The soothing benefits of Dickens, Heyer, and Pho

[pegkerr]

Tonight was Friday, Mom's night out. I resisted the temptation to go (again) to see That Movie, and instead settled on Nicholas Nickleby. Rob didn't get home until 7:00 p.m., which meant the 9:40 show was my only option, so I headed out for dinner to the Uptown neighborhood.

I was walking through Calhoun Mall on my way to a restaurant, and I happened to glance to one side to look at a store display as I started to walk between two benches. Because my head was turned, I failed to see the four inch square steel bar that joined the benches right at shin level and ran right into it. I gasped and swore, my momentum carrying me right over the bar, and I landed in an ungainly heap on the other side.

"Are you okay, miss?" a woman minding one of the booths said.

Of course I felt like an idiot, and so I tried to make light of it. "I'm . . . all right," I gasped. "Just a little bruised."

"People keep hitting that bar between the benches," she mumbled as she turned away.

I barely kept myself from screaming, "If people keep tripping over it, why don't they remove the bloody thing?"

I hurt so badly that I went upstairs to the restroom, locked myself in a stall, and cried for a while. How strange, when you think about it, that I was so embarrassed that I had hurt myself so badly. And when I was done crying over the pain, I cried about something else, and I don't quite know what it was. About winter or about how hard it seemed to come back to the routines of my life this week. My perfectly ordinary life with all its perfectly ordinary infuriating demands. The pain somehow brought down all my usual barriers that I use to keep going, and I really fell apart.

Gradually, I pulled myself together. I mopped up my face with toilet paper and was able to make myself presentable enough that I could walk through the mall without people staring at me in horror. I still limped a little, however.

Clearly, comfort food was in order, so I went to the Lotus and with very little deliberation ordered egg rolls and Beef Pho. If ever you are in need of warm comfort food, pho is the way to go. It's noodle soup, to which you add bean sprouts and basil. It comes in a bowl almost big enough to bathe in, and the broth, delicately anise-flavored, is soothing to the soul. I had even brought a Georgette Heyer novel along to read as I ate, which made the pho doubly delicious.

Then on to Nicholas Nickleby. I have read some Dickens, but not a lot (A Christmas Carol, Oliver Twist, David Copperfield, Great Expectations, and A Tale of Two Cities) I hesitate to pass judgment on the movie, as I have not yet read the book (one reviewer snippily said "This isn't just the CliffsNotes version of Nicholas Nickleby, it's the CliffsNotes with pages missing"). But I liked it, and it was just what I needed. Dickens is a master character sculptor. He can be overly sentimental, but there is no doubt that he has things to say that are deeply felt and, I think, most true. Certainly he had a burning desire to speak to the effects (particularly upon children) of misery, poverty, and neglect. This movie reminds me of That Speech at the end of That Movie by That Favorite Character (cover your ears, papersky). You know the one: "There's some good in this world, and it's worth fighting for." On a night when I felt my defenses down, where I could be suddenly unstrung when stung by unexpected pain, it was good to see a story about people who try to do the right thing, even in the face of pain, and who choose to love each other, and how that path is more admirable than those who choose selfish cruelty and indifference to their fellow human beings.

Yeah. Like that.

I will read Nicholas Nickleby soon, I think.

Peg

Comments

[rhiannon333.livejournal.com]

*hugs Peg and sends a carton of anti-bruise cream*

I am glad that the combination of pho, Heyer and Dickens helped cheer you, but belated hugs in general as well. Although my absolute favourite Dickens are the later ones (darker, even better characterisation, and the same uplifting quality), Nicholas Nickleby is a worthwhile read, though, as with all Dickens, very LONG. If you have not read it, could I recommend Our Mutual Friend, with one of the best female characters in Dickens (so many of his disappoint). Hope your leg recovers quickly, and that you are able to make some of those changes to free up some more writing time. All the best.

[lissannej.livejournal.com]

*sending you a huge hug* Sounds like you've had a rough couple of days, Peg. I hope your leg is feeling much better this morning - that would have been horribly painful, hitting your shin like that. Hope you manage to overcome your blues soon.

Liss :-)

[http://users.livejournal.com/_lindsay_/]

::hugs:: I'm glad you had a nice evening. Sometimes crying about stuff really helps...just reading your post made me feel better. :) ::loff::

[rivka.livejournal.com]

Argh. Sounds dreadful. I hope you'll be able to take it easy today and rest your bruised legs.

[morganmalfoy.livejournal.com]

I hate it when things like that happen, not simply because they hurt and can be embaressing, but because it sort of throws you back to feeling ungainly, somewhat lacking.

At least that's how I feel.

-M

[kishmish.livejournal.com]

*hug* Keeping that bar there is incredibly stupid. Hope you're not too bruised up. I know that moment where you find yourself crying in a random bathroom, but when you're done, you feel better right? With Beef Pho of course. *mental note to try it
Don't worry. When you're happy this day won't even be significant. Just spoil yourself for a while^_^

[peacockharpy.livejournal.com]

Sorry about the trip and fall, and about your week thus far... but I hope the comfort pho and NN made it all better.

I highly recommend the book, as I was in the play in high school (I was Mrs. Nickleby) and read the book then to get character notes. Mrs. N was apparently based pretty strongly on Dickens' own mother, although she never realized it. ;) The novel was really excellent and reading it was the first time I picked up on Dickens' sense of humor (I'd read Twist and Expectations before. Am glad to hear you liked the movie, as I'm making an effort to go see it before the baby comes. :)

I hear the 8-hour RSC production from the 80s is phenomenal, too, if you can lay hands on it.

- Darice

[penmage.livejournal.com]

I haven't seen Nicholas Nickelby yet, though I plan to, but my parents did. When they came home, their response was that they wanted to take out he Cliffs notes, because thy felt like stuff was left out - they wanted to know the rest of the story, but didn't have time for the Dickens novel itself.

:shrugs:

I can't say I have time for the novel myself. I'll reserve judgement till I see it, though ;).

that sucks

[mckitterick.livejournal.com]

...but you know, sometimes an opportunity to cry is what we most need!

I'm so glad you came down to visit. I suspect both your and Kij's unhappiness of late have much to do with just having had such a good week-or-so together.

Chris

[serendipoz.livejournal.com]

I hurt so badly that I went upstairs to the restroom, locked myself in a stall, and cried for a while. How strange, when you think about it, that I was so embarrassed that I had hurt myself so badly.

I've done that as well - done something stupid (fell over my feet maybe) and hurt myself, been picked up by someone and then gone away and cried in some restroom or locked cupboard. Frustrating. It makes me feel as if I'm not worth much at the time.

I'm glad you found comfort food, book and movie.

(And thank you for writing about it.)