Dr. John Henry Holliday was born August 14, 1851 in Griffin, Georgia. At age 19, he went to Philadelphia to study dentistry at the Pennsylvania College of Dental Surgery, now part of my alma mater, the University of Pennsylvania.
After he graduated in 1872, Holliday moved to St. Louis to begin his dental practice. Shortly thereafter, he was diagnosed with tuberculosis, then an incurable disease.
Holliday was advised that living in a drier, warmer climate would slow the deterioration of his health. Following this guidance, he moved to Dallas, where he attempted to practice dentistry. However, his frequent coughing spells made working as such almost impossible.
To earn money, Holliday took up gambling, which was illegal in the State of Texas. To stay out of trouble, he moved to Denver, Colorado where he became a faro dealer.
Holliday subsequently relocated to Cheyenne, Wyoming, Deadwood, South Dakota and Fort Griffin, Texas, all the while plying his trade as a professional gambler. It was in Fort Griffin where he met and befriended the legendary lawman, Wyatt Earp.
On July 19, 1879 (141 years ago today), while living in Las Vegas, New Mexico, Doc Holliday shot and killed a man for the first time, for wrecking his bar. He subsequently proceeded to Dodge City, Kansas where Wyatt Earp was the local Marshal.
On October 26, 1881, Doc Holliday and Wyatt Earp plus Earp's two brothers, Morgan and Virgil, participated in the most famous gunfight in the history of the West, at the O.K. Corral in Tombstone, Arizona. They were opposed by five cowboys, Billy Claiborne, Ike and Billy Clanton in addition to Tom and Frank McLaury.
There are at least six different movies which depict the above gunfight and six different actors who portray Doc Holliday in them.
My Darling Clementine (1946) with Victor Mature.
Gunfight at the O.K. Corral (1957) with Kirk Douglas
Hour of the Gun (1967) with Jason Robards
Doc (1971) with Stacy Keach
Tombstone (1993) with Val Kilmer
Wyatt Earp (1994) with Dennis Quaid
Doc Holliday survived the gunfight at the O.K. Corral, but not his tuberculosis. He died in Glenwood Springs, Colorado on November 8, 1887 at the age of 36, but he is not forgotten.
Sunday, July 19, 2020
Sunday, July 12, 2020
Detroit
On Monday, May 17, 1967, I reached another milestone in my life. I graduated with a B. S. in Economics degree from the Wharton School of Finance and Commerce of the University of Pennsylvania. (Donald Trump graduated the following year.)
Afterwards, I returned to Oswego and my parent's home to await my status from the local draft board. My student deferment had ended. My gastroenterologist had forwarded his diagnosis of my ulcerative colitis to the draft board. I was hoping it would quickly review the diagnosis and free me from worrying about being drafted by the Army and sent to Vietnam.
A week or two later, I got impatient to start the rest of my life which included getting a job, finding an apartment, buying a car and meeting women. I decided Detroit would be a good place to go as my brother Ted lived there with his wife Joy, a native of the area.
Eventually, I received a 1Y designation from the draft board. I would be eligible to be called up if the USA were invaded. Not likely!
I found a job as an auditor with the CPA firm Ernst & Ernst at their office on West Fort Street in downtown Detroit. Unfortunately for me, I had zero training in this area of accounting. However, I learned much as I was assigned to several different audit managers who needed me to work with several different clients.
With the help of my sister-in-law, I had dates with a number of women, but none appealed to me until I met Bonnie Sobol on the night of July 5, 1967. I remember because that was the day I was supposed to report for duty at Lackland Air Force Base outside of San Antonio, Texas as an Officer Candidate (cancelled because of my colitis). I liked her enough to begin dating regularly.
Going out with Bonnie (who years later decided to go by her real name of Bonita) was a little problematic. She worked as a waitress at Carl's Chop House, a popular and premier restaurant located on Grand River (street) in Detroit. I picked her up late at night at Carl's when her shift ended.
Eighteen days after I met Bonnie (about 53 years ago), on early Sunday morning, July 23, a race riot broke out in Detroit. "The precipitating event was a police raid of an unlicensed, after-hours bar then known as a blind pig, on the city's Near West Side. It exploded into one of the deadliest and most destructive riots in American history, lasting five days and surpassing the violence and property destruction of Detroit's 1943 race riot 24 years earlier."
