Carolyn Hastings

Boldly Go: My Journey in Stem Cell Therapy

March 10, 2015 by Carolyn Hastings Leave a Comment

I am living proof! I admit to being a little bit of a risk-taker, but it has always served me well. I had Radial Keratotomy performed when I knew no one who had. It has been so long ago that unless you’re my age you probably haven’t even heard of it. RK was the precursor to Laser Eye Surgery. I talked a friend into having it done the same day, so I wouldn’t be alone. What can I say, a few minutes in surgery and I was 20/20. So, here I am again, living proof.

It’s funny how fearful we can be of the unknown, yet all around us limits are being stretched. I live with my IPhone in one hand and my IPad in the other. I read on Facebook about drones and rifles that shoot around corners. My “real” camera sits on the shelf gathering dust. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t jump out of perfectly good airplanes or ski off mountains that I can’t get to without a helicopter but that may be because I’m a little old for that kind of stuff.

My age brought me to why I’m writing this story. A few months ago I had Stem Cell Therapy to rebuild the cartilage in my knee, but let me back up a little. Five years ago I had a Total Knee Replacement done on my right knee. I was scheduled to have my left knee replaced within a few months as well. I know that everyone has a little different outcome to Total Knee Replacements but mine was tough—tough enough that I immediately cancelled my second surgery and started looking for an alternative.

That’s probably where this story should have begun. I looked and I looked, but to no avail. The Orthopedic world was working on it but to me it felt like more of the same. I talked to everyone that would talk to me. Almost everyone I spoke with was desperately trying to affirm their decision for having the surgery, but if you caught them in an honest moment, many had issues. As I look back, I truly don’t remember any of the doctors explaining the literal brutality of the surgery. If they did, it would probably dramatically diminish the number of surgeries they perform. They don’t talk much about the fact that it is virtually impossible to kneel on a metal knee. I never realized how much I would miss that simple act.

About four years into my quest for an alternative, a friend of mine mentioned someone she knew who had gone the stem cell route. Afterwards, I couldn’t even remember who told me but Google Search became my best friend. My research kept me awake until the wee hours of the morning many nights. I was learning about the amazing world of stem cells.

There were articles from around the world and right in my own backyard. There were high profile people who had seen amazing results. Governor Rick Perry had a stem cell procedure done on his back while campaigning for President. Professional athletes were back on the field in record time after procedures on knees, backs and shoulders. Stem cell therapy is one of the best kept secrets in the medical arena.

You may wonder why you haven’t heard more about it. Number one is that at this point, it is not FDA approved. Right now you may be thinking…whoa! Don’t stop reading, not just this article but if you or someone you love needs this, read everything you can get your hands on.

Because it is not FDA approved yet, most insurance companies don’t cover the procedure. Keep reading. In most cases this is not a deal breaker. Later in this article I am going to go through the old Ben Franklin decision making formula of Pros and Cons with you.

Let me tell you how my procedure worked. I located a clinic in San Rafael that appeared to be what I was looking for. I researched Health Link Medical Centers and found out everything I possibly could about them. We are so fortunate in the Bay Area to have a facility nearby. This group has been doing this type of procedure for ten years. I called and made an appointment with Dr. Paul Handleman, D. O. Yes, he is an Orthopedic Doctor who specializes in Regenerative Interventional Orthopedics.

They asked if I had a MRI and if so, to bring it with me. My personal physician had ordered one for me so I was on my way. Dr. Handleman put my MRI up on a large screen and while we looked at it together, he told me about the procedure and answered my questions. He then did an ultrasound on my knee pointing out issues that couldn’t be seen on my MRI. After I left, I had a few more questions that he willingly answered over the phone. I had made up my mind. Since I was a candidate, it was the answer to my search.

Let me share a few of the things I learned about Stem Cell Therapy. Number one, from what I’ve read it is a bit of a political hot potato. In my opinion, the medical lobbyists have done a great job keeping it at bay. The average Total Knee Replacement will have a cost of $75,000-$100,000. This includes everything from hospital stays to operating rooms, to the various medical professionals involved to after-care and rehabilitation. Then you have drugs, crutches, walkers (oh my!) Let me just say, it is BIG Business.

