More Meatballs

I thought Flint Lockwood and Sam Sparks (“Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs”) had taken care of the meatball making machine, but no, we saw a variation of one in “Curious George Live!” (a children’s musical that performed at the Tennessee Performing Arts Center a/k/a TPAC). This time the meatballs were square-shaped, but still a threat to world order. And this time it was Curious George who had to deal with the threat.


This time my granddaughter, Analayne, witnessed the meatball threat. In this adventure the inquisitive and resourceful little monkey went all out to help his friend, Chef Pisghetti, an Italian cook in “The City.” Of course, we saw the Man with the Yellow Hat, the Doorman and Hundley, the doorman’s dachshund. We saw George scamper up scaffolding, make “Ohu, Ohu” monkey sounds and walk on a large ball (balancing on a ball in costume had to be a challenge). Nevertheless, “Curious George Live!” is a musical, with songs sung by the Man with the Yellow Hat and others with themes and lines that included: “George is always curious,” “There’s more to explore,” “When one door closes, another one opens up,” and “You like to help your friends.” Of course, George always solves his problems.

Well it seems, someone had invented a machine that made square-shaped meatballs at an incredible speed that threatened his friend’s eatery. Because George had helped his friend, Chef Pisghetti, in his restaurant making meatballs, George decides to enter his meatballs in a world-famous competition, the Golden Meatball Contest. His first problem was how to get from “The City” to Rome. Using a shipping box previously sent from Rome, George sends himself to Italy using a “Return to Sender” stamp. The box and George arrive in Rome and he enters the contest. George is now missing. When his friends figure out that George has gone to Rome, they pursue him. When they arrive, the contest is already in progress and the contestants have all cooked their meatballs. Unlike the others, George had to make his friend’s meatballs without knowing his friend’s secret ingredient. Still, George wins the meatball contest. How could he have won against meatballs made by the square-meatball-making machine and all of the others? What was the secret ingredient George unknowingly used? His chef friend confides, “The secret ingredient is love.”

It is the same ingredient that Jesus tells His followers to base their lives on. A heartless meatball machine cannot compete against the power of love in one’s life. The bond of affection between Flint and Sam (in “Cloudy with a chance of Meatballs”) in shutting-down the food-making machine is just as effective as love is in making wonderful meatballs. Love comes in many forms. In the words of the playwright, “We are lucky to have a friend like that.”

Analyane’s review of the musical play: “George is bigger than he is on TV or in his books.”

Mimi and I agreed; “George is bigger in person than on TV or in his books.”

Afterwards, we went to Moe’s Southwest Grille. They don’t serve meatballs unless you consider a burrito a variation on one. At any rate, this outing was a hit with Analayne! She was still talking about “George” the day after and asked when we would go to another show.

Scripture:
John 13.35 – People will know you are followers of Christ by your love.
John 14.15 – Jesus said, “If you love me, you will obey my commandments.”
John 15.5–8 – Jesus said, “God’s glory is shown by what His followers do.”
John 15.17 – Jesus said, “Love one another.”
John 22.36-40 – God’s law can be summed up as saying, “Love God; love others.”
1 John 4.8 – God is love.

Hadley Has a Big Coke with Her Meatballs

This past week my granddaughter, Hadley pulled back the curtain of time and prompted me see things I’ve not seen in awhile. We had a date. We went to a movie, just her and me, while Mimi took a nap as Shepherd napped.

So, what do you recall from your youth? Sometimes I need help in remembering the things that impressed me. But just as interesting is what impresses your children or in this case my granddaughter.

Well, Hadley and I went to the movie, “Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs.” It is a movie based on the children’s book with the same title. The book was written after my children were grown, so I was not familiar with it. I suppose the movie elaborated on the story somewhat, adding details and possibly sub-plots to make the movie worthy.

Hadley was pretty excited about going to the movie. (Check out her smile. You can't see it, but she has lost a tooth.) Mimi told me to get her some popcorn. I did, with a drink too. The total cost for a bag of popcorn, a 24-ounce Coke and two tickets was over $25.00. I thought the concession prices were pretty unconscionable, so I didn’t indulge in popcorn or drink. Anyway, it was her afternoon to enjoy. And I think she enjoyed it all. Even though she weighs only 32 pounds, she must have a huge bladder. She drank the entire drink, ice and all. I calculate, with the popcorn, she gained nearly two pounds, mostly from the drink. I don’t know if I, a grown man used to consuming those volumes, could have handled all the liquid without a trip to the restroom mid-movie, but she did.

The movie was about Flint Lockwood, a young inventor intent on making his mark while making the world a better place to live. He had already invented some non-skid, spray-on shoes that wouldn’t come off a person’s foot. He was now engaged in developing a machine that would make food from ordinary water. The assumption was that water is plentiful, sort of like dirt. In my profession, water is not that abundant, at least potable water isn’t that abundant. These days water doesn’t come cheap. I had to overlook this critical assumption and assume a child’s perspective.

The other major figure in the movie was Sam Sparks (I assume her name was short for Samantha), an intelligent news-weatherperson sent to cover the story of a town whose fishing industry was declining and was re-inventing itself as a tourist destination. While she is there Flint’s machine to make food was launched (figuratively and literally) and it rains hamburgers. It then rains hotdogs, ice cream or anything else Flint programs it to produce.

The plot thickens here, because the machine’s food making attributes aren’t entirely controllable. Flint also takes a liking to Sam, who is now covering this “news” story.

It is at this point I notice Hadley has become absorbed in the unfolding drama. She loves a romance. She has been a flower-girl in several weddings and up-to-this point in our week, she has married Mimi and Papa several times. Coordinating the kiss and pronouncing us “Man and wife” is one of the high points of her play. (I’m thinking, maybe she is a budding Shakespeare.) Hadley is also a repeat video consumer of the Disney movies “Cinderella” and “Sleeping Beauty.” She is moving all about the movie seat.

Anyway, Flint creates a huge palace made of Jell-O, Sam’s favorite food. Inside the palace, there are all sorts of things. What jumps out to me is a Statue of David made out of Jell-O. I ask myself, “How did that get into a children’s movie?” That was something that caught my attention when I was a teenager living in Sarasota, Florida. How ironic is this? I was in Sarasota, with my granddaughter, watching a movie that makes reference to “David.”

Well, the story of Flint and Samantha gains momentum. Sam, it turns out wears big glasses, which Flint finds endearing. A monkey joins the action, who Hadley loves. Ultimately the crisis caused by the food making machine gone awry is resolved. I must also say that Flint’s father (Tim) develops as an important and likeable figure in the story. (I’m not going to spoil this aspect of the movie for you.)

And then there is the BIG Kiss. The world then sighs in relief.

I asked Hadley at the end, “What did you like about the movie?” Her response: “Sam, the monkey and Flint.” She also liked the “Jell-O mansion.”

We walk out of the mall, through the parking lot and get to the van. She says, “Papa, I need to go to the restroom.” Ah, she has a large bladder, but not that big.

It was for me another memorable experience.

Scripture:
Matthew 11.25 – Jesus declared that while some things are hidden from the wise, they are revealed to children.
Matthew 21.15 – The children cried out, “Hosanna to the Son of David.”
Mark 10.13-16 – Jesus told his disciples, “Let the children come to me; to such belongs the Kingdom of God.”
1 Corinthians 13.11 – When I was a child I spoke as a child.