AND THE OSCAR GOES TO...guest post by author Gabe Berman

Rachel Thompson

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AND THE OSCAR GOES TO…

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Have you heard of author Gabe Berman yet? You have now. And you certainly will hear more soon.

Endorsed by Deepak Chopra for his sweetly funny and insightful take on life titled Live Like A Fruit Fly: The Secret You Already Know, Gabe’s book, published by those sly ‘Chicken Soup For The Soul’ folks, is sure to be a bestseller. I read it and loved it (and you know how much of a jaded snarky bitch I am).

I loved Gabe’s book because it’s not preachy or religious at all. Gabe shares stories from his life that we all can relate to. I particularly enjoyed the job and relationship stories, the Star Wars and Matrix references, and his witty, sly humor. I hope you download or pick up a copy after reading this essay.

If not, we offer this: one commenter is eligible to receive a signed copy (eBook or paperback) from Gabe. Comment for one entry. RT this post and comment, receive two entries. Follow @GabeBerman, comment, and RT on Twitter, three entries. Share on Facebook, yada yada all the rest, four entries. 

And we’re off…

 

AND THE OSCAR GOES TO…

Woody Allen’s Manhattan opens on a black & white wide shot of the city’s skyline accompanied by the unmistakable fluttering clarinet of Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue.

Woody voices over, “Chapter One. He adored New York city. He idolized it all out of proportion.”

One of the most magnificent and memorable moments in movie history.

I was just watching this at home. Not the movie itself, but a documentary on Woody Allen. When it ended I clicked toYouTube.com and watched the opening scene of Manhattan, all three minutes and forty-three seconds of it, over and over and over and over and over again.

So here I now sit, in Starbucks, with Rhapsody in Blue flowing through my headphones. I’d like to add a bit of magnificence to the world before the end of yet another day.

It’s Saturday night and many of the tables are filled with adolescent aged guys and girls because even with the best of fake I.D’s, they’re still too young to make it beyond the bouncer at a bar.

I can’t hear them well because of the Gershwin in my ears but I look past my laptop and see the scene cinematically. It’s a wide shot. I switch to black & white in my mind. I hit the back-button in iTunes to restart the song and the unmistakable fluttering clarinet of Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue flawlessly accompanies the first frame of my movie.

They’re drinking coffee and sharing cookies and are full of smiles and inaudible chatter.

I voice over, “Even to this day, with all of the girls I’ve dated and with the remarkable metaphysical distances I’ve traveled, the ‘why not me’ feelings that once overwhelmed me as a kid are still lingering near the horizon and can quickly roll up to crash over me in residual waves of envy.”

The camera pivots and zooms into my face for a tight shot. I’m caught in the moment, expressionless. But my eyes soften, I slightly smile and I take a deep breath. Only three minutes and forty-three seconds have passed but just like in Manhattan, the momentous conclusion of the nearly seventeen minute Rhapsody is heard.

I type:

It all worked out the way it had to. I wouldn’t be who I am today if it weren’t for who I once was. How can I now be anything but grateful?

Feel free to feel the pain of your youth. But you’re now in a position to make it up to the kid you once were. Regardless of everything, you can still be magnificent. You can still add magnificence to the world.

Today is your day.

All you have to do is take the first step and the next steps will take you.

End scene.

Live Like A Fruit Fly

#LLAFF

 

Gabe and Rachel welcome your comments, experiences, and existential stuff below.

 

Follow Gabe’s blog as he writes the sequel ON his blog: The Fruit Fly Strikes Back.

I dare you to not become hooked.

Bio: Gabe Berman is a native New Yorker who settled in South Florida after graduating from the University of Miami. An epiphany, a passion, and a trail breadcrumbs led him out of Corporate America and into a writing career. His columns appear regularly in The Miami Herald and Alan.com (Alan Colmes Presents Liberaland).

 

 

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Comments

  2. You a jaded snarky bitch? Never! Well I am already hooked on the book thank you very much just after reading his blog chapter. I could sure use a dose of his Rx. Thank you for sharing. Oh and your Woody commentary was wonderful. Now I have to watch the beginning again myself. I’m too easily swayed by your writing me thinks.

    Reply

    • Thanks Mike.

      I’d watch the beginning again myself but then I’d be glued to it for the next six hours. Which normally wouldn’t be so bad, but my nephews just came over with bags of M&Ms and I need to get my priorities straight.

      Live like a fruit fly – The life you hoped for can start today.

      Reply

    • Thanks so much Leslie for taking the time to read my work.

      Actually, it’s not work. Because if it was work, I probably wouldn’t do it.

      Wait, is it “was” or “were”? Whatever, you get the point. Thanks again 🙂

      Live Like A Fruit Fly!

      gb

      Reply

      • Was or were, whatever. Just that thought expressed in writing make me a fan. GB do you find when you contort yourself to the rules that it slows down your writing? I have had other author/editor friends offer to “fix” my posts and I decline them all. It;s the way I write, call it my voice if you like, but its how I want to say it. So a big whatever to you. You paint a nice picture with your word brush.

        Tim

        Reply

  8. Wish you guys would stop recommending cool books to read my TBR list is getting longer and longer, sounds great and as a mere Brit I love both Mr Allen and Gershwin in fact just watched Small Time Crooks for the first time, so funny..

    Reply

    • A slight bit, Tom. I did include the ‘jaded bitch’ etc. I really did enjoy Gabe’s book because it made me LOL in some places and it’s not religious or preachy as I mentioned. I’m not a particularly religious person but I do believe in karma and all that kind of stuff. I’ve seen crazy stuff in my life and having given birth twice to two heathy and only occasionally annoying kiddles, it makes you believe in the power of the universe. That said, some people are still dumbasses. Someone out there must have a reason for them to be here. One can only hope.

      Reply

  11. Just ordered my copy…how retro, but there are some books you just want to hold. Don’t worry. I don’t stalk, well more accurately, I haven’t stalked yet. In the meantime, I’m just droppin’ crumbs. 🙂

    Reply

  33. I liked the movie you make. Full of sound, faces, and life. I would love to read Gabe’s book.

    I can relate to the thoughts. But…

    I guess I should write a blog post about my reflection. [grin]

    Reply

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