12 Gifts of Christmas (2015) TV-G | 1h 23min | Comedy, Romance

 

12 Gifts of Christmas (2015)

TV-G | 1h 23min | Comedy, Romance

If you’re looking for a new film to get you into the Christmas mood try this one.  When Anna, a struggling artist is unable to make ends meet, she is hired to become a personal shopper, an uptight corporate executive named Marc. As they work together, Marc learns that Christmas has less to do with the amount of money spent and more to do with the meaning behind the gift, while Anna gets some unexpected results from her new gig.  Written by Hallmark I really liked this one.  The actors have real chemistry and you find yourself absorbed in this season winner.  

Enjoy!  Mark

 

The Perfect Date (2019) Review TV-14 | 1h 29min | Comedy, Romance

 

The Perfect Date (2019) Review

TV-14 | 1h 29min | Comedy, Romance 

Celia (Laura Marano) and Brooks take us on a rollercoaster ride of dates not necessarily with each other.  This film delves into one young man’s life assessing his options.  His focus is Yale but is that really what’s best for him?  The message I got from this Romcom is we each have many masks we put on as necessary, but love requires, no demands, the real us.  It was fun watching these two realize the truth. I never get tired of love stories.  Enjoy. 

 

500 Days of Summer (2009) REVIEW

 

500 Days of Summer (2009)

PG-13 | 1h 35min | Comedy, Drama, Romance

This film revolves around a twenty something relationship delving into the meaning of love and fate.  It gives you plenty of emotional ups and downs. The film is showed out of sync which is popular these days.  You’d think that would make it hard to follow, but I liked the way it was presented.  They even have a narrator here and there.  I’ve seen films in the past I couldn’t follow that would have benefitted greatly from a narrator. 

The female lead (Summer) is beautiful and the acting from everyone is top notch.  I like how they displayed heart ache and reality vs expectations.  Your details may be different, but the film does a great job of exploring love and fate and soul mates.  Ups and downs are part of everyone’s life and we just need to keep getting out there and doing stuff we enjoy.  Join a group, take walks, and remember you can learn to do almost anything in 5 years if you are dedicated to it.  My point being, change things if you are in a rut.  Even if that new thing doesn’t work out at least you tried.  Keep going. You have lots of time left.  Norman Lloyd is age 106 and still working in the film industry.    One life touches so many others – it would leave an awful hole if you weren’t there.  Trick is to never quit.  Your time is just around the corner and don’t forget many people out there need you.  Whether you realize it or not.  If you need a friend – be a friend.  And before you know it you’ll have one.

 

 

The Missing (2003) Review

 

The Missing (2003)
Western Thriller Adventure
Rated R for violence and disturbing images (I would recommend minimum viewing age 16)

This one is about family.  As mamaw said to her gandson J.D. in the film Hillbilly Elegy: 

“Family’s the only thing that means a ...damn. You’ll learn that.”

Set in New Mexico 1885 Tommy Lee Jones (Samuel) stars as the estranged father of prairie doctor Maggie played by Cate Blanchett.  She has two daughters trying to make a living in this isolated wilderness. Samuel abandoned his family 20-years earlier to live with the Apache. After a rattlesnake bite, a medicine man tells him that he must reunite with his family to save his life. Maggie hates her father & rejects him initially upon his return.  Shortly thereafter the older daughter (Evan Rachel Wood) in her teens is kidnapped by a brujo named Chidin. Horribly, Chidin kills anyone who gets in his way or who tries to save the girls.  Chidin, superstitious himself, thinks he needs exactly 8 pretty girls before he can proceed to the Mexican border.   His business is to sell the girls so he threatens his minions not to abuse the women or else.  The law and Army cannot help in time, so Maggie is forced to enlist the help of her estranged father (Samuel)  to track down the kidnappers. And the adventure begins.  Father and daughter must deal with their past as they pursue the future.  Just as we all must do.  This is an intense view to say the least.  This film reminded me of an older film starring John Wayne ‘The Searchers’ (1956). 

