You Can't Take it With You

In 1938, Frank Capra released his movie, "You Can't Take it with You." I have a copy of this on VHS and have watched and enjoyed it many times.

There is so much you can learn from the movie. But what I get the most is the joy everyone gets out of life. They do not dwell on problems. They do not mope around. Each person in the household has skills and talents that they use each day. These activities not only make the individual happy, but also those around them.

The movie centers around one family living in a charming house. Grandpa is the much beloved and wise patriarch. But he is not the "boss." There is no one in "charge." Yet Grandpa is the one who counsels the family. He takes care of everything and everyone with his gentle and loving presence. Grandpa retired from business more than 30 years ago. He walked away from it because he wasn't happy there. He has been home ever since. His daughter lives there too. She and her husband are creative themselves. Daughter types plays on an old typewriter. She just delights the family with the stories she gets involved in. She also enjoys painting. Her husband invents things in the basement workshop. He works down there with some other gentlemen and they enjoy what they are doing. They often run upstairs to share what they are doing and to give updates. Daughter has two adult children. One is married. She lives in the house too with her husband. They are a happy, jolly couple. She does ballet and smiles and delights those around her. Her husband plays an instrument. It makes such a cheerful, pleasant sound. There is another adult daughter who is being courted by (James Stewart) the banker's son. His family is rich and powerful and stressed to the limit. But for some reason, this young man is drawn to this easy going, content family.

This reminds me of my home. My parents live here with us. I have older children who still live at home. We have a delightful, large home with plenty of projects to keep us all happy. We are creative and enjoy being home.

There is a book I read many years ago, "Your Money or Your Life." This has put the idea of money into perspective. While it is important to earn money for the purpose of survival, charity, etc. It can also destroy ones life if one is burdened or consumed by the pursuit of money.

One other thing to consider is the fact that people are setting up homes with only their immediate family. It is far more economical when grandparents, married children and grandchildren are all able to live together in a large house. I know this is not always possible or ideal, but if the family gets along well and can manage, like in the movie, maybe life wouldn't be so expensive in the first place.


Blessings
Mrs. White