"Governor George W. Romney ordered the Michigan Army National Guard into Detroit to help end the disturbance. Later, at the request of the Governor, President Lyndon B. Johnson sent in the United States Army's 82nd and 101st Airborne Divisions. The result was 43 dead, 1,189 injured, over 7,200 arrests, and more than 2,000 buildings destroyed."
I remember calling Bonnie later that Sunday to see if she was alright since she was working while the rioting was ongoing. She told me rioters had entered the restaurant and, in the melee, one of her legs was broken. After my initial shock, Bonnie told me it was a joke. Very funny!
I recall that week walking in downtown Detroit to my office, passing heavily armed federal troops. I hope I never again see them patrolling a US city.
Afterwards, I returned to Oswego and my parent's home to await my status from the local draft board. My student deferment had ended. My gastroenterologist had forwarded his diagnosis of my ulcerative colitis to the draft board. I was hoping it would quickly review the diagnosis and free me from worrying about being drafted by the Army and sent to Vietnam.
A week or two later, I got impatient to start the rest of my life which included getting a job, finding an apartment, buying a car and meeting women. I decided Detroit would be a good place to go as my brother Ted lived there with his wife Joy, a native of the area.
Eventually, I received a 1Y designation from the draft board. I would be eligible to be called up if the USA were invaded. Not likely!
I found a job as an auditor with the CPA firm Ernst & Ernst at their office on West Fort Street in downtown Detroit. Unfortunately for me, I had zero training in this area of accounting. However, I learned much as I was assigned to several different audit managers who needed me to work with several different clients.
With the help of my sister-in-law, I had dates with a number of women, but none appealed to me until I met Bonnie Sobol on the night of July 5, 1967. I remember because that was the day I was supposed to report for duty at Lackland Air Force Base outside of San Antonio, Texas as an Officer Candidate (cancelled because of my colitis). I liked her enough to begin dating regularly.
Going out with Bonnie (who years later decided to go by her real name of Bonita) was a little problematic. She worked as a waitress at Carl's Chop House, a popular and premier restaurant located on Grand River (street) in Detroit. I picked her up late at night at Carl's when her shift ended.
Eighteen days after I met Bonnie (about 53 years ago), on early Sunday morning, July 23, a race riot broke out in Detroit. "The precipitating event was a police raid of an unlicensed, after-hours bar then known as a blind pig, on the city's Near West Side. It exploded into one of the deadliest and most destructive riots in American history, lasting five days and surpassing the violence and property destruction of Detroit's 1943 race riot 24 years earlier."
"Governor George W. Romney ordered the Michigan Army National Guard into Detroit to help end the disturbance. Later, at the request of the Governor, President Lyndon B. Johnson sent in the United States Army's 82nd and 101st Airborne Divisions. The result was 43 dead, 1,189 injured, over 7,200 arrests, and more than 2,000 buildings destroyed."
I remember calling Bonnie later that Sunday to see if she was alright since she was working while the rioting was ongoing. She told me rioters had entered the restaurant and, in the melee, one of her legs was broken. After my initial shock, Bonnie told me it was a joke. Very funny!
I recall that week walking in downtown Detroit to my office, passing heavily armed federal troops. I hope I never again see them patrolling a US city.
Sunday, July 5, 2020
Hoosiers
The term Hoosiers has for almost 200 years referred to anyone born in or resident of the State of Indiana. Its derivation is not clear.
In 1986, Hoosiers became the title of what I consider the best sports movie ever. It was written by Angelo Pizzo, directed by David Anspaugh and stars Gene Hackman, Dennis Hopper, Sheb Wooley and Barbara Hershey.
15 years earlier, Hackman portrayed Popeye Doyle in the marvelous police drama The French Connection (see 12/19 post), for which he won the Academy Award for Best Actor.
27 years earlier, Hopper received an Academy Award nomination for Best Original Screenplay (co-written with Peter Fonda and Terry Southern) for the film Easy Rider (award won by William Goldman for Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid). Hopper and Fonda also starred in the film.
