My Life through Movie Characters

Have you ever been watching a movie and thought, "I wish I was like her.." or "That sounds just like me..." I do that all the time. Well, okay, so maybe I say the former more than the latter, but still. I have decided to chronicle several points in my life and tell you which movie character I wanted to be like, and which character I was really like. Let's start with elementary school since there really aren't many breakout baby stars. Besides, as a baby, I probably seemed much more like "Rosemary's Baby" than anything else.

Elementary School

I wanted to be like....


Matilda from both the movie "Matilda" and the book by Roald Dohl. Matilda was so super smart and could move things with her mind. Maybe not the coolest kid on the block, but I wouldn't mind understanding quantum physics by kindergarten.

Who I actually was...
Yep, Olive from "Little Miss Sunshine". A very lovable character, but a definite nerd. I didn't dance to Super Freak but I did sing loudly and in public at times. Plus, I had similar glasses, except mine were pink and purple, not just pink.

Middle School

Wanted to be like...


Jenna from "13 Going on 30". Not the middle school version, but the Jennifer Garner version. I wanted to just skip middle school entirely and be an adult already. Plus, do you know how hard it is to find a cool middle school character in a movie? If you think of any, please enlighten me because I totally drew a blank here.

Was actually like...Yep, Dawn from "Welcome to the Dollhouse". If you haven't seen it, just let me tell you that it epitomizes just how dorky middle school kids are. I personally think that middle school is one of the most awkward periods in a kid's life. You are maturing, but still goofy looking because you aren't maturing everywhere, you are smelly and usually annoying to everyone you meet. I know I was, but eventually you become awesome... like me!

High School

Wanted to be like...
Cher from "Clueless". Seriously, who wouldn't want to be Cher in high school. She was super popular, got to shop anywhere she wanted, had the best closet ever, was beautiful and got to be with Paul Rudd. Do I need to expound further?

I was actually like...
Okay, I might not have been as sullen. I wasn't very popular at all in high school though. I hung out with the scary, long-haired, bass playing, philosophy reading nerds. I was a bit more popular in youth group, but I felt like I was always trying to catch up with the cool people. Plus, I did get a cute popular boy in the end...

College

Wanted to be like...Elle Woods from "Legally Blonde". I loved this movie because Elle was so spunky and fun. She was also really smart as it turned out, and wasn't afraid to work really hard for what she wanted. Even though being in Delta Nu probably would have made me throw up...there was so much estrogen, it was probably a lot of fun too.

I was really like...

Laurie from "Gross Anatomy". Nursing school was really hard for me so I definitely studied too much. I did have fun while in college, just like Laurie, but I did tend to go a little overboard with my fun at times. Not that nursing school is as hard as medical school, but there aren't any movies about girls struggling through nursing school. Although there totally should be...

And that is where I will stop. I am not sure that I have really been a full fledged adult long enough to dissect my personality. I will say that I kind of hope to be like Miss Marple as an old lady. Yes, even living in a little village in England and solving murders. Although I don't think I would ever develop her love of gardening. I know I'm a dork, but its just who I am.

If My Life Was a Romance Novel/Romantic Movie...

As I was listening to my book on CD the other day, I was pondering how my life does not mimic a romance novel in any way. Initially, I was disappointed because I think we all want to feel like we have stepped out the pages of a Julie Garwood, Amanda Quick, Sandra Brown or Linda Howard novel. Or, if you are not a romance fan, off the screen of "Pretty in Pink", "Love Actually", or "The Notebook" (I am not a personal fan of that one, but to each her own). I notice that when I read too many romance novels in a row, or watch too many girlie movies, I start feeling disappointed that my life is so "boring" and "unromantic". This time, however, I decided to think of all the ways my life would change if I were the starring character in a romantic story, rather than my normal life.

First, if I were a romantic heroine, I would probably not be able to have my current job. Not that being a nurse is not romantic... it is... ever heard of the Florence Nightingale effect? But it wouldn't be very romantic for the heroine to sit in a hallway, talking on the phone and typing on her computer all day. Especially, if she only talked to women about "female" issues. I would have to be an army nurse, nursing some poor soldier back to health, or an ER nurse, who meets a police officer who is investigating a gunshot victim. Did I mention that I mostly read romantic suspense so most of my heroine ideas have murder and mayhem involved?

Second, I would not be able to be aware of my own beauty. Romantic heroines never think that they are beautiful or usually even pretty. They always have some feature that they think is horrible, but one special man thinks is fabulous. It might sound conceited, but I have never felt ugly. Overweight, yes, but I have always secretly thought of myself as a pretty, curvy woman. I would never be like Amelia Peabody from the Miss Peabody novels who worries about my "mishapped figure with a overly ample bosom and small waist". Even with my occasional self esteem issues, I have way too much confidence in my looks to be a successful heroine.

Third, even though my relationship with Taylor was precarious in high school, it has really not been since then and I don't think that I would question his love enough. Women in romance novels and romantic movies are never really sure of their significant other's love. They are constantly questioning the man's love in their mind and never just asking him. I have had my moments where I don't feel like I am the shimmering light in Taylor's world, but I have never really worried that he didn't love me. Then again, he is a man who speaks his mind, and I'm sure that if he stopped loving me or never had, he would tell me in no uncertain terms.

Finally, I don't usually have any major disasters arising in my life. Not to say that I never will, but I have not had a lot of occasions for Taylor to prove his love. I have never been kidnapped by a rival admirer, been struck down with a debilitating disease or been forced to chase Taylor down before he left on a train or plane for some foreign country. Knock on wood about all those things. Although, I don't really see the kidnapping problem ever arising.

So, if you are ever reading too much Danielle Steel and get grumpy with your significant other for not carrying you off into the sunset, just consider what your life would really be like with a little too much romance.

(By the way, I just thought the picture above illustrated my point, I don't really read those kinds of romance novels. Just for those of you who might secretly be judging me for reading Harlequin romances.)