My Stem Cell Therapy was a total of four visits to the doctor. The first visit was my consultation. The actual procedure is a three visit process over a period of approximately a week.

The first of the three visits was very quick. The doctor answered my last minute questions and then did something I thought rather unusual. He anesthesized my knee and put several shots of what amounted to “sugar water” in the places I needed to grow back the cartilage. The purpose of this is to literally make these areas “angry” so when the stem cells are injected they know where to go.

The second of the visits was two days later. I was nervous. I had heard stories from people who had donated stem cells and I’m not sure if mine was different or the people that had shared had embellished but it was enough to create the nervousness. They first drew blood. They used the platelets from the blood for what is called Plasma Rich Platelets or PRP. The PRP’s by themselves were some of the early stem cells used for procedures. The Doctor then numbed my lower back to extract the Stem Cells from my Iliac Crest. This has proven to be the absolute best Stem Cells in our bodies.

This process actually turned out to be pretty funny. I credit a little white pill given to be by the doctor and a system that is pretty clean (other than my borderline sugar addiction) for the humor in that day. It seems that I was “feeling no pain” when the doctor did the extraction. My son, who was sitting in the waiting room, could hear me singing my heart out all during the procedure. He told me later when I asked, that probably everyone in the eight story building could have heard me singing and laughing.

After a nice lunch with my son, I returned to the actual stem cell injections into my knee. While we were having lunch the medical team was concentrating those cells in a lab. Regenexx SD is the process. I left that day on crutches with a couple of pain pills, just in case. There was some pain involved with the procedure but I had been getting Cortisone shots every three months directly into my knee. I was hoping to never have to get another one! I was instructed to not do a lot of walking for a couple of days. I had scheduled my procedure over a long weekend. Dr. Handleman had given me his cell phone number and told me to not hesitate to call.

I went back for my third and last appointment a few days later. The doctor drew some more blood and gave me booster shots in my knee of the stem cells. I was done. I went back to work. My knee has gradually (it’s growing) gotten better and better. They had told me that the growth is at least a year -long process. It has now been nine months.

It is a little strange how you qualify the recovery. I haven’t had a cortisone shot in a year. When I had them before I would be great for two to three weeks and by the time I could get another one, I would hardly be walking. I used to schedule my injections around events or travel where I knew I would need to walk a lot.

Now it just gets easier and easier. I love going to church but the congregation stands while they sing. This is sometimes 30 minutes. I just couldn’t do that before. Now, I stand for the whole time and don’t even think about it. I also belong to a group who collects donations for our troops every month. I can now stand for the whole two hour shift. Everywhere I turn there is living proof that my body is healing itself.

Let’s go back to Ben Franklin. On the Pro Side I had…non-surgical, little or no recovery time, less pain, no prolonged time away from work or commitments resulting in less loss of income, very little help needed, no aftereffects, can have it done more than once to get a better result over time, and traditional surgery is still an option if it doesn’t work.

The Con Side is shorter. Will it work? Private Pay. Fear of the unknown. Process takes a year.
Even after I decided, I thought long and hard about the private pay aspect. I began actually running the numbers. I called my insurance company to see what my total co-pays would be for the traditional surgery. That’s when I found out what the Total Knee Replacement cost was. With Obamacare now in place the numbers seemed to get higher and higher and no one seemed to be able to give me a clear picture.

The Health Link Medical Center group gave me clear numbers. It would cost me approximately $5,700. The co-pays on the traditional procedure weren’t that far off and with the Stem Cell procedure I was back to work much faster not interrupting my income flow.

If you are going to opt for the Stem Cell Procedure, I would highly recommend getting on a high grade nutritional supplement as soon as possible. I have been taking great supplements for several years and rarely get sick. Little did I know that my supplements would warrant me the nickname at the clinic of “Stem Cell Queen”? It seems that the extra nutrition plus good hydration before the procedure provided over a billion stem cells in the extraction!