34 years earlier, Wooley played Ben Miller, one of four gunmen determined to kill Marshal Will Kane (Gary Cooper) in the great western High Noon (winner of four Academy Awards - see 3/15 post). The brother of Frank Miller (Ian MacDonald), the leader of the gang, Ben was the first to be killed on the streets of Hadleyville.
In the same year (1986), Hershey portrayed Lee, one of three sisters in Woody Allen's Hannah and Her Sisters (see June post).
Hoosiers is based on the true story of the 1954 Indiana state high school boys basketball champions, Milan High School. With only an enrollment of 161 students, their basketball team defeated Muncie Central, a much larger school, in the championship game.
In the film Hoosiers, Norman Dale (Hackman) is hired by the principal (Wooley) to coach the Hickory (Indiana) High School boys basketball team. He then hires the town drunk and father of one of his players to be his assistant (Hopper). Dale develops a romantic relationship with a teacher at the school (Hershey).
Hoosiers follows the team's ups and downs through their very successful basketball season (1951-1952), culminating in the Indiana state championship.
Before the semi-final game, Coach Dale gives an incredible motivational speech to his team. To me, it speaks volumes about what athletic competition should be about.
"There's a tradition in tournament play not to talk about the next step until you've climbed the one in front of you. I'm sure going to the state finals is beyond your wildest dreams. So, let's keep it right there."
"Forget about the crowd, the size of the school, their fancy uniforms and remember what got you here. Focus on the fundamentals that we've gone over time and time again. And most important, don't get caught up thinking about winning or losing this game. If you put your effort and concentration into playing to your potential, to be the best that you can be, I don't care what the scoreboard says at the end of the game. In my book, we're gonna be winners."
In 1986, Hoosiers became the title of what I consider the best sports movie ever. It was written by Angelo Pizzo, directed by David Anspaugh and stars Gene Hackman, Dennis Hopper, Sheb Wooley and Barbara Hershey.
15 years earlier, Hackman portrayed Popeye Doyle in the marvelous police drama The French Connection (see 12/19 post), for which he won the Academy Award for Best Actor.
27 years earlier, Hopper received an Academy Award nomination for Best Original Screenplay (co-written with Peter Fonda and Terry Southern) for the film Easy Rider (award won by William Goldman for Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid). Hopper and Fonda also starred in the film.
34 years earlier, Wooley played Ben Miller, one of four gunmen determined to kill Marshal Will Kane (Gary Cooper) in the great western High Noon (winner of four Academy Awards - see 3/15 post). The brother of Frank Miller (Ian MacDonald), the leader of the gang, Ben was the first to be killed on the streets of Hadleyville.
In the same year (1986), Hershey portrayed Lee, one of three sisters in Woody Allen's Hannah and Her Sisters (see June post).
Hoosiers is based on the true story of the 1954 Indiana state high school boys basketball champions, Milan High School. With only an enrollment of 161 students, their basketball team defeated Muncie Central, a much larger school, in the championship game.
In the film Hoosiers, Norman Dale (Hackman) is hired by the principal (Wooley) to coach the Hickory (Indiana) High School boys basketball team. He then hires the town drunk and father of one of his players to be his assistant (Hopper). Dale develops a romantic relationship with a teacher at the school (Hershey).
Hoosiers follows the team's ups and downs through their very successful basketball season (1951-1952), culminating in the Indiana state championship.
Before the semi-final game, Coach Dale gives an incredible motivational speech to his team. To me, it speaks volumes about what athletic competition should be about.
"There's a tradition in tournament play not to talk about the next step until you've climbed the one in front of you. I'm sure going to the state finals is beyond your wildest dreams. So, let's keep it right there."
"Forget about the crowd, the size of the school, their fancy uniforms and remember what got you here. Focus on the fundamentals that we've gone over time and time again. And most important, don't get caught up thinking about winning or losing this game. If you put your effort and concentration into playing to your potential, to be the best that you can be, I don't care what the scoreboard says at the end of the game. In my book, we're gonna be winners."