Chidin is evil incarnate.  This is an emotional rollercoaster of a film and made me thankful to be safe in my home with all my modern conveniences and in a relatively safe country. This snippet in time shows the struggles of this one family.  Today the toys people play with have changed, but human nature has not changed one bit.  Sex trafficking still exists and is far more rampant in 2020 than it was in 1885.  Suffering of the kind in the movie still exists today with real people dying every day crossing the border attempting to find a better life in the USA illegally.  I can only imagine the internal struggle of people who are willing to send children by themselves on long journeys with strangers in hope of a better life. This movie is a great picture of the human struggle to survive and fight back evil for one more day.  Sometimes good wins and many times it loses, but we must never stop striving for good.  Being a light & salt in a dark bitter world especially for family. If not them, then who. 

There is one law that no one may break ‘the law of the harvest’ meaning we reap what we sow.  Some call it Karma and others payback but its all the same. 

The old system under the law of Moses was only a shadow, a dim preview of the good things to come, not the good things themselves. The sacrifices under that system were repeated again and again, year after year, but they were never able to provide perfect cleansing for those who came to worship.  If they could have provided perfect cleansing, the sacrifices would have stopped, for the worshipers would have been purified once for all time, and their feelings of guilt would have disappeared.  But instead, those sacrifices actually reminded them of their sins year after year.  For it is not possible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.  That is why, when Christ came into the world, he said to God, “You did not want animal sacrifices or sin offerings.  But you have given me a body to offer. You were not pleased with burnt offerings or other offerings for sin.   Then I said, ‘Look, I have come to do your will, O God—as is written about me in the Scriptures.’” First, Christ said, “You did not want animal sacrifices or sin offerings or burnt offerings or other offerings for sin, nor were you pleased with them” (though they are required by the law of Moses). Then he said, “Look, I have come to do your will.” He cancels the first covenant in order to put the second into effect. For God’s will was for us to be made holy by the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ, once for all time.  Under the old covenant, the priest stands and ministers before the altar day after day, offering the same sacrifices again and again, which can never take away sins.  But our High Priest offered himself to God as a single sacrifice for sins, good for all time. Then he sat down in the place of honor at God’s right hand. There he waits until his enemies are humbled and made a footstool under his feet. For by that one offering he forever made perfect those who are being made holy.  And the Holy Spirit also testifies that this is so. For he says, “This is the new covenant I will make with my people on that day, says the Lord:
I will put my laws in their hearts, and I will write them on their minds.”   Then he says, “I will never again remember their sins and lawless deeds.”   And when sins have been forgiven, there is no need to offer any more sacrifices.

And so, dear brothers and sisters, we can boldly enter heaven’s Most Holy Place because of the blood of Jesus. By his death, Jesus opened a new and life-giving way through the curtain into the Most Holy Place.  And since we have a great High Priest who rules over God’s house, let us go right into the presence of God with sincere hearts fully trusting him. For our guilty consciences have been sprinkled with Christ’s blood to make us clean, and our bodies have been washed with pure water.

Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promise. Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.

Dear friends, if we deliberately continue sinning after we have received knowledge of the truth, there is no longer any sacrifice that will cover these sins. There is only the terrible expectation of God’s judgment and the raging fire that will consume his enemies.  For anyone who refused to obey the law of Moses was put to death without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. Just think how much worse the punishment will be for those who have trampled on the Son of God, and have treated the blood of the covenant, which made us holy, as if it were common and unholy, and have insulted and disdained the Holy Spirit who brings God’s mercy to us. For we know the one who said, “I will take revenge. I will pay them back.”

He also said, “The Lord will judge his own people.”  It is a terrible thing to fall into the hands of the living God. Think back on those early days when you first learned about Christ. Remember how you remained faithful even though it meant terrible suffering. Sometimes you were exposed to public ridicule and were beaten, and sometimes you helped others who were suffering the same things. You suffered along with those who were thrown into jail, and when all you owned was taken from you, you accepted it with joy. You knew there were better things waiting for you that will last forever.

So do not throw away this confident trust in the Lord. Remember the great reward it brings you!  Patient endurance is what you need now, so that you will continue to do God’s will. Then you will receive all that he has promised.  “For in just a little while, the Coming One will come and not delay. And my righteous ones will live by faith. But I will take no pleasure in anyone who turns away.”

But we are not like those who turn away from God to their own destruction. We are the faithful ones, whose souls will be saved.

