What Makes You Smile?

I'm walking the dog up 1st Avenue this afternoon.  Without seeing anyone, I hear a person singing in a loud/bad Liverpudlian accent "and I'm happy just to dance with you".  I then see a white haired man wearing knee socks, camouflage shorts and a Chicago T-shirt walking past me.  The T-shirt commemorated the band's 1989 tour.   He was thoroughly enjoying his walk and the music.

Someday, Someday, Maybe

One of my favorite TV characters of all time is LorelaiGilmore.  She’s witty, strong (even when she thinks she’s not) and houses a great knowledge of cultural trivia.  She’s my kind of gal.  Lauren Graham who so wonderfully played Lorelai just released a novel, Someday, Someday, Maybe. 

The story centers around Franny Banks, the actress/waitress who is trying to make a go of life in New York City and realizing her dream of one day being interviewed on the stage of the 92^nd St Y.  That would mean she had made it as an actress, a well-respected theater actress.  She has 6 months left in her self imposed quest to make it happen. Franny’s a little bit Lorelai and probably a lot of Lauren.  Lauren had said in an interview that it’s loosely based on her life and what she couldn’t remember, she made up.  She credits Diane Keaton with the suggestion to put these stories into a book. 

The story is about struggle and self-realization.  Anyone who has a dream, no money and lives on their own, can relate to it.  Franny occasionally asks her dad to supplement her income.  She deals with each situation with self-depreciating humor and determination.  The story also drives home that support, understanding and kindness can come from unlikely resources.

Lauren uses reproductions of Filofax pages to show the passing days.  If you don’t remember Filofaxes, they were the lifeblood of daily organization.  Before Palm, Blackberry or the smart phone, there was the Filofax. At the end of the year I would flip through mine and think, wow I guess I did accomplish something.  The voicemail messages from her English teacher father are sarcastic and sprayed with love. You can hear his voice in your head.  Franny had to have a cool, good-looking boyfriend, who you know will turn out to be a jerk.  I believe a guy like James is a rite of passage for every single girl in the city.  I could relate. 

Loved reading this book.  Someday, Someday, Maybe is sweet, charming, snappy and engrossing.  Oh did I mention, it’s also well written.  

The Leonard Lopate Show: Lauren Graham - WNYC