Sunday, June 28, 2020
High School, Chapter 6
The weekend brought a respite from the ups and downs of high school. I needed a break, to think of something else. And that something else was baseball.
Tryouts for the freshman baseball team would not start until next March, but I wanted to start practicing to improve my chances.
Dad took me to the park on Saturday to play catch. We gradually lengthened the distance between us to build up my arm strength. But, I didn't want to over do it. It's September, I have six months.
Then he hit me grounders, first some easy ones and then gradually those more difficult. After a rest and some sandwiches, we worked on catching line drives and fly balls. Next Saturday, Dad promised to take me to a batting cage.
Sunday afternoon, the whole family went to a minor league baseball game not far from home. It was a great baseball weekend.
Take me out to the ballgame,
take out to the crowd,
buy me some peanuts and ...
Why do I keep thinking about Delores?
Tryouts for the freshman baseball team would not start until next March, but I wanted to start practicing to improve my chances.
Dad took me to the park on Saturday to play catch. We gradually lengthened the distance between us to build up my arm strength. But, I didn't want to over do it. It's September, I have six months.
Then he hit me grounders, first some easy ones and then gradually those more difficult. After a rest and some sandwiches, we worked on catching line drives and fly balls. Next Saturday, Dad promised to take me to a batting cage.
Sunday afternoon, the whole family went to a minor league baseball game not far from home. It was a great baseball weekend.
Take me out to the ballgame,
take out to the crowd,
buy me some peanuts and ...
Why do I keep thinking about Delores?
Sunday, June 21, 2020
Ratified the Constitution
Listen my children and you shall hear
Of the midnight ride of Paul Revere,
On the eighteenth of April in Seventy-five:
Hardly a man is now alive
Who remembers that famous day and year.
He said to his friend, "If the British march
By land or sea from the town tonight,
Hang a lantern aloft in the belfry arch
Of the North-Church-tower, as a signal light,
One if by land, and two if by sea;
And I on the opposite shore will be,
Ready to ride and spread the alarm
Through every Middlesex village and farm,
For the country-folk to be up and to arm."
The immortal words of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1807-1882) give us the beginning of the American struggle for independence from the British. However, it would be another 15 months, until July 4, 1776, when the leaders of the independence movement openly declared it in a document published in Philadelphia.
The British rulers set out to crush the rebellion militarily (unlike the Portuguese monarchy in Brazil 46 years later). However, after six years of fighting and dying without victory in sight, the British gave up and started negotiating a diplomatic solution. The result was the Treaty of Paris signed on September 3, 1783 which gave independence to each of the thirteen former North American colonies.
Those thirteen newly independent States soon discovered they needed to create a better form of governmental union than what they had originally devised (The Articles of Confederation). Representatives from all the States met again in Philadelphia and crafted a new document.
Such new document, the United States Constitution, was adopted on September 17, 1787. Article Seven states, "The ratification of the Conventions of nine States, shall be sufficient for the Establishment of this Constitution between the States so ratifying the same."
In December 1787, Delaware, Pennsylvania and New Jersey ratified the Constitution. In January 1788, Georgia and Connecticut followed suit. In February, Massachusetts joined the fold. Maryland in April and South Carolina in May. Eight down, only one more to go.
On June 21, 1788 (232 years ago today), New Hampshire ratified the Constitution, the ninth to do so, fulfilling Article Seven, thus creating the United States of America.
At that point, the States of Virginia, New York, North Carolina and Rhode Island were considered foreign countries. However, Virginia ratified the Constitution four days after New Hampshire and New York one month after Virginia. North Carolina ratified the Constitution in 1789 and finally Rhode Island in 1790. All thirteen of the original British colonies were now part of the new United States of America.
Happy June Twenty-First! And happy father's day!
Of the midnight ride of Paul Revere,
On the eighteenth of April in Seventy-five:
Hardly a man is now alive
Who remembers that famous day and year.
He said to his friend, "If the British march
By land or sea from the town tonight,
Hang a lantern aloft in the belfry arch
Of the North-Church-tower, as a signal light,
One if by land, and two if by sea;
And I on the opposite shore will be,
Ready to ride and spread the alarm
Through every Middlesex village and farm,
For the country-folk to be up and to arm."