This is in the “just so you know” category. The Federal government requires that the stem cells that are extracted from your body have to be put back in the same day if they are to be used. Health LinkMedical Centers has a facility in the Grand Caymans (British). They do the procedure a little differently. They extract your Stem Cells and culture them for approximately a month. You can go home or work on your tan. After that time, they put the cultured cells back in your body. The growth process is faster with the cultured cells, but it is also more expensive. Celebrities and athletes tend to go the Grand Cayman route.

I am told the same doctors are rotated through that facility as their facilities here in the States. Logically, if you have your livelihood on the line, the timing truly seems to make sense.

Even though I did my research and due diligence, I have intentionally not gone into the more scientific aspect of Stem Cell procedures. I am not a scientist, nor a doctor, just a very grateful patient. Between the Health Link and Regenexx websites and others (UC Davis has an amazing program) you can learn as much or as little as you like.

Now, BOLDLY GO!

The Sound of Music—50 Years and Counting

March 10, 2015 by Carolyn Hastings Leave a Comment

The hills are alive with the sound of music, la la la la la. If you have been to Salzburg, Austria you have probably taken one of the bus tours chauffeuring you through The Sound of Music experience. The problem is that the same soundtrack that is playing when you board the bus is still running when you get off the bus. The songs linger on in your brain for days, and days, and days!

The Sound of Music is still one of my very favorite movies. I can sing most of the songs, probably not well but for the shower, they’re perfect. While doing a little research I learned a lot, while at the same time just touching the tip of the iceberg.

It’s been fifty years since this amazing movie hit the screen in 1965. The hit Broadway play and then the movie were loosely based on the memoirs written by Maria Von Trapp in 1949 “The Story of the Von Trapp Family Singers.”

The story, known by most of the world, is about a heroic Captain in the Austrian Navy, Georg Von Trapp (Christopher Plummer) who has been left with seven children to raise after his wife’s death. At sea a great deal of the time, he goes to the nearby convent to secure a governess.

Maria (Julie Andrews) is about to join the convent. A breath of fresh air in this holy place, the Mother Superior determines that it might serve Maria well to have a little more time before making a lifetime commitment, so she is sent to the Von Trapp family.

The Sound of Music was the romance of the decade. Maria was stunning in her wedding gown with the fourteen foot train; the finally happy Captain so handsome in his uniform. Singing coming from all around made every young girl dream of her handsome prince charming.

Viva la Rogers and Hammerstein! We all watched while the whole family headed off over the mountains to avoid Captain Von Trapp having to serve with the Nazi’s.

You’ve all seen the movie so I’ll write a little about the real plight of the Family Von Trapp. Firstly, they did leave Austria but they took a train to Italy where Georg was a citizen since he was born and raised in Croatia part of that empire. From Italy they went to London and then on to America where they settled and continued performing for several years. The day after they left, Hitler ordered the Austrian borders closed.

The almost unknown, Julie Andrews had just filmed Mary Poppins but it had not yet been released when she was cast as Maria. Two years before the musical hit Broadway, Paramount had bought the rights to the Von Trapp Family Singers Story but wanted Audrey Hepburn to star and she wouldn’t. Christopher Plummer hated working on the film which he often referred to as Sound of Mucus and likened Julie Andrews to “being hit over the head with a big Valentine’s Day card every day.” Nonetheless, he and Andrews have remained close friends ever since.

All said, you can’t argue with success! The movie budget was $8.2 million and it grossed over $163 million in the US alone. That means, adjusted for inflation, it’s the 3rd highest grossing movie of all time. When the video was released it stayed on the charts for 250 weeks—almost 5 years! Julie Andrews was paid only $225,000. Sound of Music won five Oscars and was nominated for three more. Throw in some Golden Globes and numerous others and you have a movie that people are still watching 50 years later.

Too much story, too little space so I’ll just say, watch it again, you’ll be singing for days! Great family fare.

As always, I love your comments at chastings@rockcliff.com.

