Hi everyone! How are you all doing today?
Right now I am recovering from yet another foot surgery, I decided to really get serious about this blogging thing. Over the past few years, I’ve been toying around with the idea of it, but it never really got anywhere. I’m determined this time to make a go at it.
As I sit here and recover, I have been working hard on planning, getting all my ideas together, trying to figure out how to use WordPress and find out how fun ChatGPT is and helpful for scheduling blog posts and ideas. That’s the fun thing about being an Xennial; we have had to learn how to adapt and learn new technology along the way. We are the last generation to remember a childhood without internet, cell phones, streaming services, etc. I cherish the memories of wandering around the video store on the weekends trying to find a movie to rent or how many times my parents rented “The Making Of Thriller” for me since at that time in 1983/1984 prices for a VHS was out of our price range. Today, I have it saved on a playlist on YouTube. How times have changed. I’m sad my kids won’t have the joy of wandering around Blockbuster looking for a movie to rent.
I just have spent a lot of time recently reflecting on my life. I’m now 45 years old. I’m officially middle aged. I speak of things and get blank stares from people who are younger than me. As young as I feel and have been told I still appear to be in my 30’s (Thank you Lord for great DNA and genes), I am now seeing things sagging such as my neckline. I hated the day I decided to buy a skin tightener cream for my neck and chest. My chest is starting to look like an “old lady” chest. Kids, remember to wear sunscreen. As my Dr. Sister in law says “SPF 50 and above only”. It’s weird being a mom with kids that were born when I was 32 years old and 36 years old. I am an old mom compared to some of the other mothers I met. It’s weird seeing the world a bit differently than they do.
One way I can describe “seeing the world differently” from my kid’s friend’s parents is that life isn’t something you can plan out perfectly. In Wicked: Part 1, Jonathan Bailey aka Prince Fieryo sings the song, “Dancing Through Life”:
Dancing through life, skimming the surface
Gliding where turf is smooth
Life’s more painless for the brainless
Why think too hard when it’s so soothing?
Dancing through life, no need to tough it
When you can slough it off as I do
Nothing matters but knowing nothing matters
It’s just life, so keep dancing through
Dancing through life, swaying and sweeping
And always keeping cool
Life is fraught-less when you’re thoughtless
Those who don’t try never look foolish
Dancing through life, mindless and careless
Make sure you’re where less trouble is rife
Woes are fleeting, blows are glancing
When you’re dancing through life
Song Credits: Composed by Stephen Schwartz
You are probably wondering why I chose the name of the blog to be “Jen Defies Gravity”. Well, I was very, very late on the amazing 2005 Broadway show, “Wicked” train. My mom had seen it a few times off broadway when it was touring but I never went because the Wizard of Oz scared me as a child. (You know those flying monkeys scared almost every single child. It’s like a rite of passage I guess). But when “Wicked:Part One” came out in November 2024 and I saw it in the movie theater; something changed within me (credit: Defying Gravity written and composed by the amazing Stephen Schwartz). I watched it over Thanksgiving Weekend with another one of my ride or die friends, Linda. I accidentally bought 3D tickets which made the experience even more memorable. It was also memorable that the 3D show didn’t make me sick. Woo-hoo. I heard the song “Defying Gravity” being sung by the amazing Cynthia Ervio and Ariana Grande-Butera. The song hit me deep in my soul. I know it sounds cheesy but it changed me. That end of the song “battle cry” made me feel powerful. It made me feel like I was understood. I just walked out of the theater just speechless, perplexed, in awe. I watched it again when I bought it for New Year’s Eve on Amazon with my daughter. She immediately loved it. She is on the autism spectrum and in her journey of discovering this diagnosis, a lot of things throughout my life started to make sense to me. “Defying Gravity” started to become my new theme song (you will see I have many theme songs throughout the years…..it’s a hoot).
When Elphaba realizes she has the power to make change and be brave even if it means doing it on her own, that touched me so much. I watched it that day and could not stop crying. I felt this movie to my core being. My sweet daughter and I are obsessed with Wicked. On New Year’s Day 2025, we must have watched it at least 10 times. She just had a Wicked-themed birthday party and I am proud to say I have made an Emerald City out of toilet paper and paper towel rolls. Wow, that was a project.
All throughout my life, I have always felt different. I never knew why. Throughout this blog, I hope to explain why I felt this way, encourage others who feel the same way, and somehow make you feel you are not alone in this life. I recognized why this broadway show had such an impact on so many people over the years all over the world in the past 20 years and means so much.
My husband is a proud geeky guy. He LOVES “Star Wars.” The most I know about “Star Wars” is when I was a little kid and it played all the time on HBO (you know when cable first came out in the 1980’s). I knew bits and pieces about it but never sat down to watch the whole thing. I was a “Back to the Future” kid. To this day, that is my all time favorite movie. If you know me, you know that I love “Titanic” which I proudly saw 10x at the movie theater when it came out and had a prom dress made to look like the dress Rose wears to dinner when Jack comes and then she goes to “make it count” by going down to 3rd class and partying all night with him. She realizes how freeing life can be. I even had the two VHS set (yes, I am old. It first came out in a two VHS set in 1998 due to the movie being so long). I was so excited when it came out on DVD.
My point is my husband was geeking out at a “Star Wars” movie and clapping along with the whole theater who were totally into “Star Wars.” Honestly, I had no idea what was happening, what a stormtrooper actually was, etc. It was awesome seeing Carrie Fisher back on the screen (RIP. She had passed away before this movie came out. I remember her most as being Meg Ryans best friend in “When Harry Met Sally”). He spent the whole drive home answering my questions. We are both proud “Back to the Future” nerds. I’m envious he was older than me and got to go to the movies to watch the trilogy when “Back to the Future III” came out. I just never got the “Star Wars” love. I appreciate the fans and think the movie score is fantastic, but had no idea that Princess Lea and Luke Skywalker were siblings. I thought they were married. I didn’t find the truth out until I got my husband this funny shirt for his Christmas jammies our first Christmas after we got married that they were siblings, not married. The shirt showed a picture of a family Christmas. I just thought Darth Vader, Princess Lea and Luke Skywalker were just having an in law over for Christmas. Well, now I know the truth. I appreciate all the fandom for it and think it’s fantastic. You have to have passions.
All of that to say my husband and I have come to the conclusion that I have beat him on the so-called “nerdiness” obsession with a movie franchise. You know what, it’s ok. I am proud to be someone who sees the joy and hope in a movie as well as the beautiful costumes, sets, songs (oh the songs), the talented actors and actresses, the love of the fans, and so much more.
It’s my hope you find what makes you happy and joyful. That we can work together to create a community who celebrates each other’s success, happiness, joyfulness, love, and make a difference in the world.
Right now, I’m working on my blog publishing schedule and hopefully my dreams of what this blog can be can come true. I’m hoping to write at first 2-3 posts a week and as time goes on, create more content.
Remember ‘everyone deserves a chance to fly” however that looks to you in your life. Don’t let anyone bring you down. Keep on going and as hard things can get, you will find the strength to get through it. You will be proud of yourself for doing the right thing.
Lots of love to you all, my new friends.
Jen
Here is a clip of Jonathan Bailey AKA The Winkie Prince Fiyero singing “Dancing Through Life” in “the book place” (as Glinda says on her guided tour for the new student).