The immortal words of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1807-1882) give us the beginning of the American struggle for independence from the British. However, it would be another 15 months, until July 4, 1776, when the leaders of the independence movement openly declared it in a document published in Philadelphia.
The British rulers set out to crush the rebellion militarily (unlike the Portuguese monarchy in Brazil 46 years later). However, after six years of fighting and dying without victory in sight, the British gave up and started negotiating a diplomatic solution. The result was the Treaty of Paris signed on September 3, 1783 which gave independence to each of the thirteen former North American colonies.
Those thirteen newly independent States soon discovered they needed to create a better form of governmental union than what they had originally devised (The Articles of Confederation). Representatives from all the States met again in Philadelphia and crafted a new document.
Such new document, the United States Constitution, was adopted on September 17, 1787. Article Seven states, "The ratification of the Conventions of nine States, shall be sufficient for the Establishment of this Constitution between the States so ratifying the same."
In December 1787, Delaware, Pennsylvania and New Jersey ratified the Constitution. In January 1788, Georgia and Connecticut followed suit. In February, Massachusetts joined the fold. Maryland in April and South Carolina in May. Eight down, only one more to go.
On June 21, 1788 (232 years ago today), New Hampshire ratified the Constitution, the ninth to do so, fulfilling Article Seven, thus creating the United States of America.
At that point, the States of Virginia, New York, North Carolina and Rhode Island were considered foreign countries. However, Virginia ratified the Constitution four days after New Hampshire and New York one month after Virginia. North Carolina ratified the Constitution in 1789 and finally Rhode Island in 1790. All thirteen of the original British colonies were now part of the new United States of America.
Happy June Twenty-First! And happy father's day!
Sunday, June 14, 2020
Surgery
In the summer of 1971, my ex-wife Bonita and I traveled through Europe with stopovers in Paris, Rome, Naples, Dubrovnik, Budapest and Vienna. And then we took an overnight train to Venice. That's where the trouble started.
Bonita and I spent the night in a six-person compartment, three seats facing three seats. We had the middle two on both sides. While sleeping, I had my legs stretched out with my feet on Bonita's space and her feet on mine. During the middle of the night, a bag fell from the overhead rack and landed on my right knee.
The above event didn't seem important at the time nor when we woke up the next morning and arrived in Venice. We found a place to stay and walked extensively through the fascinating city. After lunch, we returned to our "hotel" and rested.
When I awoke this time, my right knee started bothering me to such an extent I had difficulty walking. The next day I was fine. This on again, off again problem with my knee continued for the next four years.
In August of 1975, with Bonita's pregnancy (with my daughter Rachel) staring me in the face, I decided to take the advice of an orthopedic surgeon and have my right knee fixed. I did not want to enter fatherhood hobbling around on an untrustworthy knee. I wanted to be physically fit for my child.
The surgery was performed at Mt. Sinai Hospital in Manhattan (the entrance to which was used by Woody Allen in Hannah and Her Sisters), adjacent to Central Park. I had to be admitted the night before. Soon such surgery, to remove torn cartilage, would be done on an outpatient basis, not requiring an overnight stay. This time I would remain in the hospital for a week.
The night before surgery I was left in a ward with six beds for men with a variety of medical problems. I remember the young guy to my left had severe back issues. An older gentleman on the other side of the room was recovering from a heart attack.
A male nurse came in and told me to shave my right knee in preparation for the surgery. As I had never shaved it before, I asked him to do it, which he did reluctantly.
The next morning I was scared to death. As this was my first hospital experience since birth, the great unknown was all around me. I was placed on a litter and taken to the surgical area. There, I was placed in a queue with several patients ahead of me.
I feared I would be put in the wrong room with the wrong procedure done to me. Finally, upon entering my room, I insisted I not be given anesthesia until I saw my doctor. He eventually arrived and asked me to confirm which knee was to be operated on. I think he was kidding. Then in an instant, I was asleep.
I woke up in recovery and proceeded on the road to recuperation. However, my convalescence did not include physical therapy. Two years later I had to have surgery on my right knee again, but this time with subsequent physical therapy.