 

Hillbilly Elegy (2020) film REVIEW

 

Hillbilly Elegy (2020) Drama Film Review

Starring Amy Adams, Glenn Close and Gabriel Basso this is based on a true story centered around J.D. Vance.  Set in 1997 when J. D. was around twelve and the film flashes back and forth between his youth and his time at Yale. We also get glimpses of impactful events of his grandmother and his mother when she was young.  It’s not for young kids, but I believe PG-13 is perfect and almost a must see for teens of today.  Some will protest of the language and violent scenes, but I think religious folks of which I am one do a disservice to our youth and even ourselves by avoiding such realities in our world.  I am honestly amazed at how we as Christians tolerate cheating on our taxes, cursing in our own homes, frequent Casino’s, Soap Operas, steamy romance novels, on demand abortion, gluttony, road rage, lying on resume’s etc. Yet they are offended by true stories like this that are perfect teaching tools for people of all cultures.  Have you noticed the Bible gives us the good, the bad and the ugly?  I am a born-again Christian for over 40 years and I not only enjoyed the film, but would encourage adults to watch this with their teens.    Don’t listen to the hypocrites who talk it down. Our kids are doing drugs, having sex, committing suicide, getting drunk, raped, and cheating on exams.  So don’t give me any smack about how this may negatively affect them.   Do yourself a favor, stop all your crap you think is so important and watch a movie with your teens. Actually talk with them about it afterward.  It may even improve your relationship with them.  Oh If you think being politically correct is a good thing don't watch this movie.  LOL  Enjoy.  Mark

Ava (2020) film Review

 

Ava (2020) Film Review

 If you lived in my era you would notice women are getting many more leading roles.  Some folks don’t like it but I could care less.  I enjoyed this film starring Jessica Chastain and John Malkovich.  The story centers around Ava (Chastain) an assassin for a black ops organization.  She is best of breed as Duke puts it (John Malkovich) her handler.  I enjoy both these characters in the film who obviously have a strong bond like father daughter.  Ava is the best but begins to let her conscience get to her after years of blindly following orders and begins asking targets why they are being targeted breaking protocol.  Duke tries to protect her but things go badly and Ava becomes the target and thus the real excitement begins.  If you read my reviews you know I don’t like to give too much info so I’ll leave it at that.  I rarely watch trailers because I want the film to be a complete surprise.  I remember watch The Greatest Showman with my family on the big screen and after 5 minutes or so I said to my wife “I didn’t know this was a musical”.  It was a wonderful surprise and I thoroughly enjoyed it. 

It seems a common theme that agents are betrayed by their own people when they become a liability or learn to much.  It reminds me somewhat of Bourne Identity and a Road to Perdition feel when Ava comes after her own leadership for reasons I won’t disclose.  I hope you enjoy it.  Thanks for reading my review.  Mark

Looper (2012) & ARQ (2016) film REVIEWS

 

Looper

                                                                                     ARQ

The films Looper and ARQ were similar in many ways.  Looper showed how one life touches so many others and can cause good and/or bad results.  Looper examines the philosophy of whether we can change our path and the path of others.  Of course the answer is yes, but this movie does a great job proving it.  It had a similar feel to the film starring Tom Cruise ‘Minority Report’.  The moral of the story I got was twofold.  One that we need to be kind and good people because words really do have the power of life and death.  Secondly we should avoid being so focused on the ‘now’ that we forget all our actions and words impact the future of countless others.  A long term focus -- meaning we should take life seriously and bear one another’s burdens when we can while also taking responsibility for ourselves.  Really it boils down to the Golden Rule of treating others like you like to be treated.  We need a balance and moderation to life avoiding all extremes. 

The film ‘ARQ’ takes an interesting twist similar to Groundhog day except the loop is only hours long. Sometimes the people remember previous incursions, and sometimes they don’t, complicating the situation and making it harder to get out of the loop.  Several times they are at the point of getting out but something compels them try again to improve the outcome.  In the end it almost appears like this may be a type of hell they are destined to repeat forever.  I felt as though it represented real life vanity in all things without God as described by Solomon in the book of Ecclesiastes.   It describes life in the real world without God – hopelessness unless outside help arrives.  It made me glad I believe in God who represents the only outside help in the real universe with whom all things are possible.   The other movie Looper shows us great sacrifice for the sake of others, but even here we must acknowledge there is no sure way of knowing the results of our selfless acts of kindness and love.  Let me go deep as I finish this review.  Bottom line is true relevance and meaning in life can only occur if you can prove people have intrinsic value to something greater than themselves.  Remove that and I would argue love and meaning cannot exist.  Only with God can mankind claim to have intrinsic worth.  God knew that with true love must come volition.  If a person has no choice but to love its not love.  Thus God gave Adam and Eve the choice to obey or disobey and here we are thousands of years later and the world is still pretty much a mess. 

