“Reading is everything. Reading makes me feel like I’ve accomplished something, learned something, become a better person. Reading makes me smarter. Reading gives me something to talk about later on. Reading is the unbelievably healthy way my attention deficit disorder medicates itself. Reading is escape, and the opposite of escape; it’s a way to make contact with reality after a day of making things up, and it’s a way of making contact with someone else’s imagination after a day that’s all too real. Reading is grist. Reading is bliss. “~ the amazing Nora Ephron (1941-2012)  prolific and thoughtful filmmaker, novelist, journalist, playwright, essayist, and blogger

Last week, the world said a sad farewell to one of the most brilliant and funny women on the planet, whose clever mind conjured up the words that were uttered by memorable characters in such cinematic treasures as “This Is My Life”,  “Silkwood”,  “You’ve Got Mail” “Sleepless in Seattle” and “When Harry Met Sally”. All of these films were pivitol in my own life, as they featured strong, resilient women who had big hearts and a sense of dedication, whether it was a cause, their children, a family business, or love and friendship.  My favorite line from the Billy Cystal/Meg Ryan romp (and maybe everyone’s for that matter) is “I’ll have what she’s having.” Nora Ephron ‘left the building’ at age 71, trailing behind her a huge body of work, as well as adoring family, friends  and fans that could fill hundreds, if not thousands of movie theaters.

Apparently, she came by her wit genetically and environmentally, since her mother and father were also writers.  Her parents, Henry and Phoebe Ephron, wrote screenplays for “Carousel,” “Desk Set” and “There’s No Business Like Show Business.” She was described in one article as being a “multi-hyphenate”; a journalist, essayist, screen and stage play writer.  I can easily relate to the fact that she wore many hats, since I don them as well.

Her aforemention quote about the power of the written word so resonates with me, since books feed my soul. I have more of them than any other object in my home. Some women (and one male friend) I know collect shoes, others are surrounded by knick knacks…I enwrap myself with pages upon pages of the insights and inspirations that roll around the minds of authors.  I like the idea of an inside view. Nora, I will miss the opportunity to watch even more of your movies. Who knows what other gems were stored inside that brilliant mind of yours? Thank you for your place in the world. You made it a possible for hopeful romantics and opti-mystics – in-spite-of circumstances to have a say.

http://youtu.be/J9F_XHb81N0 My Baby Loves A Bunch of Authors by Moxy Fruvous