? I’ll let you know next time.
Comments:
averagejoe66: Casablanca is hands down the greatest movie ever
jenkins: Is that according to your taste? I hate it when people make royal proclamations like that.
averagejoe66: Yes, it is according to my taste. And it’s all over the internet
always_right_princess: Check out African Queen with Bogart playing Mike the outdoorsy Canadian. They couldnt make him tough because Canadians have to be friendly.
J-Babylon: Yo my cousin vinny rocked, check out goodfellas and casino too, thats primo pesci bro
SonofEbert; My Cousin Vinny’s ass has been kissed by way too many critics. I’m surprised someone in your privileged position, who claims to be such an indispensable beacon of enlightenment in the community and whose megalomania has driven you into delusions of spiritual grandeur, would proudly announce how much they love such hackneyed, formulaic fluff.
Spliffany: I did a three-day fast once. It was with this guy called the power of the pyramid guru at a silent retreat. That’s my recomendation.
mulletar: thts so interesting. i would love to hear more about it over coffee
sometime
Spliffany: First of all I dont even drink coffee. Second, have you actually listened to a single word I’ve said?
mulletar: totally. i really wanna get to kno u
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