I don't know if this belongs under "entertainment" or "member news" - I will let the powers that be decide.
Each year, somewhere between Thanksgiving and Christmas, and after Deer Hunting (not successful this year, mostly by my choice: a whole herd crossed the river, and partly missed my chance because I was just enjoying watching them, and partly because I just felt it was too far for me to take the shot and I didn't move closer) ) my Family and I watch The Lord of the Rings. All 3 movies, all extended cuts, in six parts ( though it is NOT unusual for us to cheat and watch ALL of Return of the King on the 5th night) I don't touch it the rest of the year. Its special, "sacred", and its usually an experience I look forward to. But this year I was trepidatious. . We went to see the Hobbit last night .. sadly underwhelming, with two more parts to go. Not bad. But in some places Hollywood stupid ( Mountain Stone Giants Knees Stupid !) and in others just unnecessarily long and pointless. Apparently Jackson went on a quest to recreate Lord of the Rings. Anyone who has read it will tell you "The Hobbit", is NOT "Lord of the Rings" - its a child's tale with a simplicity that does not require Hollywood or its roller coaster effects in any measure. I DIDN'T hate it. But it was over the top of what was required of it. The question I kept asking was "Why?" Jackson added complexity to the story, much of it based soundly in pure Tolkien appendix and unfinished work(did anyone actually read it all?) Perhaps it is because I, like many, read the Hobbit at something approximating age appropriateness, and then read Lord of the Rings a couple of years later( before it was age appropriate - because I can't tell you how much more I enjoyed it as an adult) but the Hobbit was simple, and really I wanted it that way. He changed stuff - made Bilbo more of a hero ( before it was time) and added in backstory that just wasn't part of the tale. I guess it remains to be seen , if it is ultimately an improvement. There were still parts that "spoke" to me, and it wasn't a total loss, but still it made me worry. I feared with recent events, the loss of the election, and all that I fear is coming, that the Lord of the Rings would now ring hollow to me.
Following this fear, I stopped at the liquor store ,got two bottles of Whiskey. I normally drink while watching, because I just enjoy it more that way, but this time I feared I would need it. So we watched the first part of the Fellowship of the Ring tonight, and I am happy to report my fears were unfounded. It rang more true to me than it ever has. I am usually crying from the moment Samwise picks Frodo up and carries him to the Mountain to the end of the film , but tonight I was choked up from the first time Frodo put on his cloak an volunteered to take the ring to Bree. The Lord of the Rings was the first story I read where I understood how a fiction story could be "True", and now it is more so. As far as I am concerned it happened. The Lord of the Rings is historical fact. Maybe not our history. Maybe not our universe. But it happened. Its true. I know I am a bit of an oddball here, not drawing inspiration and solace from the usual source, especially at Christmas, but in the end, it really is the same story, just one that "works" for me better. Frodo is the epitome of what I understand to be heroism and grace, Gandalf the White provides everything I could want in the wise Savior, and maybe I understand why a bit more now -now that evil seems to have free reign in OUR world... Regardless of the reason, it gives me faith. I know I am the resident pessimist, but this story always provides me reassurance and hope, and I am very gratified and grateful to find that even now it still does so. Trust the Creator with his skies.