May 3, 2019 Issue, Page 4 of 14

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Serving Western Oklahoma Since 1901 Box office hit not my ‘game’ = society will only love us if we are thin, blonde and aestheti- cally pleasing. Men may get the impression that they are only lovableif they are Glynda Lomax is a Chris- believe. I don’t see the same muscled, handsome and have tian author and podcaster value in me that others tell six-pack of abs to show off. who resides in the Ozark me they see. Ifthis is what society values, Mountains of Northern Arkan- We all hope to be loved by what America worships, it’s sas with her two very bossy people who appreciate us, what we should look like, dogs. She wrote her first About find us attractive and see right? Life... column in 2003 for a value in our character, but My sister-in-law Brenda is Chris Evans as Captain America/Steve Rogers in the film professional Antiques Ap- newspaper in Dallas.She is the bottom line is, as Julia “Avengers: Endgame.” (Marvel Studios/TNS) planning her next book. Roberts said in the movie praiser. She began learning Glynda Lomax “Pretty Woman,” “It’s easier at an early age what was of The only person you should to believe the bad stuff.” In value and what wasn’t from internal voices of comparison ever compete with is yourself. “Pretty Woman,” Julia Rob- her mother who collected and criticism less. Eventually By Don Munsch You can’t hope for a fairer erts played a woman who had antiques. Several years ago maybe we will be able to see Editor match.” ~ Todd Ruthman been through a number of dis- at asale, a beautiful bowl what others see in us. Maybe appointing relationships that carved with an intricate clus- There’s still time to see We spend hours at the had affected her self esteem. ter of doves made of an odd we will see that although we “Avengers: Endgame,” as salons having our hair and “1 think it’s that false sense green stone-looking material don’t like the way every part it should be held over at nails done and days shopping of hope that women who've caught her eye. Brenda has of us looks, that doesn’t mean least one more weekend as for clothes that look just right, experienced many bad rela- avery keen eye for value. we should value ourselves it made a mere $427 mil- time at the gym keeping in tionships tend to carry with She bought the bowl and any less, lion in North America in shape and time in front of the them. As much as we'd like took it home. Her research Next time I get a compli- its first few days of release. mirror making up our faces. to believe this one compli- revealed it was very old and ment, I think I will just say Overall, its worldwide take Why then, after doing all this, ment, we've all been told how from China. It became the do we reject and disclaim the lovely, beautiful and special first piece of her collection of “thank you,” and do my best was $1.4 billion, according to Box Office Mojo, and it is compliments given to us by we were, only to realize later antique greenstone pieces. to believe it. breaking box office records others? Why is it we some- that that person is capable One of her later finds was a “We must not, in trying to left and right. times place so little value on of using, abusing and dis- double wedding vase, which think about how we can make. So this movie might — just might — make a profit now, if it ourselves? Why, when told respecting us. We now take was undervalued by its owner abig difference, ignore the hasn't already. But seriously, understanding movie bud- “your hair looks great,” do compliments with a grain who thought it was soapstone, small daily differences we gets and how profits are actually figured after the total haul we answer with something ofsalt because the past has amaterial that looks very can make which, over time, ‘comes in can be confounding. like “it needs to be cut again,” shown us that it doesn’t mean similar but has little value, add up to big differences that ‘As amovie maven, I’m intrigued by the success by the instead of just accepting that they are sincere.”- Angela something that often happens we often cannot foresee.” — “Avengers” franchise but probably won't see the latest [and that person thinks our hair White Walker with greenstone. The owner Marian Wright Edelman. Jast?] of the installments. I haven’t watched any of its three looks great today? Why, when There is no question that of the piece did not like the we strive so hard to make our- abuse of any type will cause look of it and put it out with “At this very moment, you predecessors, and I’m not sure whether one movie would do may be saying to yourself the trick of satisfying my understanding of the series. selves worthy of compliments you to devalue or under value the garbage where another The last movie I did see at the theater, though, was “Cap- do we then find those compli- yourself, as will disparaging woman found it and put it that you have any number of tain Marvel” and I have seen one of the “Captain America” ments so hard to believe? remarks you remember from in her yard sale. My sister- admirable qualities. You are movies. Both of those characters - Captain Marvel and Cap- ‘Accepting compliments has childhood and constantly in-law bought it for $20. It loyal friend, a caring per- tain America - are in this movie. always been an area I’ve had comparing yourself against appraised for $15,000. son, someone who is smart, Now, let’s go back. Notice how I said “held over” in the top to work at. It’s not that I don’t those the world seems to val- The woman who threw dependable, fun to be around. paragraph? That’s old school movie theater jargon in which want to hear them; quite the ue-actors, celebrities, those away the greenstone simply That's wonderful, and I'm theater owners would let people know in newspaper movie contrary, I love to hear them. that are more popular than did not see its true value, It’s just that the ugly image us and seem to “have it all” but my sister-in-law did. happy for you, but let