Life Itself

Well, we continue the theme of frightening me with Life Itself.

I appreciated the way the film presents Ebert in a true manner.  They don't try and cover up who he was in the past or who he was at the end.  At times in his life he was kind of a dick.  He seemed to have leveled out over the years, not in small part due to settling down with his wife, but there are still times where you get to see him become frustrated and upset.  He wasn't a saint.  He was a person just like all of us.

  

The part that I found frightening this time wasn't the physical trauma that Ebert had to endure.  Though that's not without concern.  I mean, no one wants to endure cancer, especially cancer that results in having half your face cut off.  The frightening part to me was actually something quite sweet.  Ebert did not have to face his illness alone.  He had his wife Chaz there with him.  She truly loved that man.  That's the only way she could have endured it all right there with him.  I cannot imagine Ebert living as long as he did without her.  I know the saying goes that if you can't be happy on your own then you won't be happy with someone.  And to a point, yes that's true.  But I have found that being alone is like the spear without the shield.  Chance throws us bad cards at its pleasing.  Sometimes it feels like a race against the clock, all the while hoping that the right connection is made before those cards drop thus forcing you to face the worst alone.  And I, when it comes to people, unfortunately seem to have an uncanny ability to boil the waters.  After any considerable amount of time all that's left is a dry crackled lake bed.  The mist that was once the water that filled that space hanging in the air like a memory of something I'd rather see dissipated.  I'm sure many feel the same way.  Most likely even Ebert.  I mean, look how long it took him to find his shield. 

In any regard, I'm glad Ebert did not die alone, that he had such a strong bond with someone.