I’ll close with a quote from C.S. Lewis  “If the whole universe has no meaning, we should never have found out that it has no meaning: just as, if there were no light in the universe and therefore no creatures with eyes, we should never know it was dark. Dark would be without meaning.”

Thus the fact we are talking about meaning proves the universe must have meaning. And from that fact we can conclude God must exist. 

Let me clarify: 

The very concept of some sort of “moral law” is problematic.

When speaking of Moral Law and natural law,” its important to know natural law has two meanings in our dictionary:
1. a body of unchanging moral principles regarded as a basis for all human conduct. (Bible)
2. an observable law relating to natural phenomena. (Physics)

Using the first definition makes Moral law and Natural law the same which is how the founders of our nation understood the terms when they spoke of natural law.  

For our purposes I will use Moral Law as not to be confusing to modern readers.  The Moral Law describes what human beings ‘ought to do’.

If you tell someone they ought to be unselfish, he might say, “Why?” If you then say, “In order to benefit society,” he will reply, “Why should I care about that, except if it benefits me?” You will then have to say, “Well, you should be unselfish.” And you’re back to where you started.

There must be something more. It would be like saying that the purpose of playing soccer was to score goals. Well, trying to score goals is how to win—it’s not the purpose. The purpose for playing soccer can be many— to develop discipline, teamwork, or just get in shape or recreation or even as a job. That’s the “something more.

The real question must be “If there really is a Moral Law, then where did it come from?”

First, we could decide mankind came up with the moral idea by itself through evolution.  Some call this subjective reasoning.  Just as we invented computers. 
Second, we can invoke God as the moral law giver originating outside of the material world of time and  space. 

This religious view is not necessarily “against science,” though many assume it is. The job of science is to describe how things in nature behave, but it’s job is not to speculate its own source.  Science will never answer questions like “Why is there something rather than nothing?” or truth about historical questions asking motives and events no one witnessed or survived to tell about.  Only the source or creator of a thing can do that. 

Only if there was something outside of the natural universe, it (by definition) cannot be a part of said universe -- no more than an architect of a house could actually be part of the physical house.   People can never fully know ourselves; how then could we hope to know something outside of space and time unless that entity wanted to be known by us. 

Therefore I must ask where did the sense of right and wrong come from in all of us—we have this non-material urging within our own minds. It seems to me to be pointing to a moral law giver (God). Humans also seem to have this longing for more no matter how much we have.  Solomon wrote that God has put eternity in our hearts (Ecclesiastes 3) which may explain that we never seem to be satisfied.  Could it be Solomon was right and we do have a paradise in heaven awaiting all who call upon Christ.  That this world is not all there is. 

Science cannot explain things like beauty, irreducible complexity, why human sex is pleasurable, and morality (the ought in our lives).  This to me points to a ‘being’ beyond the natural universe that gives actual meaning and purpose to our lives that Darwinian Evolution never could.

I will agree the religious side will never have all the answer, but God already told us this (Ecclesiastes 3) through the prophets.  I have often said I personally wouldn’t believe in a God I could completely figure out. Because he would not be much of a God if my puny mind could fully comprehend Him.  For reasons God only knows He has decreed only by faith is it possible to please God and be saved.  And that faith must be in Jesus Christ alone.  That is why we can never “prove” the existence of God in any scientific sense. If we could, then whatever we proved wouldn’t be God. No, if there is a God, he’d have to show himself in some other way—and that is what the Moral Law does, given to us by the prophets via God himself: it is something we find inside ourselves, not just creatures of instinct and biological impulses.  Such moral sensibility is unique to human beings, so how did it get there and where did it come from?

