Today is the 21st
day of the third month of the year. Beginning in France in 2005, a number of
European countries began to mark this day in recognition of Down Syndrome, a
genetic disorder involving a third copy of chromosome 21 which causes
developmental and intellectual delays. Beginning in 2012, the United Nations
General Assembly invited “all Member States, relevant organizations of the
United Nations system and other international organizations, as well as civil
society, including non-governmental organizations and the private sector, to
observe World Down Syndrome Day in an appropriate manner, in order to raise
public awareness of Down syndrome.”
I have written about Coby, the son of our friend Michal. When Coby was born and diagnosed with Down Syndrome in late 1999, my first reaction was immense sadness. But Coby was blessed to have a mother who, rather than drowning in self-pity, set out to learn and do everything she could to ensure the best possible outcome for her first born. The challenges remain but I will forever be in awe of her strength and resolve to provide him with all the tools humanly possible to maximize his ability to function in the world.
The snow is falling heavily now, as predicted. Having heard the weather forecasts, we managed to get out to see one more movie before being stuck indoors for a bit and went to see “Oh Lucy!” I was a bit hesitant because the movie is mostly in Japanese with subtitles, but fortunately I was able to keep up pretty well.
The movie focuses on Setsuko, a single woman in a dull and seemingly meaningless life in Tokyo. Her niece, Mika, had enrolled in an English language class that she no longer wants to take, and convinces Setsuko to attend and give pay her for the tuition that was no refundable. The class is taught by a young American named John who insists that his students take on American names and customs. Setsuko dons a curly blonde wig and becomes Lucy, and as Lucy she develops romantic feelings for John. It is only after she makes these feelings known that she learns that John had been seeing Mika. When John disappears, Setsuko and her sister Ayako travel to Southern California to find him and discover that he had previously abandoned a wife and child there. All of this has a tragic impact on Mika and leaves the relationship between the two sisters shattered.
Although the movie had its comic aspects, particularly relating to the efforts of Setsuko and a fellow student in the small English language class to learn American customs, overall it was a rather sad tale.
Stay safe and warm! The only redeeming quality of snow this late in the year is that it does not last for long.
Love,
Rebecca
No comments:
Post a Comment