Taking up running (see Jim Fixx) brought my right leg back to full size and strength, but also eventually led to problems with my left knee which required two surgeries on it. After my fourth surgery in total, I gave up running which I had loved doing for ten years. No fifth, please!
Bonita and I spent the night in a six-person compartment, three seats facing three seats. We had the middle two on both sides. While sleeping, I had my legs stretched out with my feet on Bonita's space and her feet on mine. During the middle of the night, a bag fell from the overhead rack and landed on my right knee.
The above event didn't seem important at the time nor when we woke up the next morning and arrived in Venice. We found a place to stay and walked extensively through the fascinating city. After lunch, we returned to our "hotel" and rested.
When I awoke this time, my right knee started bothering me to such an extent I had difficulty walking. The next day I was fine. This on again, off again problem with my knee continued for the next four years.
In August of 1975, with Bonita's pregnancy (with my daughter Rachel) staring me in the face, I decided to take the advice of an orthopedic surgeon and have my right knee fixed. I did not want to enter fatherhood hobbling around on an untrustworthy knee. I wanted to be physically fit for my child.
The surgery was performed at Mt. Sinai Hospital in Manhattan (the entrance to which was used by Woody Allen in Hannah and Her Sisters), adjacent to Central Park. I had to be admitted the night before. Soon such surgery, to remove torn cartilage, would be done on an outpatient basis, not requiring an overnight stay. This time I would remain in the hospital for a week.
The night before surgery I was left in a ward with six beds for men with a variety of medical problems. I remember the young guy to my left had severe back issues. An older gentleman on the other side of the room was recovering from a heart attack.
A male nurse came in and told me to shave my right knee in preparation for the surgery. As I had never shaved it before, I asked him to do it, which he did reluctantly.
The next morning I was scared to death. As this was my first hospital experience since birth, the great unknown was all around me. I was placed on a litter and taken to the surgical area. There, I was placed in a queue with several patients ahead of me.
I feared I would be put in the wrong room with the wrong procedure done to me. Finally, upon entering my room, I insisted I not be given anesthesia until I saw my doctor. He eventually arrived and asked me to confirm which knee was to be operated on. I think he was kidding. Then in an instant, I was asleep.
I woke up in recovery and proceeded on the road to recuperation. However, my convalescence did not include physical therapy. Two years later I had to have surgery on my right knee again, but this time with subsequent physical therapy.
Taking up running (see Jim Fixx) brought my right leg back to full size and strength, but also eventually led to problems with my left knee which required two surgeries on it. After my fourth surgery in total, I gave up running which I had loved doing for ten years. No fifth, please!
Sunday, June 7, 2020
Hannah and Her Sisters
Hannah and Her Sisters is a 1986 comedy/drama written and directed by Woody Allen. Its starred among others Allen, Mia Farrow, Barbara Hershey, Dianne Wiest and Michael Caine. It was nominated for seven Academy Awards including Best Picture (won by Platoon) and Best Director (won by Oliver Stone for Platoon).
Hannah and Her Sisters won three Academy Awards: Allen for Best Original Screenplay, Wiest for Best Supporting Actress and Caine for Best Supporting Actor.
The three sisters from the title are Hannah (Farrow), Lee (Hershey) and Holly (Wiest). In addition, there are three story lines that are interwoven. I found the one involving Mickey Sachs (Allen), the ex-husband of Hannah and the future husband of Holly, to be the most interesting.
Mickey, a TV writer, is a hypochondriac. He's always running to doctors with real or imaginary complaints. But Mickey is deathly afraid of hospitals.
On one occasion, Mickey visits his GP because of a perceived loss of hearing in one of his ears, which one he is not sure. Reluctantly, he agrees to the Doctor's decision to make an appointment for him at Mt. Sinai Hospital where there are better diagnostic equipment to determine what is going on inside his head. While waiting for the appointment, Mickey learns that on "the dark side of the spectrum is brain tumor."
After undergoing various tests including an MRI, Mickey fantasizes he has an inoperable brain tumor. He thinks, "It's over. Face to face with eternity, not later, but now. I'm so frightened I can't move, speak, breathe."