Last Chance Harvey

February 7, 2015 by Carolyn Hastings Leave a Comment

I like Dustin Hoffman. I like Emma Thompson. I like them because they have the ability to act like real people. No flash, no dash, just someone who could be your next door neighbor or your best friend. So today, I bring you a little known movie from 2009, Last Chance Harvey.

New Yorker, Harvey Shine is on the verge of losing his job as a jingle writer. He has been warned by his boss that he has one more chance to deliver and he has the younger guys “nipping at his heels.” Harvey needs to go to London for the weekend for his daughter’s wedding. Carry-on bag in hand he heads across the pond on the redeye. Government worker, Kate Walker works at the airport for the Public Statistics Agency. She surveys incoming passengers at Heathrow and endures relentless calls from her mother about every aspect of her life, especially her singleness.

Arriving in London, Harvey checks into the hotel his daughter has arranged for him only to find out with a call to his daughter that his ex-wife has rented a home for the rest of the family to use. As the day unfolds, he finds himself on the fringe of the event overshadowed by beautiful Brian (James Brolin), the stepfather. His daughter even breaks the news that she has asked her stepfather, since they are so close, to give her away.

You can feel his pain. Rightly or wrongly, he believes he has created the estrangement and heads back to the airport only to miss his flight. Stopping at the airport bar, he dejectedly finds a table and sits down. He spots Kate sitting alone at the next table. Harvey remembers her and attempts to apologize for his rudeness as he was getting off the plane earlier. This chance meeting begins an amazing weekend for both of them.

Fifty two per cent of all Americans over 18 are single now. This is a relatively new statistic and really kind of sad. I am single. We all would like to think we are single by choice, but the reality is, if we could find the relationship we want we would grab it and hang on. Are our standards too high? Is there too much “baggage” the older we get? Are we too hung up on looks or been hurt too badly and don’t choose to return to the scene of that crime? If you’re single you can probably check off one or more of those reasons. Well, Last Chance Harvey is about this dilemma.

When was the last time you danced all night or kicked your shoes off and just sat and talked to someone until the sun came up? Crying, Kate says to Harvey, “How is this going to work?” Looking into her eyes, Harvey says, “I have absolutely no idea, but I promise you it will.”

Celebrate Life. Celebrate Love. Renew Your Promises!

As always, I value your comments at chastings@rockcliff.com.

When the Game Stands Tall

January 9, 2015 by Carolyn Hastings Leave a Comment

Everybody loves a winner! It’s hard not to root for the good guys and what better good guys than an all-boys Catholic high school. Bob Ladouceur taught at De La Salle High School. He also coached football. But more than that, he raised up men. With a 151—yes 151 game winning streak—the Spartans seemed unstoppable. Inspired by a true story, When the Game Stands Tall is the remarkable journey of a legendary coach who took De Le Salle High School from obscurity to stardom, shattering all records for any American sport.

This home-grown story played out on a local football field for 12 straight seasons. When the streak is broken because tragedy strikes the team, Coach Lad must teach his players, and the entire town, that it’s not about how far you fall, but how you get back up.

James Caviezel plays Bob Ladouceur with incredible insight into the man (maybe he ended up with a little divine guidance after hanging on a cross in Passion of the Christ). Caviezel is a truly amazing actor, whether he’s playing Jesus (I can’t imagine trying out for that role) or the lead in the hit TV show, Person of Interest. I personally think they couldn’t have found a better Coach Lad. The real Bob Ladouceur and his Assistant Coach, Terry Eidson, even did cameos as what else, coaches, in the movie.

College coaching jobs were dangled in front of the coach but for more than twelve years his commitment was to teaching kids how to find their own self-worth. When asked by a reporter how long the streak can last his comment was, “Winning games is doable; teaching kids to win in life is the goal. Winning games was never the goal.”

He focused on “the Perfect Effort” and reliability. His belief? Every great team needs leaders to cut the path and followers who will make it wider.

