When you’re down and troubled, and you need some love and care,…Close your eyes and think of me, and soon I will be there.” (Carole King, 1972)

As the world adjusts to a new normal of social distance and increased reliance on FaceTime and Zoom, we find that friends are “there” in the virtual world supporting us like never before.

Maybe, we are seeing more of distant relatives on Zoom chats, perhaps we reaching out to old friends more often because we strive for connection.  Perhaps, we now have the time that we lacked to connect, share, and reminisce about our lives, loves, and dreams.

Welcome to the May 2020 Edition, Oklahoma!

Curley is a man with simple needs. As the film opens, Curley is joyous as the day dawns.  (”Oh, what a beautiful mornin’, Oh what a beautiful day.  I got a beautiful feelin’ everything’s going my way!”) His needs are simple, (his horse, Old Blue, a saddle and a gun), that is until he sets his sights on Laurey Williams, a sassy young girl with an attitude. ( “Oh, I thought you were somebody come a-singin’ at 8’oclock on a Saturday mornin’.”) She is a  romantic girl who enjoys carriage rides and snow-white horses but also sees herself as a woman who does not need just one man. (“Many a new face will please my eye, many a new love will find me. Never have I once looked back to sigh over a romance behind me.”)

It is this independence that draws Curley to Laurey.  Although he takes ”that Cummins gal” to the box social, he is uncomfortable when she seeks to go with him to water the horses. (“Can’t I come too, Curly? I just love to watch the way you handle horses.”) He finds Laurey’s company more pleasing. (“Don’t dance all night with me. They’ll see it’s alright with me. People will say we’re in love.”) 
 

As their courtship begins, now is a good time to reminisce with your loved ones about dating, loving, and building a dream of a future.

At the box social, Laurey finds herself in a bidding war between Judd, the hired hand, and Curley. As the bidding for her picnic basket grows higher, Curley expresses his love for Laurey by giving up everything (his saddle, his horse, and his gun.)

To give up everything for the one you love is a common dilemma in the movie musical. (Tommie Albright in Brigadoon, the sisters Chava and Hodel in Fiddler on the Roof), but it’s rewards are glorious.   

Feel free to share your dreams of love and hope with those around you and with distant friends. Your rewards can be glorious too!

Stay Well and Safe!

~Lori