Therefore we can conclude when anyone speaks of good they automatically imply evil must exist otherwise good would be without meaning.  When you accept the existence of goodness, you automatically invoke the concept of a moral law outside of the human influence on the basis of which to differentiate between good and evil. But when you admit to a moral law, you must posit a moral lawgiver (God).

Let me be clear.  If you negate God from the equation you have no basis on which to counter the statement by Ted Bundy the serial killer who posited that there is no difference in killing a pig and enjoying a ham sandwich and raping & killing a women for the pleasure of it.  If you say mankind can come up with moral rules on their own you immediately nullify your own argument because that is exactly what Ted Bundy did.  He made up his own moral rules.  To say one person’s self-created rules are better than someone else’s is illogical.   You must invoke a standard outside of mankind and above mankind to do so.  Since Darwinian Evolution naturalists negate any intelligent design argument they remain in error and have left the realm of good science into the realm of make believe which they claim to oppose.  How ironic.  God does exist and that statement is not based on my opinion, but enormous archeological and natural evidence all around us.  ‘None are so blind as those who will not see’ has never been more pertinent.  The Apostle Paul (chief of sinners) says it this way: Romans 1:18But God shows his anger from heaven against all sinful, wicked people who suppress the truth by their wickedness. 19They know the truth about God because he has made it obvious to them. 20For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing God.

If you still have doubts or would like more detailed evidence for God -- read the books ‘Has God Spoken’ by hank Hanegraaf and ‘I don’t have enough faith to be an atheist’ by  Norman L. Geisler · Jason Jimenez

The Mountain Minor (2019) Review

 

The Mountain Minor (2019) Drama

This movie seemed almost like a documentary.  I read some other reviews that said nothing happens in the movie.  I see what they mean, but also disagree.  This film based on a true story shares the lives of three generations in less than an hour and a half.  No small task.  I was brought to tears several times.  How it made me feel and made me think of my own life.  Any film that can initiate an emotional response like that is good in my book. 

The film centers around Charlie and his life as a young boy to when he is older and returns to his roots. His own children are musically inclined as he was as a boy and they want him to teach them his songs and be sure to pass them on to their children.  It was 1932 when Charlie left for Ohio so his dad could find work. He always remembered his mom saying someday they would come back.  My parents grew up in the same time period which also added to the interest for me personally.  They had outhouses, no TV or video games and though phones existed I don’t imagine they had one.  They had a stream where they did laundry and bathed weekly and hung the laundry on a line.  I can clearly see my mother hanging clothes in my mind.  I can even smell it somehow. 

The film brings out mocking folks who talk & dress differently, but not to let it bother you and just work hard and make something of yourself.  That is great advice because there will always be bullies and mockers.  I loved the sense of family and at one point as they are working in the field grandma delivers a letter to Charlie's dad and he in turn hands it to his wife who reads if to him.  I wondered initially why the grandma didn’t just give the letter directly to his wife, but I quickly realized (being a man myself) it was out of respect for the head of the household. 

Of course, the music and dance are a fun part of the film.  As I watched I couldn’t shake the feeling we have lost something along the way.  Not that we can't have the same joys today, but I think we have to be intentional today to make sure we don't let the urgent keep us from the important things.  I know we have so many modern conveniences making life so much easier and saving so much time, but It makes me wonder if with all our progress we haven’t also lost some simpler things of great value.  Its hard to put into words.  To get you into the timeframe radio had just arrived on planet earth and million had no indoor bathrooms or electricity.  And many had to quit school to work and couldn’t read or write like Charlie’s dad.  Its been almost a century now and that type of living is so foreign to us now and I know we can’t go back nor would we want to, but I think its important to remember simpler times and how the simple things in life are what make life worth living.  Play, falling in love, hard work, responsibilities, helping each other, being a good neighbor, music, dancing, walks, God, meals together, anything you enjoy.  I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

 

The Professor & the Madman (2019) REVIEW 9/10

Despite roadblocks by certain people and production companies I won’t mention and critics trying to show solidarity against these great men (Mel Gibson and Sean Penn) the movie is wonderful and moving.  The Lord rebuke those claim to champion art yet constantly hate anyone who doesn’t play the game by their rules.  Thank you to Netflix for showing this film.  Like Taylor Swift song says "haters are gonna hate". 