The pressure of failure is oppressive, but that’s where true leadership shines. Every Spartan team member for 12 years had to, or got to, live with the “not on my watch” mentality and then, in one earth shattering moment the streak was gone, but more tragically, so was the life an endeared teammate.

I truly enjoyed this movie. It was well acted but more importantly it was chocked full of life lessons for young and old. This is definitely a must see for football fans and families. As always I welcome your comments at chastings@rockcliff.com.

Cuddle Up. It’s Showtime!

December 8, 2014 by Carolyn Hastings Leave a Comment

Choosing a movie to watch is a little like choosing food to eat; sometimes you feel like hot and spicy and sometimes you just want warm and comfy. There are times you even choose the salad because the veggies are simply good for you. Well, today I’ve got some of each to chat about.

I think the entertainment industry has finally figured out that for the most part we all love Christmas. Hallmark and other film industry machines have been adding a few new “made for TV” movies every year and recently they have definitely stepped up the pace. So much so, that we now have the 60 day “Countdown to Christmas” instead of beginning the run on Thanksgiving. I, for one, love it and the rest of you get something different than the Murder She Wrote reruns.

What is truly awesome is that they have instituted Classic Thursdays. So far, just this year, I have watched Holiday Inn, Holiday Affair, and Christmas in Connecticut. The Bishop’s Wife is just sitting waiting for me to have a free couple of hours. These have got to be someone’s “warm and comfy!” They certainly take you back to a different and maybe even more gallant time.

I’m a real sucker for the typical Hallmark movie fare year ‘round but never as much as Christmas. I was just thinking this morning (with a chuckle to myself) that the hardest part of making some of these has got to be finding a title. You would have to find something Christmas-y, but it would need to be clever…and yet somehow set your movie apart so year after year the viewing audience would remember it and say, “Oh, Season of Miracles is on today,” as I do.

So, I’ve talked about the wonderful (?) predictability of Hallmark long enough. They aren’t the only channels capitalizing on our penchant for schmaltziness, but probably the best.

Whether you are watching TV or renting movies, you will find your summer salad or your box of popcorn. The Nativity Story is definitely your salad. A story about Christmas, for Christmas. It is virtually impossible to focus on the true meaning of Christmas with all the sales and gimmicks going on around us. Even Black Friday has been moved up by the marketers, and tell me, really, is Black Friday the unofficial start of the Christmas Season? In the midst of all this, we must never forget the true meaning of Christmas, and movies like The Nativity Story do just that. It is beautifully crafted.

On my short list this year is, Merry Madagascar, with my grandkids. I am a closet penguin fan so my gk’s will just have to suffer through it since they are starting to grow past that era. Also, on that list is one of my big screen favorites, The Holiday.

Kirk Cameron’s: Saving Christmas is in theaters this season and hopefully Polar Express will be back on the 3D screen again. I will definitely look for it. It is one of those movies just made for not only the big screen, but 3D!!

So, I have a little gift for you Christmas movie lovers! www.countdownuntilchristmas.com is a comprehensive TV Christmas Movie Guide. Enjoy, and as always email me at chastings@rockcliff.com.

Veteran’s Day: Ever Thankful

November 6, 2014 by Carolyn Hastings Leave a Comment

I like to consider myself a Patriot but I have to admit to some very strong praying going on when my only son reached draft age. My husband had served in Vietnam and I saw firsthand the emotional struggles that came with being a Light Infantry Squad Leader. Scars that would last a lifetime…how could they not?

I have not only a tremendous respect but an outright love for the men and women who serve us, defending America. Veteran’s Day for so many has become just another day.

What easier way to build a little awareness, than a movie or two this month. While some people love military movies, many of us stay as far away as possible. Political views on war? Get over it! Whichever side of that fence you’re on, we still need defenders in our society. Without our military there would be no America!

There are so many good ones, I didn’t know where to start. When you reach back to the very early years in America we have the brilliance of Glory, God’s and Generals (long but good) and Gettysburg.

World War I brought us the epic All Quiet on the Western Front. The 1979 made for TV version with Richard Thomas actually paled in comparison to the 1930 classic. Go for the original if you can find it!

