OK..So I did not grow up in North America in the 80's..I was a school girl half way across the world in India..I did not have the pleasure of meeting A.L.F ( Alien Life Form) the lovable Alien TV character..that looks like a cross between a Kangaroo, a Doggy and a unbelievably cute brat. However better late than never..This weekend My Cowboy Brian introduced me to the Lovable Alien.
This last week I had been a bit frazzled. What with business presentations and study and work overload and a bit of decision making on what is the true meaning of a Friend and what is Not. This question relates to people we meet in the community..in the temples and churches and professional programs and " social groups' How do you draw the line between who you can trust and call a friend and when do you realise that maybe not..
.My beloved Cowboy Brian thought that the best way to cheer me up from my sad mood was to introduce me to ALF.
He bought an entire season of the TV show which was quite a hit and a controversy back in those years the 80s when Brian was growing up .We watched it together late nights on Saturday and Sunday..after we had enough of the Sun..The deck and the beautiful summer weekend outside..it was our time inside just our special "You My Cowboy and Me your Indian" time.....and did I laugh and laugh and laugh like that was the best thing to do in life !
IThink there is a Bit of an Alien in each one of us..not just the ones who " just got off the Boat or Ship or Rickshaw and of course their Spaceships".
There are moments when we all feel suddenly alone even in a crowded room and think ' Hey these are not my people..and not my place..not my town..what am I doing here?
There are a few ways of dealing with this situation .become the Whacky iest ( as in Whacky) ,funniest , craziest yet well meaning Alien like ALF . Though you try to fit in and give your best to the world around you. There will always be goof ups..
Plan B :..Turn Holy and become a saint or raise your thoughts and actions above that of others and return to which ever Planet you came from....and Plan C: Become a rebel and fight everyone who tries to attack you..or comes in the way of your plans.
I think Plan A which means becoming an ALF is the best bet for now..I recall when we were on Episode three and ALF was trying to hypnotise the cat. and then got into a lot of trouble and went away alone .Brian suddenly said that I reminded him a lot of ALF..
A few episodes later..when ALF in sun glasses belted out a rock and roll number from Bob Seger and managed to blow up the Radio system he was fixing and then called the president on Air force 1 from his basement.. Brian was on his 6th Canadian Molson..I told him that at that Golden moment he had actually become ALF..we both looked at each other and then at ALF and laughed and laughed and laughed as if this was the funniest thing that ever happened.
Some immortal ALF moments from the web :
(ALF is writing a love letter for a girl that Jake likes.)
ALF : Willie, what's another word for beautiful?
That's kind of how it is..often people who give tremendous joy to others and are very funny and humorous when you meet them are actually hiding some deep pain and hurt deep within themselves.
People who give others happiness are the best of all..People who spread unhappiness and pain just because they need to share the ' unhappiness' that is within them are the worst of all the species. They spread the `venom' that is in their hearts and poison other people' lives.. However as my Cowboy Brian often says when he quotes the scriptures..
" You know you are on the right path when you have enemies"
That's the difference between the people who chop of the heads of others and the opposite which is people like ALF who make this journey one worth travelling on..As Charlie Chaplin the immortal comedian once said " That day is wasted when I have not laughed and not made others laugh too!"
Posters courtesy Learning Mind.
| ALF trying to hypnotise Lucky the cat |
This last week I had been a bit frazzled. What with business presentations and study and work overload and a bit of decision making on what is the true meaning of a Friend and what is Not. This question relates to people we meet in the community..in the temples and churches and professional programs and " social groups' How do you draw the line between who you can trust and call a friend and when do you realise that maybe not..
.My beloved Cowboy Brian thought that the best way to cheer me up from my sad mood was to introduce me to ALF.
He bought an entire season of the TV show which was quite a hit and a controversy back in those years the 80s when Brian was growing up .We watched it together late nights on Saturday and Sunday..after we had enough of the Sun..The deck and the beautiful summer weekend outside..it was our time inside just our special "You My Cowboy and Me your Indian" time.....and did I laugh and laugh and laugh like that was the best thing to do in life !
IThink there is a Bit of an Alien in each one of us..not just the ones who " just got off the Boat or Ship or Rickshaw and of course their Spaceships".
There are moments when we all feel suddenly alone even in a crowded room and think ' Hey these are not my people..and not my place..not my town..what am I doing here?
There are a few ways of dealing with this situation .become the Whacky iest ( as in Whacky) ,funniest , craziest yet well meaning Alien like ALF . Though you try to fit in and give your best to the world around you. There will always be goof ups..Plan B :..Turn Holy and become a saint or raise your thoughts and actions above that of others and return to which ever Planet you came from....and Plan C: Become a rebel and fight everyone who tries to attack you..or comes in the way of your plans.
A few episodes later..when ALF in sun glasses belted out a rock and roll number from Bob Seger and managed to blow up the Radio system he was fixing and then called the president on Air force 1 from his basement.. Brian was on his 6th Canadian Molson..I told him that at that Golden moment he had actually become ALF..we both looked at each other and then at ALF and laughed and laughed and laughed as if this was the funniest thing that ever happened.
Some immortal ALF moments from the web :
(ALF is writing a love letter for a girl that Jake likes.)
ALF : Willie, what's another word for beautiful?
Willie : Attractive.
ALF : What's another word for attractive?
Willie : Alluring.
ALF : What's another word for alluring?
Willie : Annoying.
ALF : What's another word for annoying?
Willie : ALF.
I Love the ALF kind of humor..dry and smart and genuine.. In business school I was talking about Brian and ALF to Phil my class mate who is an entrepreneur like all of us in the program and who loves animals too.
In his Workshop Phil makes Cartoon characters and creates costumes..and customised toys for Shows. He has done work for TIFF amongst others.
He told me that the writer behind the character of ALF that made so many millions of people laugh and filled homes with Joy was actually a very sad and troubled man. They made a movie about him.The name of the Movie is `Permanent Midnight' and the main role was played by Ben Stiller.
He told me that the writer behind the character of ALF that made so many millions of people laugh and filled homes with Joy was actually a very sad and troubled man. They made a movie about him.The name of the Movie is `Permanent Midnight' and the main role was played by Ben Stiller.
That's kind of how it is..often people who give tremendous joy to others and are very funny and humorous when you meet them are actually hiding some deep pain and hurt deep within themselves.
Often the people who have the greatest simplicity and generosity in them are misfits and considered as weird by pretentious people who think they have the right to control the world and determine how someone should think and behave .
I Think that those people who really see the truth are not afraid to speak their minds..walk alone and give their best...because they know that they have no need to pretend and impress the world..what they give is given as part of themselves but only those who have eyes can see what the Blind cannot..and accuse them of much evil..but in the end..you the know the truth from the Lie..
On TV shows and sit coms there are many unforgettable characters. The reason why we love them is that we see a bit of ourselves in all of them. They have the courage to portray the " Flip side' of things and say it aloud in a way that we cannot.People who give others happiness are the best of all..People who spread unhappiness and pain just because they need to share the ' unhappiness' that is within them are the worst of all the species. They spread the `venom' that is in their hearts and poison other people' lives.. However as my Cowboy Brian often says when he quotes the scriptures..
" You know you are on the right path when you have enemies"
That's the difference between the people who chop of the heads of others and the opposite which is people like ALF who make this journey one worth travelling on..As Charlie Chaplin the immortal comedian once said " That day is wasted when I have not laughed and not made others laugh too!"
Posters courtesy Learning Mind.
