Recently saw the movie La La Land and read A Lowcountry Heart, a posthumous collection of Pat Conroy’s journal
entries and speeches.
City of Dreams … Actually, the La La Land song is City of Stars, but
it’s playing in my head as City of Dreams. Mia and Sebastian argue about when
to give up their dreams, when and why to hang on to their dreams. She
challenges him as he embarks on a jazz tour with The Messengers: What about
your dream of your own club, Seb’s? He challenges her to go to one more acting audition
when she is convinced she just isn’t good enough.
Pat Conroy—I mean, Pat Conroy, for
pete’s sake—writes wondering, even doubting, anyone will read his writing. But
it’s in him; he wants to get it out there. He asks people he meets at his book
signings for their stories. And they tell him their stories.
In La La Land Sebastian reminds Mia she is a storyteller. In her
pivotal audition they ask her to tell a story.
If someone asked me to tell my
story, what would it be? At a book signing, no less—I’d have to tell my story
in only a minute or two. If someone asked you to tell him your story, what
would it be? And, setbacks aside, what dreams do you still hold close to your heart?
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