While I am on hiatus, I hope you enjoy reader-favorite newsletters from the archive.
I wish you peace, joy, and rest.
Much love,
~Lisa
“He’s SO hot.”
There were four women in front of us as we navigated the crowds on 46th Street in Manhattan. It was about 11 PM but the streets were still packed because that’s just how it is there. We had all just left the flight deck of the Intrepid, where we watched Crimson Tide as part of their summer movie series. I must say, if you’ve never watched a movie on an aircraft carrier — it’s really damn cool.
This group of women had watched the movie too, and now one of them was talking about the super hot guy who played the supporting role of “Weps.”
I laughed to myself because I agreed. Viggo Mortensen is, indeed, hot.
We walked down the crowded street behind them, dodging bags of trash on the sidewalk. When we stopped at the light, an Uber Eats delivery guy on a bike squeezed past me and nudged me forward. If I exhaled, this woman would have felt it on the back of her neck. She was still talking about Viggo.
“He often plays this character that women just totally fall for. Did you see A Walk on the Moon? Oh my god, I love that movie.”
I gasped audibly, but the sounds of the city covered it.
I was in that movie.
This was so fucking weird.
She went on to describe the plot in detail, as I stood there, my face burning with the feeling of being exposed, but she had no idea. I looked at Jeremy, with a wide-eyed expression. Am I supposed to DO something in this situation? He laughed and shrugged as she just kept talking about it. Should I reach out the six inches between us, tap her on the shoulder, and be like, “Hey, I was in that movie. Glad you liked it. And yeah, Viggo really is hot.”
But I’m shy and avoid talking to strangers at all costs. Besides, I wasn’t sure what would be the point of that, other than acknowledging the odd coincidence of it.
I’ve never had this experience. I’ve never come upon someone talking about one of my movies without knowing it was one of my movies. And it was even odder that they were talking about this particular movie — not one that was actually successful at the box office.
It makes me think about the fact that every action has a ripple effect. In the summer of 1997, I took a job in a movie. Now I’m in New York, twenty-six summers later and someone is talking about it randomly as we stand at an intersection.
You never know what leads to something else. You never know how your words and actions might resonate or change the course of things. How empowering is that? So why not throw around some kind comments or compassionate actions just because it might have a positive impact somewhere, sometime?
I didn’t say anything to that woman. I think that was the right call. I’m always afraid of being like that guy on the Simpsons “Hello, I’m Troy McClure. You May Remember Me From Such Fox Specials As Alien Nose Job And 5 Fabulous Weeks Of The Chevy Chase Show.”
But now thinking back on it, I do kind of wish she knew how much her comment delighted me and made me realize that we’re all more connected than we can imagine.
I’m also glad I could have played a small part in bringing people an opportunity to watch Viggo on screen. Because - as previously noted:
He is hot.
Here’s what else happened this week:
What I read
This newsletter is about leaving secret notes for people in public places. Can we all start doing this, please?
What else I read
There are many reasons that I don’t want to love Jonathan Franzen. It’s obnoxious that I’m a total sucker for every damn thing he writes. Sigh. Crossroads is amazing. I’m loving it. And I’m disappointed in myself for loving it so much. It’s complicated.
What I am enjoying
I went down a rabbit hole with the thoughtful work of Brian Andreas. So many lovely lessons and delightful pieces of art.
What I am still singing
When we were in New York, we saw Sweeny Todd - because who doesn’t want to watch a peppy musical about killing people and turning them into pies? Josh Groban and Annaleigh Ashford were awesome and I keep singing this:
@sweeneytoddbwayHoo! Hoo! By The Sea is now streaming.
Thank you for reading, friends. I am grateful for you.
Much love,
~Lisa