I have been looking forward
to this weekend for what seems like forever. No, not
because my family is celebrating my upcoming birthday
today (actual arrival at age 52 isn't 'til Tuesday).
Nope. And it's only partly because we've been wanting to
see Bend it Like Beckham since we saw a trailer
for it when we saw Shanghai Knights. What's so
exciting? It has to be ... the Big Dig!
I drove through the new Liberty
Tunnel and over the Zakim Bunker Hill Bridge for the
first time today. The northbound side of both tunnel and
bridge opened last weekend. I would have driven on it
last night after I picked up Nancy at South Station but
since we were headed to Central Square and then Kendall
Square, it made much more sense to take the Mass Pike to
the Allston Brighton exit and forgo the thrill 'til
tonight. So tonight after I dropped Nancy off, I had my
first experience of the fruits of the Big Dig. The tunnel
seemed long and the bridge seemed short and looking
through all those gleaming white cables was a little
surreal after looking at them from afar for however many
years it's been. I can't say it saved me that much time,
but it was neat to be on the bridge. I'll always remember
my first time!
And, yes, we did get to see Bend
It Like Beckham last night after dinner at Mary
Chung. The Kendall Square cinema was showing it on two
screens and both sold out. I was expecting a lot of
teenage girl soccer fans, but the 7:20 show was mostly
middle aged folks. Talk about a feel-good movie! Girls,
you too can have it all. You can bend it like David
Beckham on the football pitch and make perfect alu
ghobi in the kitchen and get the guy all while
surrounded by a large, warm Sikh family under the flight
path of Heathrow Airport. When Jess (the girl who can
have it all) is telling her problems to the huge poster
of David Beckham hanging over her bed, Nancy leaned over
and whispered in my ear "Dear Ndugu" and I cracked up. I
was thinking that same thought! And the soccer in this
movie is all goals, exciting passes, and dramatic penalty
kicks in fast motion. No endless running back and forth.
I laughed, I cried, I laughed some more. I want to see it
again with the kids.
Oh and yesterday's snow total
wasn't nearly the 5 inches they were predicting on Friday
but we're supposed to get socked tomorrow. La familia
loca pointed out at the family gathering in honor of my
birthday that there is always a blizzard or a flood
within 7 days of my birthday. Since my birthday is only 2
days away and we haven't had a major flood yet, I'd say
we're due for significant snow. The pre-b'day festivities
were fine involving lots of vegetables and presents,
mainly teapots and teas. I should have a tea party. Maybe
I'll have the kids over for tea after I take them to see
Bend It Like Beckham.
