Art of the day:

Pictured: The credit-less theatrical release poster for Millennium Actress from the famed Satoshi Kon. Today was an interesting day. This week was an interesting week. I had plans, some didn’t go accordingly. It was a journey. Appointments, busy life. Still working all day and then trying to spend time with your friends and family, while finding time for yourself. I chose Millennium actress today, as the film centers around a renowned former actress who accepts a request for a retrospective on her life and career – her first interview in thirty years after her sudden retirement from the entertainment industry. This movie in particular is celebrated for its powerful filmography cuts – transitions that instantly putting the viewer into the memories of Chiyoko. You feel as though you are truly reliving this woman’s life, every footstep. At the end of the movie, Chiyoko is on her deathbed – thanks her interviewer for the memories, and states it’s always been about the search or “the journey” in her life that kept her fulfilled. Satoshi Kon himself lived a life flourishing in the manga, anime, and film industry. Tragically, Satoshi died of pancreatic cancer at the age of 46. His future projects would remain unrealized. While Chiyoko had a bittersweet end, Satoshi never finished walking his path – and some people will unfortunately have their journeys cut short.

Song of the day:

One of my earliest childhood memories is defeating Wario in Super Mario Land 2: 6 Golden Coins for the Nintendo Gameboy. Over a decade ago (I must say this a lot…) a viral phenom by the name of Tom Brier hit YouTube with his incredible talent to sight-read sheet music (read: play music he has never heard) and spin it into a fun rag-timey style. The credit roll for this game, originally composed by Kazumi Totaka (another absolute legend with a massive legacy) always left me with one of the strongest heartfelt feelings; a crushing bittersweet ending. It was a true sense of victory, I had done it. I won. At the time, the game was a merciless gauntlet and challenge for a mere 5 or 6 year old… I would replay it often trying relive the feeling. To further sadness, Tom Brier was left paralyzed after surviving a car accident and lost his ability to play the piano. His rendition of this song breathes life into my memory, emotions expressed through music that make me relive that feeling… a bit sad we’ve reached the end, a fantastic victory, glory, and celebration, tapering off into a goodbye.

Thought of the day:

I’m sure you already know where this is going: All good things must come to an end. Some of life’s most precious treasures are gone in a flash. Disability. Heartbreak. Death. It’s difficult to process that all things I know and love will die, facts like that I will more than likely outlive my cats… and remembering the cats I’ve outlived before. My old house, my old neighborhood, all that’s left is the frame – the picture’s been repainted, but it’s there in my head forever as it was. That’s all we have, is a memory of the time we had. My dearest friends I once knew, goodbye.