Mail from Nora

July 3rd, 2012 at 4:36 pm.

It’s been exactly one week now since Nora Ephron passed away. I was talking to Casee (you know, that Girl who stole the Eiffel Tower) about  my absolute favourite movie of Nora’s and there was a bit of an eureka moment. It can hardly be a coïncidence that we both love You’ve Got Mail, right? Seeing as what I wanted to share about Nora’s wonderful work was way too much for one post Casee was gracious enough to want to participate in this two-parter about one of our favourite writers/directors and all-around wonderful woman.

When I was ten years old, and for about seven years afterward (with little diversion from tradition), Nora Ephron’s heartwarming “You’ve Got Mail” was the soundtrack to my family’s Friday nights.  It was, collectively, our favorite film and we never truly got tired of watching the love story between Joe Fox and Kathleen Kelly unfold again and again.  To this day the four of us – my mom, dad, sister and myself – will be apt to make a joke when a favorite line pertains to a current situation.  Every year in November: “Happy Thanksgiving.” “Happy…Thanksgiving…Bahck.”  A trip to Manhattan: “The Zipper Man! He repairs zippers on Amsterdam Avenue!”  And you can be sure the words “caviar” and “garnish” never go unnoticed.

When I was young, these little jokes and more were what kept me returning to the film.  But the remarkable thing – and the reason why I will always be grateful to Nora Ephron for bringing this film into my life – is the way it grew as I did.  There’s a remarkable amount of layers in it, and as I grew into adulthood new messages and meanings became clear to me.  I realized how much I can relate to Kathleen, how like her I am, how I share her love of books.  I also came to understand the depth of her relationships with Joe, with her mother, with her store; the movie was the ultimate illustration of life’s challenges, and here was this character who I felt so akin to getting through them, shedding her tears and indulging in her laughs and finally achieving her happily ever after.  As soon as I was old enough to appreciate these elements I discovered an entirely new appreciation for Nora Ephron, for her work as well as her outlook on life.  The foresight, the awareness that it must take for someone to tell a story that not only enchants a child, but ultimately inspires a young woman: this is the mark of a true treasure in the world.  This is a writer to be inspired by, a woman to admire, and a dedicated observer of life who truly got it.  And what she got she shared with the world – through comedy, through charm, through romance, and through relatable, honest emotion.

So as I remember Nora Ephron at this time when the world has lost her in body I know that I – and the rest of the world – will never lose her in spirit.  By introducing me to Kathleen Kelly, by writing these words that would delight me as a child and enrich me as an adult, she managed to give me a piece of myself.  And as I’ll never be able to hear a line from The Godfather without thinking of NY152 or read Ballet Shoes without thinking of Shopgirl, Nora’s heartfelt message through the film and the pieces of myself that I found within it will stay with me forever.

8 cups of tea ( Reply )

  1. Beth
    Jul 03, 2012 @ 5:37 pm

    Wow, I loved reading this post. I love “You’ve Got Mail” too. I used to watch it over and over when I was sixteen and every now and then I return to it and realise how much I still love it. I really enjoyed reading what you’ve written about it and it’s reminded me to watch it again soon :)
    have a nice day!
    Beth :)

    Reply

    • Casee Marie
      Jul 03, 2012 @ 8:55 pm

      Thanks so much for reading, Beth! I’m glad you enjoyed and could relate to the post. All the reminiscing has me in the mood for a rewatch, too!

      Reply

  2. diane @ a spot of whimsy
    Jul 03, 2012 @ 8:32 pm

    omg casee. absolutely. i could have written these words and they’d be just as true! every time the word “fox” comes up at all – we follow it up with “f-o-x.” and we “go the mattresses” often (and yes i know that’s technically a godfather reference, but WE know we’re referring to you’ve got mail instead) ;) cavier garnish, oh lol.

    and i totally borrowed “ballet shoes” from the library and rented the bbc movie of it because of this movie.

    i cannot thank nora ephron enough for giving me/us her work, this movie in particular

    Reply

    • Casee Marie
      Jul 05, 2012 @ 5:07 pm

      Ahh, Di, I love how we’re exactly the same with this! “Go to the mattresses” has totally been re-attributed to You’ve Got Mail in my house, too. This movie had such a way – thanks to Nora, and Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan as well – of just fitting itself so perfectly into my life, and it hasn’t budged. Thanks for your comment!

      Reply

  3. Casee Marie
    Jul 03, 2012 @ 8:53 pm

    Thanks again, Karen, for having me here! I always love your blog, and it was a special thing to be able to contribute something in memory of Nora and her great work.

    Hugs!

    Reply

  4. Jenmarie
    Jul 10, 2012 @ 6:00 am

    Bravo, Casee! Such a lovely little tribute. As you know, I too love this film. It’s one of those movies you can watch over and over again and never get sick of.

    Reply

  5. Estelle
    Jul 10, 2012 @ 3:19 pm

    Great post! You’ve Got Mail has been one of my favorite movies for a long time, and you’ve convinced me to rewatch it very soon. I actually had forgotten about that quote under your graphic. One of my favorite lines is about the bouquets of sharpened pencils. I think of it all the time. The movie is a true testament about how amazing NYC can be and also you are right, the love of reading.

    Thanks for sharing this. (I came through Literary Inklings.)

    Reply

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