Fact and Fiction, Personalized

Although I have always been highly conscious of the connection among various threads of my life, recently, I have become acutely aware of at least four direct connections between life and current fictional accounts. I’m going to present them in alphabetical order, beginning with abortion.

In the most recent season of Netflix’ Grey’s Anatomy, the recurring topic was abortion, specifically the overturning of Roe vs Wade. However, the season’s focus was only secondarily on the pregnant women at risk. Rather, the primary focus was on the medical personnel adversely affected by the abortion-protesters. I personally, only by chance, have never been in a position needing to decide whether to have an abortion. Nevertheless, as I did in 1973, I continue to strongly support each person’s right to choose.

The fictional stories on Netflix presented the position of physicians offering a variety of care: sympathetic counseling, inability to prevent a patient’s death because of restricted medical care, abortions, birth assistance, clear birth control options, and STD diagnosis in senior citizens. The series ended with a significant award presented to a surprised physician who had taken multiple personal risks to help her patients.

This was fiction. Because it was was an accurate picture of reality, a powerful fictional account of reality, though not the one always conveyed by national news, it made me cry several times.

Next on my list is Barbie, the movie, which I have not yet seen. When I began to hear the hype for it, it seemed ridiculous to me. I would have put it on my never see this movie list, if I had one. Then, I read a CNN article describing how a certain segment of our population has discouraged viewing the movie, because of its attempt to encourage inclusion with its Barbies of multiple cultures, including a trans-Barbie. Reading that article made me want to see it. In fact, I went to a local theater last night, but it was sold out, with not one ticket remaining! Among the people who had already bought their tickets and arrived, were many in hot pink outfits or Barbie shirts. I won’t be buying that clothing, but I want to see the movie, pulling the fictional into my real life.

Next on my list is horses, inspired from the Heartland series on Netflix. After watching Amy (the horse whisperer) for several weeks, I felt this internal urging to have a connection with a horse. My good husband, Paul, reminded me of his friend’s wife, Kim, who had invited me to join her anytime for her horse and buggy practices near a local barn. I called her and recently joined her, with her horse, Thunder, in a two-wheeled buggy for a bumpy ride through Appleton Farms. It truly was a merging of the fictional life I’d observed on my computer screen with my own life, face-to-face with a horse, Thunder. I will join Kim again soon, further merging my real and fictional lives.

Last, but not least, is Oppenheimer, that other blockbuster movie, with a local connection to Goat Hill in Beverly, where my good friend, Janice, has just moved. Paul Leighton, our local journalist, has recounted these with excellent historical references to the Beverly resident who was aboard the Enola Gay and to the local company that processed uranium for the atomic bomb. Actually, the movie, I believe, is historically accurate, not so fictional, yet feels like a blend of fact and fiction.

So, fact and fiction are not so entirely separate, after all. I am completely enjoying my recognition of their braiding.