The Wife-An Award-Winning Movie about Writers and Writing

We saw this movie on Netflix just recently. We enjoyed the movie so much as it reminded me of my article in my blog wondering if good writers are born or made. **(https://myarticlesfromviewshound.blogspot.com/search?q=born+writers, 12/11))

One sentiment in the movie that all writers should know: No matter how good or accomplished is your writing, if no one reads it, it will just rot in the book shelves.

Here's the trailer:

https://youtu.be/d81IM0loH7o

If you have not seen it, it will be worth your time. Here's what Wikipedia says:

The Wife is a 2017 drama film directed by Bjõrn L. Runge and written by Jane Anderson. It is based on the novel of the same name by Meg Wolitzer. It stars Glenn Close, Jonathan Pryce, and Christian Slater. The story follows a woman who questions her life choices as she travels to Stockholm with her narcissistic husband, who is set to receive the Nobel Prize in Literature.

The film premiered on September 12, 2017, at the 2017 Toronto International Film Festival, and was released in the United States on August 17, 2018 by Sony Pictures Classics. It received generally positive reviews from critics, with Close's performance garnering high praise. Close won the Golden Globe Award, Screen Actors Guild Award and Critics' Choice Movie Award for Best Actress for her performance, and was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actress and the BAFTA Award for Best Actress.

**Excerpts from my article on my blog about writers( born or made) and writing:

Most writers that I know write because they love writing. To them writing is just like breathing. These born writers do not work hard to create an excellent article, because their writing comes from the heart and their soul. Others write with a lot of work, training and pain. Good writers run in the family as exemplified by the family of Stephen King. Most writers however are made and only become good writers through hard work and constant practice. The most common traits of good writers are patience and persistence, whether their writing talent is inborn or just developed.

Allow me to quote Jan Bird from her recent article, The Writing Bug. "Writing for me right now, is like love. It isn't something I do, it happens to me. It takes me completely by surprise when I least expect it and then it absolutely refuses to let go until it wants to. It's intoxicating and irrational".

Life in Marinduque without a Driver, Housekeeper and Cook

Reminiscing our snow birding lifestyle in the Philippines in March of 2012.



Last March(2012) during our snow birding sojourn in the Philippines, Miko, our pet dog( see photo above) was our only companion, 24 hours a day except when our laundry lady and two temporary workers are here in Amoingon, Boac, Marinduque, Philippines to do their gardening duties. Our driver/caretaker and cook/housekeeper(husband and wife team) were on their two weeks paid vacation and two weeks of paid sick leave. Thus, I got to feed Miko every day as well as exercise him in the beach every afternoon 15 minutes before sunset. Miko understands both English and Filipino commands such as sit, move and let's go as well as "kain na"( eat), alis( get way) etc.... Miko loves American food and leftovers. His favorite is Chicken Macaroni salad and Italian Spaghetti( not the sweet Filipino spaghetti).

My other duty was to drive Macrine to the public market in downtown Boac. This is the job, I really do not enjoy, because the public market stinks, specially the FISH section. The open market is always crowded and not many parking spaces. Luckily, I have to do this only once a week. Speaking of driving in Marinduque: Driving here requires that you toot your horn more often. It also teaches you how to expertly maneuver overtaking the slow tricycle drivers as well as carefully passing jeepney drivers who drop and pick up passengers in the middle of the road. In addition to the inconsiderate jeepney drivers, you have to watch out for pedestrians, small children, dogs and chickens crossing the national road without any warning.

However, after driving to downtown Boac (10 KM one way) and to downtown Gasan (12 KM one way) for one month, I feel more at ease, thus, do not missed the services of our driver. On the other hand, Macrine really missed the services of our housekeeper and cook. Macrine does not mind cooking( we purchased 90% of our meals from local restaurants), but hates washing the dishes. We do not have a dishwasher here( we do have a washing machine), so dish washing have to be done manually. Macrine hates the grease and oil that sticks on the plates, so she has to boil water to rinse and clean the dishes every time.

At the end of March, our Driver and Housekeeper returned to their normal duties. We feel we are back in Paradise. But, remember that there is no perfect place on earth. Paradise only exists in your heart and mind. But to my mind, Marinduque is paradise when you have help in your daily activities, such as cooking, cleaning the house, driving, gardening and other errands.

This is indeed close to perfect living especially when you compared it to our daily activities in Northern California-our primary residence. Here in Northern California, Macrine and I do all the household duties, driving, gardening, grocery shopping, since we can not afford the services of a personal driver and housekeeper and cook. Occasionally we hired a cleaning lady to clean the whole house.

Note: If you have been following my blogs, we are called "snowbirds". We have a new friend from Toronto, Canada who commented when he learned of our lifestyle. "So you are "snowbirding" every year"? I am envious of your lifestyle. Yes, Indeed and we loved snowbirding and if you are envious, we understand why.

Photo Memories of Our Younger Years

Macrine and I treasured the following photos as we count our blessings celebrating our 62nd wedding anniversary in this whole month of May, 2019. We thank you Lord everyday and until our last breath on this Planet-Earth.

Me and Eric(RIP), 1937

Macrine and Sister Guia(RIP), 1939

My Boys Scout Years( 1945-1946)

My Elementary School Graduation Photo, 1947

Monthly Socials, University of the Philippines, 1952

Macrine, BS degree in Commerce graduation with Parents( Bernardo Jambalos and Elena Nieva),1956

Honeymoon, Quezon City.

