Words on Le Scaphandre et le Papillon

I started to watch some indie/foreign films lately, as they are usually more surprising, inspiring, and more educating. The Camelview 5 Harkins theatre just north of Scottsdale Fashion Square (sharing the same parking lot) is my favorite in Arizona (because the movies and quality of audience are better). There is a film that I cannot forget, and it is Le Scaphandre et le Papillon (The Diving Bell and the Betterfly). I watched it on January 29, as a treat for the birthday of my friend.

The film is based on a best-selling memoir from a real life story of the aftermath of a disease called "locked-in sydrome" on a middle-class Frenchman named Jean-Dominique Bauby. He had a successful life, being the editor-in-chief of Elle and has three children until he became paralyzed on his way to see an opera with his eldest son. When he woke up after the coma he realized that he was in a hospital and found out that he had lost control of his entire body saved some basic movement on his head and his left eye. He became suicidal at first, but did not have the ability to do so. After the encouragement from his friends and relatives, he realized he could still do two things in his otherwise boring life: Imagining and remembering his past. He was persuaded to write a memoir of his experience on his "locked-in syndrome", using the hard way - being dictated every single alphabet by his assistance using his eye blink. He finished the book couple days before he went into coma and passed away.

What was really touching me about the movie was his spirit to live on and not giving up. Surely he was giving up in the beginning, because he went from an editor-in-chief to a patient that has to be taken care of 24/7. After a while he accepted his disability and was able to face the people he loved, including his children bored by his former lover, his father, and his girlfriend. The title suited this movie well, the diving bell was the physical situation he was in, because he could not communicate with the outside world; and butterfly being the state of mind of his after the initial depressing period he had, and that he can see his seed - children being well taken care of.

One of the saddest parts of the film was the part when Mr. Bauby's father tried to phone his son, and cannot hear his voice because Mr. Bauby was not able to speak. He was crying because he was in his 90's, and he had to withstand the pain of losing his son to the dreaded disease. That part really touched me, as I can feel the sadness that old Mr. Bauby had, and him being "locked-in" because he cannot walk down stair to the outside. It was strongly emotional, but without the melodrama most Hollywood films would have.

I admired the determination of Mr. Bauby's will to finish his book. Just couples day after his book is finished, he fell into a coma and leave this world for good. He might have left away, but he left his imagination and legacy for the living people to live a better life.

Wickenburg

Wickenburg is a small town with a population of around 6,500 100km northwest of Phoenix located at Hassayampa River. It was once of the transportation of traffic in Arizona before the Interstate 10 & 17 freeways were built, as it is where US 91 meets US 83 and US 60.

It is a typical Western mining town in the Sonoran high desert. It has a small downtown with Western-theme shops and Desert Caballeros Western Museum that talks about the history of the town. The museum is a good starting place for Wickenburg as it tells its visitor the origin of the town and their mining history.

Wickenburg has a famous dude ranch that allows visitors to stay over for a weekend. It also has a Vulture Mine that is located half-way between Buckeye and Wickenburg. I have not visited there but it might be interesting to those who likes ghost towns.

Hassayampa River Preserve

May 31 (Saturday) we went to Hassayampa River Preserve & Wickenburg for a day trip. HRP is located in 90km northwest of downtown Phoneix, on the west side near Mile Post 114 in US Highway 60. It is a piece of natural sanctuary that is protected and managed by National Conservancy. It is on the Hassayampa River so green plants were grown and wild lives thrived because of the abundant of plants.

According to the guide found in the preserve, 250 different species of birds can be found inside there. We first found a javelina in the path, but were too slow to capture it with the camera.

Inside the preserve, there are 6 different trails, one man-made lake made by the irrigation of water from the river. The temperature was very cool, considering the surrounding landscape was mainly desert.

The office visitor center was a really small, by informative, nice buildings. It had a section talking about the history of the preserve, a section displaying certain specimen of the lives that exists inside the preserve, and a television with VCR to show videos about the nature.

I am glad that Nature Conservancy bought the land and maintained it into the current state. Human had took so much from the nature, it is now our for us to give something to the nature back.

Last Day of My Job

May 30 (Friday) was my last day in Four Seasons Sushi. I was scheduled to work all day.

David and his friend Terry came over around 2PM. I was surprised that he ordered an Arnold Palmer instead of his usual diet coke. Anyway, it would be the last time to see David as a customer and I will certainly miss him. I hope he still goes to Four Seasons and enjoy the sushi made by Moon.

At the start of the night shift around at 5:45, the couple from San Diego came over and ate, they said that they came because Moon told them that Friday would be my last day in Four Seasons. Their kids were in San Diego so that they were not able to come. I had served them for more than half a year, and Friday night would be the last time serving them. They still remembered the fact that I commented them as a "weird family". I gave the wife a little more portion on her red wine and she drank the whole bottle (750mL) of her Merlot. We talked about movies, including chessy, realistic, crappy, and classic ones. They even invited Ryanne to hang out with her to watch Sex and the City. They hung out and stayed in the restaurant for 3 hours.

At 9:30, Moon held a farewell for Juan and me. Juan was an awesome and intelligent person and I think would do well one day. He ordered two jumbo pizzas from Corelli's next door. We hung out and talked about different topic for about an hour. Then I left Four Seasons last time as an employee. I think I will miss it, but it was my time to go on to start another page of my life. I have to thank Mika and Yuka for came over to join the party. Also thanking BK, Ryanne, Juan, and Kimberly for staying longer to hang out with me. Lastly, I thanked Mr. Moon, for hosting the party.

Hopefully, the next time I enter Four Season's door I would be a different person, having learn more about chemistry and with a different mindset.