me ask ads orin other media spots that a movie had already started of comparisons inside me (whatever it is). In observing ‘Maybe we should be kinder to you this: Are you being any of its run and was still running locally. disagrees with what I want celebrities and models, we ourselves by listening to the those things to yourself?” ~ ‘As someone who started going to the movies in the 1970s, I so desperately to hear and may get the impression that compliments more and the Phillip C. McGraw recall hearing those words during ads, usually on television or radio, it seems. In the 1990s, I shared my love of movies in film reviews for college newspapers and then at a number of dailies. I stopped writing a weekly column 20 years ago, in 1999, and I don’t go to the theater as much as I did in those days. [Side note: I briefly entertained the notion of going to May 8: A day at the Capitol for grad school for film, but that would have meant moving to Michigan and additional two years of college and more loans to deal with. I was ready to join the workforce after gradua- tion. Adios, film school.] Oklahoma’s Children It’s not that I don’t like movies anymore. Far from it. But pieces of legislation that im- Against Child Abuse (ATTA- line as a table captain and you personal budget, time constraints and interest in the latest cinematic offerings often dictate how many trips I make to For the pact our youngest residents. CA). Through ATTACA, Rod- will get a free 2020 member- the theater now. We encourage all Oklaho- ney Timms is working to raise ship to OICA, which includes mans who want to make adif- awareness across the country your very own sponsored The theater is still the best place to watch a movie. If ference to register to attend about child abuse. With page in our daily desktop there’s something playing I really want to see, though, I will By Oklahoma Institute for via the “events” tab on our rolling billboards crisscross- calendar! try to make an effort to to gethe cineplex, because you don’t Facebook page (https://www. ing the country, fundraising Itis this type of effort for know whether a movie will get, um, held over. Child Advocacy CEO Joe facebook.com/OKChildAdv/) efforts, and partnerships with which OICA was founded: to ‘And yet, there’s an on-demand service I have with my Dorman or through our website at other agencies, ATTACA is create awareness, take action, cable provider to satisfy my movie cravings, and over this OICA.org. on a mission to stop the cycles and support policies that past weekend while everyone else was catching the latest We are fast approaching In addition to our free of abuse and provide hope for improve the health, safety, Child Advocacy Day, held advocacy day at the capitol, children everywhere. Rodney and well-being of Oklahoma’s “Avengers” film, I saw “Welcome to Marwen,” a drama from on Wednesday, May 8, at the OICA will also host a Child uses poetry, prose, and public children. Our advocacy train- last year that failed to win the favor of critics or fans. Mixed Oklahoma State Capitol. The Advocate’s Luncheon (attend- service to inspire his audi- ing will help equip Oklaho- review here: I loved the visual effects and Steve Carell’s per- Oklahoma Institute for Child ees are required to make a ences, and has found his voice mans with the tools that they formance, but thought the story should have focused more on Advocacy is pleased to be col- donation). This event will be to speak out against child need to communicate effec- the Carell character's recovery from a vicious beating that laborating with the organiza- held at the Phillips Pavilion abuse. Rodney has a powerful tively with lawmakers. This left him with significant psychological, emotional and physi- tion, Let’s Fix This, to once on the Governor’s Mansion story; it is one that needs to be will also provide the knowl- cal damage. again hold a day for regular grounds next to the Oklahoma heard. We hope you will join edge of the process and cur- ‘As someone firmly in middle-age, though, I often find that folks to sharpen their skillsets State Capitol. We will kick us to hear him. rent legislation that will help when it comes to effectively off the luncheon at 11:30 AM Ifyou have not visited the our activists promote good many movies are not made for people in my age group. Too communicating with legisla- with remarks from First Lady mansion, or met the First policies and stop the bad. If many films are aimed at the prized 18-34 demographic, and tors and policy-makers. Sarah Stitt, Cabinet Secretar- Lady, this is your chance possible, please take the day I don’t have any interest in most gross-out comedies, action ‘Advocacy Day will include ies Steven Buck and Jerome to make that happen! You and join our effort to make films and horror flicks. Sometimes when I am looking for seminars on successful legis- Loughridge, and Kid Gover- must register for this event a difference for the 900,000 something to see, I scan the list of shows from a theater and lative and media outreach as nor Lucas Peterson. Follow- by Monday, May 6 on the estimated Oklahomans under find myself playing the game in my head where I say, “OK, well as updates on child and ing that, our keynote speaker “events” page under the link the age of eighteen. We can- family-focused bills that are will be Rodney Timms, ac- for Child Advocacy Lunch. not do this alone, and having what do we have here? Yes. No. No. No. Maybe. No. No. Maybe.” making their way through the complished Oklahoma author, We are also asking for groups you be a part of the effort legislative process. We will cofounder of Western Flyer to bring their colleagues, so if could make the difference for But at one point or another, I'll always find my way back to also be meeting directly with Express, and the founder your business or organization achild in need in our state. the theater. See you at the movies. lawmakers on several key of All Truckers Together would to attend, register on- We hope to see you there!