Saving Private Ryan is to me the benchmark for World War II movies. The first five minutes almost had me walking out of the theater but once I settled into the horrible realities of war I was set for a real education. This is a “must see” movie. If you are looking for an earlier vintage WWII movie you can’t go wrong with Bridge on the River Kwai or The Thin Red Line.

I had a little problem putting together a list of Korean Conflict (I’m sure it felt like a war to those who were there) films. Battle Hymn and The Bridges of Toko-Ri are a couple, but the standout, probably because of the popular TV Series was Mash. I’m sure there are still reruns showing somewhere!

Vietnam. Now we’re getting to the point in time that many have been touched by. One of the greatest tragedies of Vietnam is how the war was portrayed by Hollywood. One of the most honest accounts can be found in We were Soldiers Once with Mel Gibson.

From there we move to the Middle East and more defined political opinions on our intervention. The vantage points are all over the place but the plethora of movies seems to take in them all. Some of the better attempts are Lone Survivor, The Hurt Locker and Zero Dark Thirty.

In my opinion one of the best is Black Hawk Down but for just pure entertainment you won’t want to forget Top Gun. The music score alone is worth the viewing!! So this month reflect on our many blessings in America and know that our system of government, while not always perfect is as close as it gets. That system and our military allows us the privilege of not thinking too much about Veteran’s Day! Why don’t you change that up this year! Watch a movie and thank a Vet! As always I love your comments at chastings@rockcliff.com.

Little Red Wagon

October 9, 2014 by Carolyn Hastings Leave a Comment

I’m a sucker for a feel good movie. I’m even a bigger sucker for a “Purpose Driven” movie. The Little Red Wagon is a docudrama based on the story of an eight year old boy who dedicates his life to helping children rendered homeless by Hurricane Charley. In this inspirational drama based on actual events, Zach Bonner learns that you can’t put a price on life’s greatest gifts.

After hurricane Charley barely misses Zach’s home but devastates many others nearby, he’s dejected by the images of the families whose lives are uprooted by the disaster. Deciding to do something about it, Zach uses his old trusty wagon to collect essential items to help them get back on their feet. When the media spotlights Zach’s benevolent endeavors, the selfless boy seizes the opportunity to launch his own charity, dubbed the Little Red Wagon Foundation.

Later, Zach encounters a widow and her son who were rendered homeless and vows to draw attention to their plight by embarking on a cross country walk. Despite his single mother’s trepidations about the journey and his teenage sister’s growing resentment over being stuck at the center of the media circus, Zach sets out on a journey that will transform not just his own life, but also the lives of everyone he encounters.

Zach Bonner is often called the kid with the heart of gold. His passion to aid the more than 1.3 million homeless children in the United States warranted him receiving the prestigious Presidential Service Award in 2006.

Through his foundation, Zach did many “walk projects” to raise money and awareness. His “My House to the White House” journey showcased the plight of the homeless and in 2010 Zach walked 2,448 miles from Tampa, Florida to Los Angeles, California. Zach is now 16 years old and still striving to abate the suffering of homeless children.

Little Red Wagon is an amazing story about an incredible young man and the family that supports him. They walk with him, nurse and feed him along the way and manage the “Zach Tracker,” his GPS device so his supporters can follow him.

I highly recommend this DVD for its social value alone. It’s a great teaching tool for kids, teens and adults. Zach could teach us all a thing or two about love and charity. In my humble opinion, it’s never too early to start showing our children the habit of helping others.

So, sit down with the kids or the grandkids, or grab someone else’s kids, and watch Little Red Wagon. Maybe the flame of passion for helping others that once burned brightly within you will be rekindled as well. Your life will be changed as you help to change someone else’s life.

As always, I welcome your comments at chastings@rockcliff.com.

Robin Williams: Forever in Our Hearts

September 14, 2014 by Carolyn Hastings Leave a Comment

I had a different movie review written. I just couldn’t run it. This month had to be dedicated to the amazing Robin Williams. Whatever the circumstances of his death, he was a talent that will live forever in our hearts. So, this month I will share with you a review of my personal favorite.

