Forget Times Square

Every New Year waltzes in with bling and ring and drags out with unkept resolutions on its back. Each one begins with people packed into Times Square tighter than Scrooge's fist. Each one ends with those same folks eager to see it go out. 

And all the while, life marches on at the exact rhythm and pace it always has. Though expectations for change are high at the outset of the New Year, everything quickly falls back into its usual order, whether we welcome that or not.

Well, you know what they say. If you want a different outcome, do something different, do even one small thing different. Start with how you celebrate the changing of the guard this New Year's Eve. Instead of going up to NYC, head down to Georgia, where a fine selection of offbeat (necessary for that desired new rhythm) "drops" awaits:

Buzzard Drop in Perry: Enjoy live music from two bands, a Buzzard Boogie dance contest with a $100 cash prize and the 2nd Annual Perry Buzzard Drop! The buzzard will drop at midnight and will be followed by the release of balloons and confetti. Food and spirits vendors will be on site.  Admission is FREE and all ages are welcome.

Possum Drop in Tallapoosa: The residents of Tallapoosa, formerly known as “Possum Snout”, ring in each New Year by lowering a stuffed possum named “Spencer” from atop one of the city’s oldest buildings. The famous Possum Drop celebration begins in the afternoon with live music, the crowning of the Possum King & Queen and more. Admission is FREE and all ages are welcome.

Geranium Drop in McDonough: Dance the year away on the McDonough Square as the Geranium Drops! McDonough’s Mayor, Billy Copeland, will kick off the 4th Annual Geranium Drop at 8pm on New Year’ Eve. Admission is FREE and all ages are welcome.

Cherry Drop in Macon: The Cherry Blossom ball is made of recycled metal cherry blossoms decked out in pink lights, and its drop serves as the start of the official countdown to the Cherry Blossom Festival, March 19th – April 4th, 2015. Admission is FREE. There will also be family-friendly events from 7 P.M.-9 P.M. for those with young children, including a mini fireworks finale at 9 P.M.

Dropping of the Edelweiss in Helen:  Ring in 2015 with live music, food, dancing and the 2nd Annual Dropping of the Edelweiss at the Helen Festhalle! Admissions is $15 per person & $25 per couple. Children under 6 will receive free admission and children ages 6-12 will receive half price admission.

Shamrock Drop in Dublin: Be awed as a brilliantly lit shamrock descends from atop the historic Fred Roberts Building in downtown Dublin, Georgia. Admission is FREE and children are welcome until 9 P.M. After 9 P.M., Jackson Street will host a 21+ street party featuring dancing, live music, vendors, food and beverage delights!

The Good Lie Give-Away TODAY

The Good Lie Give-Away TODAY!

(Instructions for entering follow the post.)

Synopsis:

The Good Lie tells the story of children orphaned by the brutal civil war in Sudan, which began in 1983. These young victims traveled as many as a thousand miles on foot in search of safety. Fifteen years later, a humanitarian effort would bring 3,600 lost boys, as well as girls, to America.

Mamere and Theo are sons of the Chief in their village in Southern Sudan. When an attack by the Northern militia destroys their home and kills their parents, eldest son Theo is forced to assume the role of Chief and lead a group of young survivors, including his sister Abital, away from harm. But the hostile, treacherous terrain has other dangers in store for them. As the tattered group makes the difficult trek to Kakuma refugee camp in Kenya, they meet other fleeing children, forging a bond with Jeremiah, who, at 13, is already a man of faith, and Paul, whose skills become essential to their survival. 

Thirteen years later, the now young adults are given the opportunity to leave the camp and resettle in America. 

My Review:

I rate this an A+ family movie. Keep in mind, however, that there is a scene depicting drinking and a couple of scenes depicting illicit drug use. Also, though the movie isn't graphic, the palpable state of the children's desperate plight may overwhelm some children.

Nonetheless, this is a powerful movie juxtaposing the extremes of human cruelty against the depths of human kindness. The Good Lie highlights human resilience and how faith, friendship and a sense of one's roots magnify not only the ability to survive and persevere, but also the capacity for joy and growth.

The Good Lie teaches us:

• What it means to live one's faith.
• What we are all capable of, good and bad.
• What our most valuable possessions really are.
• How collectivist and individualist cultures differ.
• How 9/11 changed the world.
• What love looks like and what it can do, even with a lie.

Reese Witherspoon is the recognized name in this movie, and she gives a fantastic performance. But the real stars are the adult Sudanese refugees who play the characters of Mamere, Jeremiah, Paul and Abital. They are among the pre-9/11 generation of lost children given the opportunity to start anew in America. The Good Lie is their story and they tell it well.

One last thing:
When the meaning of the movie title is revealed, your heart will burst wide open. Guaranteed.

How to win your own DVD and Blu-Ray copies of The Good Lie:

• One entry for leaving a comment below.
• One entry for posting a comment about The Good Lie to Facebook and tagging me (Lucy Adams) in it.  
• One entry for commenting on any of my Facebook posts about The Good Lie:
  https://www.facebook.com/lucyadams.ifmama.
• One entry for a tweet mentioning The Good Lie in which you tag me: @lucyadams. 

 You can enter up to four times. The more entries you have, the better your chance of winning.

The give-away closes tomorrow at noon. The winner will be announced tomorrow afternoon. 

The Good Lie Releases to Blu-Ray and DVD on December 23

It's my good fortune to have been asked by Grace Hill Media to do a give-away (details of how to enter the drawing to win in Monday's post) in celebration of the release of The Good Lie on Blu-Ray and DVD. 

The movie tells the true-life story of the Lost Boys of Sudan, their lives torn apart by civil war, left to grow up in refugee camps, then given the opportunity through the efforts of church groups and other charities to embark on new lives in the U.S. It stars Oscar-winner Reese Witherspoon and some actual former Lost Boys in pivotal roles. 

When it was released in theaters in October, reviewers described it with words like “terrific,” “uplifting,” “moving,” “life-changing,” “unforgettable” “brilliant,” “entertaining” and “joyful.” Perhaps even more impressive, though, is that audiences polled by Cinemascore, the industry standard for gauging filmgoer opinions, rated THE GOOD LIE an “A+” – just the 53rd movie in the last 30 years to receive that honor.  

THE GOOD LIE

ARRIVES ONTO BLU-RAY & DVD COMBO PACK and DIGITAL HD ON DECEMBER 23 FROM

WARNER BROS. HOME ENTERTAINMENT 

Here’s a special video feature about the real-life stories behind the film, complete with interviews from Reese Witherspoon, Producer Ron Howard and the Lost Boys in the cast:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bhGPaX3MXfE

Under Water

The good news is I've received a lot of article assignments in the last three months. In the freelance writing business, developing a career to the point at which one has a regular, stable pay day is the pinnacle of success. 

The bad news is I'm under water breathing through a straw. And praying that a bug doesn't light upon the tip of my straw and plug my airway.

The worse news is that through the years of pecking away at my keyboard and chopping away at building my portfolio, I internalized the mantra "Never Say No."

"No" knows no adventure, no pounding heartbeat and sweaty palms, no sense of accomplishment against the odds. I don't believe in saying no.

But I think it would be better if I maintained a neutral stance now and again, maybe said nothing at all.

I just sucked in a chestful of air through my narrow straw and said YES again. Neutrality doesn't come natural to me.

All this to apologize for failing to post regularly in the last weeks. I will do better. YES, I will.