Page 10 with DeeDee Davis

Page 10

DeeDee Davis, Contributing Writer

Over the years, I have offered plenty of unsolicited advice regarding relationships to my now grown daughter. Diana Ross was right, “You can’t hurry love.”And when you do think you may have found it or forced it, it is important to remember that there is no perfect barometer for choosing a partner. Plenty of online dating sites tout 500 or so questions as being the way to determine compatibility, but I am not buying it. Take chemistry out of the picture and what do you have? The perfect science lab partner. Conversely, if too much emphasis is given to the physical, a relationship is doomed. The heat will inevitably cool and there had better be a solid connection in the wake that includes mutual respect, interests and values. That, or some binding legal document.

I firmly believe that you can skip 300 of the 500 “essential” personal questions by evaluating the response to one simple, non-threatening inquiry.

What kind of movies do you like?

The answer speaks volumes about a person and should provide you with enough information to know if sizzle or fizzle is in your future. And, at last! We have plenty of good movies to go and see after suffering through a dry spell with the pandemic. Maverick, Elvis, Crawdads, and Paris are all on the must see list. Sitting at home streaming is convenient, but there is nothing like the big screen with salty expensive popcorn, especially with record temperatures outside.

Comedy: Laughing is a physical necessity. It is a healthy, wonderful response that we all need more of. If a person does not appreciate a good comedy, something is terribly wrong. They are miserable and enjoy feeling that way. A really funny film, like anything Steve Martin ever did, might cause them to forget their misery for a moment. God forbid!! By the way, slapstick is not included in this category, because slapstick is brainless, while comedy is clever. No comment about people who love slapstick.

Chick flicks/Romance: People who enjoy these films love happy endings, because you know going into one of these films, how it is going to turn out. Men, quite often, don’t enjoy these films because they do not like showing emotion in public. When you engage yourself with a movie, you suspend all disbelief. The sappy love story suddenly becomes real and you are at risk of showing too much. Women, on the other hand, love to cry at movies, which explains why we adore films like this. Plus, the leading men are usually easy on the eyes. Guys who admit that they like these films are confident and in touch with their feminine side. The Hallmark Channel fully understands the power of these films. Some men won’t go out in public to a romantic comedy but they will sit in their recliner with a beverage of choice and sniffle like a softy when the guy finally gets the girls. No comment on any particular man I know who does this.

Horror: Ridiculous horror, like Freddy Kruger films, are scary in a way that makes you snuggle together. Men love this because it brings out their “Me, Tarzan.” Others, however, such as No Country For Old Men, are terrifying in a way that rocks your world. I saw that movie and I still sleep with the lights on. People who actually LIKE these films, exclusively, have a dark side. It may not be readily apparent, but trust me, it will surface.

Action: Modern action films were born with James Bond. Have you ever met a man who didn’t see himself as 007? Action films bring out the testosterone in a man. Men are far more visual than women (Hello Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition) and fast paced action films satisfy that need. Women are more intuitive. See “chick flicks.”

Classics: These people respect quality and tradition. They make excellent partners, as loyalty is extremely important to them. They understand the test of time. The popularity of Downton Abbey is a perfect example of our thirst for the classics.

Not only does the genre of movies reveal much about a person, but the general culture surrounding movies is also telling. If they don’t go to the movies or at least watch them on television, they are out of touch with their creative side. They either don’t take the time or just don’t enjoy feature films. These people are workaholics, and are out of balance. We all need to nurture our creativity, just as we need exercise to take care of our bodies. Studies have been done that show people who frequently view movies live 20 percent longer. Well, probably not, but it sure makes our time here more interesting and entertaining. Trying to understand the opposite sex? The answer just may be in the popcorn.

AUGUST BIRTHDAYS

7 Cherry Fitch 11 Jenny Noonan 14 Corbett Davis, Jr 18 Mary Davis 27 Sharon Duplantis 28 John Griffing 28 Jim Neal 31 Milton Usry 31 Gabriel Mueller