Wedding Day-May 8, 1957

Wedding Cake Ceremony, May 8, 1957 -Notice the miniature replica of the Circular Chapel of the Holy Sacrifice, Diliman as the cake decor

Today is Carenna's 16th Birthday

Carenna and Mom playing mahjong with me last Sunday ( Mother's Day)

I am really getting old in age if not in mind/spirit as Macrine and I celebrate our youngest grand daughter 16th birthday today. Carenna is the only daughter of our youngest daughter, Ditas. Macrine and I love her very much and indeed are very proud of her accomplishments so far. She is a singer and song writer and getting straight A's in her high school class. Again, Happy Birthday, Little Pangga!

For more details on her singing and song writing activities visit her Face Book page as follows:

https://www.facebook.com/CarennaKTmusic/?epa=SEARCH_BOX

Playing Mahjong with Ditas and Carenna

Carenna received an advance gift( a mahjong set) on her coming 16th birthday this coming May 14(tomorrow). We played after lunch yesterday.

Macrine watching us playing mahjong after lunch yesterday Mother's Day lunch.

Have you heard of a tile game called Mahjong? I learned this tile game when I was a child. It is mostly a game of luck, once you learned the basics of the game. This tile game is similar to the card game, gin rummy, but played with tiles. It is a game that most Filipina housewives are addicted to. I am sure if you reside in the Philippines or Hongkong, this game must be very familiar to you. You may be even addicted to it.

My mother taught me as well as my brothers and sisters how to play mahjong when we were growing up in the Philippines. We have two mahjong sets in the house. The cheap one was made of plastic which we used quite often and the expensive one made of ivory. The one made of ivory, we only used on special occasion when we celebrate birthdays, weddings and other special events when I was growing up in the Philippines.

According to my mother, I started playing mahjong very well when I was only 5 years old. It is a game of luck with a little skill involve once you learn the basics. I also learned how to play a card game called "Pangingue" in the Philippines, probably similar to pinochle, but different from gin rummy. Mahjong can be played on line or you can buy a disk and play it in your computer.

I have a disk (Hongkong mahjong) in my computer, but it has been a while since I played this game. Mahjong like any gambling game is very addictive. I have close relatives in the Philippines that died of tuberculosis(TV) because they play mahjong almost all day all year round and do nothing else. Unbelievable, but true.

Mahjong rules and specifics varies from region to region in the Philippines, but it is still a favorite past time of the middle class in the Philippines. A lot of Filipina housewives are addicted to mahjong. Besides mahjong there are two card games popular in Marinduque and other parts of the Philippines are PIKWA and TONG-IT. A number of housewives in my neighborhood in Amoingon, Boac, Marinduque play Tong-it every afternoon, both for recreation and a little gambling activity. We play Tong-it during a party break as a family game but no betting involved, when we are in Marinduque.

For rules and instruction how to play Mahjong read Wikipedia or ask a friend or relative for a demonstration. Once you learned the game, be careful it could be very, very addictive. But again, it is an excellent way to get rid of your boredom and the long, long hot summer in the Philippines.

The Week Prior to Our Wedding Anniversary

Macrine enjoying a beautiful spring day in our patio-April 26, 2019

This coming May 8 ( a Wednesday-work day) will be exactly 62 years when Macrine and I got married in the Philippines. Two weeks ago, I had planned a get-together of relatives, friends and neighbors to join us in this memorable event in our life. Because May 8 is a work day, I asked our relatives and friends of two possible days that may be convenient for the majority. At first, I decided on May 12. With a few exceptions all of my future guests responded they will not be able to attend since it is Mother's Day. So I decided that May 5* ( Cinco de Mayo-big Mexican-American Festivities) is the day. As of this writing date, only ten are planning to attend.

The other day, I also received some bad news from the Philippines. Macrine's sister, Sister Guia( Cenacle) is seriously ill. Macrine's two other sisters here in the US are going home to the Philippines to be by her side on her last days of life.

I am a little bit disappointed that only half of my invited guests are coming. Macrine and I will celebrate our 62nd wedding anniversary with honey-baked ham, Pancit, Kare-kare and a few other Pinoy dishes. I have ordered the cake from our local French Pastry Shoppe. It is an orange-chiffon cake decorated with fresh fruits. The orange-chiffon cake was a significant item and was a catalyst in our May 8, 1957 marriage( sixty two years ago) as discussed in my autobiography (https://davidbkatague.blogspot.com/2013/05/today-is-our-56th-wedding-anniversary.html).

The following five photos: Our Wedding Day, 25th Wedding Anniversary, 50th Wedding Anniversary, 55th wedding anniversary and 60th wedding anniversary.

Wedding Day, Boac, Marinduque, Philippines, May 8,1957

Silver Wedding Anniversary, Pinole, California,USA, May 8,1982

Golden Wedding Anniversary, Boac, Marinduque, May 8, 2007

Macrine and I, May 8, 2012.-Our 55th Wedding Anniversary-Fair Oaks, California

Our 60th Wedding Anniversary-May 8, 2017

*https://davidbkatague.blogspot.com/2013/05/cinco-de-mayo-celebration-and-sales.html