I went to a wedding the other day. It was a beautiful summer day and I was listening to the heartfelt vows of some dear friends who probably didn’t expect to find new love in their golden years. The garden location was perfect and as we went inside for the reception I was taken back to 1993, not because of something that happened to me, but as a reminder of a movie that was filmed in this very location, Mrs. Doubtfire. We were seated in Bridges Restaurant in Danville, California.

Weddings tend to make you think. Oddly enough, I wasn’t thinking about a knight in shining armor or even a marriage gone bad, I was thinking about the film Mrs. Doubtfire and what changes have come about in our court system in the last 18 years. I bet when you watched it all those years ago you probably weren’t thinking about custody rights, at least not in retrospect.

Daniel Hillard (Robin Williams) is a kind, loving father. He is also a poor disciplinarian and a generally shaky role model for his three children. Miranda (Sally Field), his wife has definitely had to take on the role of “bad cop” in the family. After quitting or losing yet another job, Daniel picks up his kids at school and throws together an impromptu birthday party for his son. Miranda is called home by a neighbor to find a huge petting zoo parked on her quiet San Francisco street with ducks and geese, little horses, and rabbits inside and outside her lovely home. The police have just arrived and her husband and children are dancing on the fancy dining table. This is the final straw, there is no room left in her life for the eccentric, fun loving actor who specializes in dubbing cartoon voiceovers.

Miranda goes to divorce court and gets custody of the children. Daniel has ninety days to redeem himself. Now 90 days isn’t a lot of time when you’re unemployed and homeless, but Daniel finds a small apartment and gets a boring job. It really gets interesting when he hears that she is going to hire a Nanny-Housekeeper for his children and Daniel applies for the job; basically in drag…enter Mrs. Doubtfire.

Mrs. Doubtfire is an elderly woman created by Daniels brother, Frank a special effects make-up artist, and she gets the job. Frank does such an amazing job that no one seems to recognize Daniel. Life is beautiful. Miranda has an amazing Nanny. The kids have someone they adore and Daniel finally figures out how to be a parent.

Oh yes, there is the resident hunk, Stuart (Pierce Brosnan). He’s an old friend, new client and wannabe new mate for Miranda which really steams Daniel. Back to Bridges. There is an incredibly funny scene at our local restaurant where Daniel is doing what Robin Williams does best, mastering chaos.

All in all, Mrs. Doubtfire is a poignant romantic comedy where Robin Williams will keep you in stitches with his improvisational antics. Sally Field will totally endear you and the children have some of the best lines. But back to the court system, my thoughts ran to how different our world is today. No longer are Dad’s relegated to Saturdays at 2pm, more and more are successfully sharing custody and loving every minute of it. I’d like to think that this sweet movie may have been a tipping point. Watch it again and tell me what you think at chastings@rockcliff.com

America: Imagine the World without Her

August 10, 2014 by Carolyn Hastings Leave a Comment

It started with a bus and a curb. Independence Day is one of my very favorite holidays and on that day, every year my quaint little town pulls out all the stops to celebrate our freedom. We start with a parade (well, for the early risers they get to start their celebration with a pancake breakfast) and move on from there. My grandkids and I go down the afternoon before and stake our spot. We change every few years but this year was the same as last. Our chairs get placed at the curb and the games come out of the bag. There are usually snacks to go along with the games. Now, there we sit and play for the next few hours, waiting for six o’clock. At six we put our names on the chairs, tie them together with red, white and blue ribbon and go home to get a good night’s rest.

About midway through the streams of kids’ sports teams, dogs, horses and floats there was a BIG BLACK BUS. I had never seen a bus in the parade and this one had a picture of the Statue of Liberty emblazoned on the side. America: Imagine the World without Her, has finally been released in theaters.

I thought, “What better day to ponder that question than Independence Day?”