Simon Winchester’s book “The Professor and the Madman” was of interest to actor Mel Gibson.  I love Mel Gibson and we all owe him a great debt for his part in so many great films.  I for one trust his gut and this one doesn’t disappoint.  Sadly Mel has many enemies in Hollywood and for that reason I never even heard about the film.  I’m so glad I’ve learned to not look at critical reviews. They are all puppets of the progressive left wing machine pushing their propaganda.   I check out IMDB reviews and talk to friends and family I trust.  Filmmaker Safinia created magic.  MUST SEE FILM!

This telling of an unlikely partnership between Murray and Minor made for a great film.   Championed by Frederick Furnivall to take over the stalled creation of the English dictionary, he overcomes academic snobs and gets the position estimated to take from 5-7 years.

At the same time doctor Minor mistakenly kills the wrong man and is declared insane and imprisoned. Minor’s sense of guilt leads him to offer money to the murdered man’s widow Eliza Merrett (Natalie Dormer).

Murray is meanwhile working on the dictionary & finds himself overwhelmed and undermined by those who should be helping.  A general call is put out for public assistance to submit word origins, and Minor gets word and for a time is their salvation.  Murray has no idea his savior is criminally insane until he travels to thank him. They spark a long friendship and the story really gets good.   But what will the elite Oxford elite think of a madman contributing to their dictionary?

It's a great film, great story so I recommend it to everyone.  The movies Hollywood promotes I usually hate and are full of trash and those I never hear about and find anyway I love.  I saw one reviewer who said Penn outperformed his role in Mystic River.  Gibson is one of the greats and will be remembered like Clark Gable and Jimmy Stewart.  This film has no politics, sex, or bad language and its awesome and engaging – will wonders never cease. 

This one has it all.  Friendship, courage, love, fun, death, forgiveness, compassion, dedication, jerks, suffering and much more.  Again, we can ignore the critics and have fun watching it.  It actually promotes character qualities.  It shows us the value of life.  Here are some quotes I liked and you can watch for when you see it:

I can, because of you...... Eliza Merrett

“If love... Then what?” Eliza Merrett

“When I read, nobody's after me. When I read, I'm the one who's chasing.”  James Murray

“Sometimes when we push away, that is when we most need to be resisted.”  Ada Murray

“- James Murray: Who's she?
- Dr. Minor: The impossible.
- James Murray: The more impossible, the greater the love.
- Dr. Minor: Do you truly believe that? My heart is so sick.
- James Murray: Well... what I know of love is that the sickness often becomes the cure.”

American Assassin (2017) 8/10

 

I've seen many films in this genre and like when I'm surprised and this one doesn't disappoint.  The plot has been done all too many times, but this one is fresh.  I like the actors and the pace of the movie was perfect.  If you read my reviews you know I like character development and this one gives it.  When a movie can make me have an emotional reaction of any kind I'm impressed and this one did that to me multiple times.  Some will say the plot is revenge, but its really justice.  I like happy endings, but like in real life we never get out of this life without some scars.  Every victory has a price to it, but in my opinion justice must prevail and will.  The battle is far from over and thank God we have plenty of good guys to fight for us.  We are all participants in the world even if its a very obscure part.  My favorite quote is "Rapp, for once in your life take a  ... damn order!  The Sixth Fleet is about to blow you to Hell!"

A mothers love, a fiancée, a brother, a sister, a BFF, a father, a mentor, and coach, a teacher, a pastor, a grand parent, a friend --- one life touches so many others.  These three remain faith hope and love, but the greatest of these is love.  

Safety Not Guaranteed 2012 Movie Review 7/10

 

Safety Not Guaranteed (2012)

I enjoyed this quirky movie about how many people have a hard time fitting into their culture.  We are all broken, and this movie gives us a glimpse into three coworkers lives doing a story on a man who lives alone and works at a grocery store.  The character development is real and sincere which makes the movie good.  I’m always fascinated by how people connect and this one is fun to watch.  I would put this in the romantic comedy genre.  If you like quirky love stories this one is for you.  Moral is you never know where you will find love, but you must get out there and engage life.  Life and love are out there, but we must reach for them.  Real friends are far and few between so when you find someone don’t throw it away.  Cherish it. And sometimes you may even find love.