However, in reality the doctor tells Mickey he's fine. He leaves the hospital literally jumping for joy. But suddenly, Mickey has an epiphany. Back in his office, he discusses it with his assistant.
"You realize what a thread we're all hanging by? You understand how meaningless everything is? No, I'm not dying now, but you know when I ran out of the hospital I was so thrilled because they told me I was gonna be alright. I stopped 'cause it hit me. I'm not gonna go today, I'm not gonna go tomorrow, but eventually I'm gonna be in that position. I managed to stick it in the back of my mind because it's a very horrible thing to think about."
Looking for answers about life and death, Mickey tries a variety of religions, without success. Eventually, he attempts suicide with a rifle, but fails.
Afterwards, Mickey walks the streets trying to calm himself. He enters a theater showing Duck Soup, an uproarious comedy with the Marx Brothers from 1933. Mickey's mood is lifted by the happy images on the screen. Later, he explains his revelation to his girlfriend and future wife Holly.
“What if the worst is true? What if there is no God and you only go around once and that’s it? Well, don’t you want to be part of the experience? You know, what the hell. It’s not all a drag and I’m thinking to myself, jeez, I should stop ruining my life searching for answers I’m never gonna get and just enjoy it while it lasts. And after, who knows, I mean you know maybe there is something. Nobody really knows. Yeah, I know maybe is a very slim read to hang your whole life on, but that’s the best we have. And then I started to sit back and I actually began to enjoy myself.”
We should all just sit back and enjoy ourselves.
Hannah and Her Sisters won three Academy Awards: Allen for Best Original Screenplay, Wiest for Best Supporting Actress and Caine for Best Supporting Actor.
The three sisters from the title are Hannah (Farrow), Lee (Hershey) and Holly (Wiest). In addition, there are three story lines that are interwoven. I found the one involving Mickey Sachs (Allen), the ex-husband of Hannah and the future husband of Holly, to be the most interesting.
Mickey, a TV writer, is a hypochondriac. He's always running to doctors with real or imaginary complaints. But Mickey is deathly afraid of hospitals.
On one occasion, Mickey visits his GP because of a perceived loss of hearing in one of his ears, which one he is not sure. Reluctantly, he agrees to the Doctor's decision to make an appointment for him at Mt. Sinai Hospital where there are better diagnostic equipment to determine what is going on inside his head. While waiting for the appointment, Mickey learns that on "the dark side of the spectrum is brain tumor."
After undergoing various tests including an MRI, Mickey fantasizes he has an inoperable brain tumor. He thinks, "It's over. Face to face with eternity, not later, but now. I'm so frightened I can't move, speak, breathe."
However, in reality the doctor tells Mickey he's fine. He leaves the hospital literally jumping for joy. But suddenly, Mickey has an epiphany. Back in his office, he discusses it with his assistant.
"You realize what a thread we're all hanging by? You understand how meaningless everything is? No, I'm not dying now, but you know when I ran out of the hospital I was so thrilled because they told me I was gonna be alright. I stopped 'cause it hit me. I'm not gonna go today, I'm not gonna go tomorrow, but eventually I'm gonna be in that position. I managed to stick it in the back of my mind because it's a very horrible thing to think about."
Looking for answers about life and death, Mickey tries a variety of religions, without success. Eventually, he attempts suicide with a rifle, but fails.
Afterwards, Mickey walks the streets trying to calm himself. He enters a theater showing Duck Soup, an uproarious comedy with the Marx Brothers from 1933. Mickey's mood is lifted by the happy images on the screen. Later, he explains his revelation to his girlfriend and future wife Holly.
“What if the worst is true? What if there is no God and you only go around once and that’s it? Well, don’t you want to be part of the experience? You know, what the hell. It’s not all a drag and I’m thinking to myself, jeez, I should stop ruining my life searching for answers I’m never gonna get and just enjoy it while it lasts. And after, who knows, I mean you know maybe there is something. Nobody really knows. Yeah, I know maybe is a very slim read to hang your whole life on, but that’s the best we have. And then I started to sit back and I actually began to enjoy myself.”
We should all just sit back and enjoy ourselves.
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