Someone once observed, “America is great because she is good; if she ever ceases to be good she will cease to be great.” Today that notion of the essential goodness of America is under attack, replaced by another story in which theft and plunder are seen as the defining features of American history – from the theft of Native American and Mexican lands and the exploitation of African labor to a contemporary foreign policy said to be based on stealing oil and a capitalist system that robs people of their ‘fair share’. Our founding fathers warned us that, although the freedoms they gave us were hard fought, they could very easily be lost. America stands at a crossroads and the way we understand our past will determine our future.

Now, there’s the rub. We have people in America who would love to CHANGE Her. I am old enough to remember when there was rarely a meeting of more than a handful of people where we didn’t say the Pledge of Allegiance. When we said the pledge or an American flag went by we put our hands on our hearts and the men actually took off their hats. That’s respect; respect for a flag that stands for a country that STANDS. America has fought in almost every land, not to conquer them but to free them. Not to plunder and steal but to add value.

I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the men who created this incredible movie. Dinesh D’Souza is an immigrant from India. He and John Sullivan wrote the screenplay and directed this amazing documentary. Dinesh also wrote the book and produced this film.

America takes 21st century Americans into the future by first visiting our past. This movie exemplifies and echoes the reasons and passionate feelings most Americans still have today. I have to admire the many early grade educators who still hold to the truths about America. My four grandchildren had teachers who taught them well. As Americans we need to insist that our colleges and universities hold fast to American exceptionalism. If you are faltering in your belief of that, I challenge you to see the movie, America: Imagine the World without Her.

As always, I invite your thoughts at chastings@rockcliff.com.

Still Mine: A Movie Review

July 6, 2014 by Carolyn Hastings Leave a Comment

I have been watching the path of this movie for almost a year. I put it on my “watch for” list and never really gave up on it. I am glad to say it is now out on DVD and not just on Netflix, but in Redbox as well.

Still Mine is an amazing Canadian film. It originally came out with a very limited distribution in July 2013 but left the theaters very quickly. Now, sometimes we are tempted to say that when that happens the movie probably wasn’t that good or it would have had a blockbuster reception. I would be the first to admit that I don’t know a lot about the mystical ins and outs of film distribution, but I do know that some of the best movies I’ve ever seen never had an ad on TV.

Our stars both had their first lead roles in Still Mine. After decades of playing supporting characters the pair get to star in this exquisitely crafted and deeply affecting love story about a couple in their twilight years. Based on true events and laced with humor, Still Mine tells the heartfelt tale of Craig Morrison (Academy Award nominee, James Cromwell) who comes up against the system when he sets out to build a more suitable house for his ailing wife, Irene (also an Academy Award nominee Genevieve Bujold).

Somewhat “land poor,” Craig and Irene have raised their seven children in the same house on the same land. The house is literally falling down around them; it is old and hard to heat. Craig fells his own trees and cuts his own lumber and although Morrison uses the same methods his father, an accomplished shipbuilder, taught him, times have changed. He quickly gets blindsided by local building codes and bureaucratic officials. He tries to comply but it seems that he is always behind the curve in process.

As Irene becomes increasingly ill—and amidst a series of stop work orders—Craig races to finish the house. Hauled into court and facing jail, Craig takes a final stand against all odds in a truly inspirational story.

Still Mine isn’t really about the battle against the government it’s about the grace and dignity of aging. Craig and Irene have been married for six decades and it’s about their desperate desire to lead the rest of their years in the privacy of their own home. Written and directed by Michael McGowan, he has been able to deliver a film with an uncommon straightforwardness. Still Mine is understated yet truthful.

Filmed in rural, St. Martins, New Brunswick, the scenery is breathtaking. The cast is phenomenal. When the film was over, I felt like I had spent the time sitting across the handmade kitchen table from Craig and Irene, not watching them on a screen.

I love this movie. If you are young and think you may not relate, get over it! Still Mine is beautifully written, exceptionally acted and truly about the best in all of us. In a time when couples give up on their marriages when things get a little tough, this couple has stayed true to their family and to each other year after year. I challenge you to rent it and see how life can be lived. As always, I welcome your comments at chastings@rockcliff.com