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Knight of Cups – Breaking Free

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Hope you all survived a turbulent November! I’m not quite sure if I did, but I’m still here. December brings the opportunity for all of us to break free and get onto the path we’re supposed to be on. We’re encumbered with people and situations that hold us back. But, the Knight of Cups prompts us to do what we really want to do, to be who we really want to be.

Unless you’re independently wealthy, I realize you might need to take baby steps to get to where you want to be. That’s okay – just start steppin’! I’m always preaching about letting go of toxic people in your life and I’ll continue to do so. This is also a good month to let these folks go. If you’re treated badly at your job, update your resume and start looking for another one. If you’re in a bad relationship, get out of it now.

What have you always wanted to do? Start your own business? Become a chef? Write a book? With the energy of the Knight of Cups behind you, December is the month to take action towards your dream. You don’t need to finish anything this month, but you should get a plan in place and get to work on it.

The downside of the Knight of Cups is that it represents putting your heart into everything, which makes you vulnerable. Not everyone or every situation deserves your heart. Be discerning, use your heart to help those who deserve your help, but remember you also deserve a little TLC. So, be kind to yourself and start down the road that will bring you to where you want to be, that will help you become the person you need to be.

Good luck in your journey this month! I’d love to hear what you’re working towards.

Five of Swords – Buckle Up and Put on Your Big Girl Panties, It’s Gonna Be a Bumpy Month!

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November brings us the Five of Swords, not a fun energy to work with. It represents people speaking ill of you, stabbing you in the back, and generally trying to make your life miserable.

I’m currently living this hell as one of my coworkers at my new job is the worst kind of Republican (as if any good exist). The first day, I was able to ignore their comments about climate change being a hoax and the danger of vaccinations and cancer treatments, while calling Governor Gavin Newsom “Comrade Newsom”. The second day they point blank asked me, “Are you a Republican?” After I informed them that I’m a liberal, the nonstop attacks commenced. They asked me whether I care about all the people “Hillary Clinton had killed,” tried to get me to believe that Hillary let a rapist go free, and then tried to convince me that John Kerry’s step-son was involved in another Ukraine scandal with Joe Biden’s and Mitt Romney’s sons. As I continued to ignore her comments about politics, this person eventually said, “You know I’m just trying to get a rise out of you, right?” and laughed. This person has shown me who they are and I have no doubt they would stab me in the back in addition to actively trying to upset me. Oh, joy!

I’m still reeling from all the backstabbing that cost me my former job in August, so this is going to be quite the month.

This is the type of energy we all need to be on the lookout for this month. In the broader political world, expect Trump to try throwing everyone under the bus as he desperately tries to hold onto his illegally gained presidency. Expect the media to create stories that boost their ratings at the expense of reporting the truth. Expect some of the Democratic candidates to continue with their lies. On a personal level, be careful of anyone in your person life who you suspect might cause problems or do harm.

If you can, use this month to go inward and work with the Scorpio energy ‘til the latter part of the month, to determine what needs to be put to bed forever and what new beginnings need to be made. Honor yourself and those who are truly your friends and family; cultivate gratitude for the goodness in your life. While it may be painful dealing with those who feel it’s fine to lie and back stab, be grateful that you are not that kind of person. This month might be brutal, but we will make it through to other side and live to thrive another day!

Democratic Debate – October 15, 2019

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While I was watching the latest Democratic debate, I worked with my tarot cards and in this blog I’m sharing what transpired in my quick readings of the candidates. First, the candidates who aren’t getting a lot of notice.

For Tom Steyer, I pulled the Seven of Cups.

His run for the presidency is a wish, a dream, but doesn’t have a strong foundation.

I pulled the Ace of Swords reversed for Andrew Yang.

The way I shuffle my tarot cards, they seldom show up reversed. So, when they do, it’s significant. In Yang’s case, the Ace of Swords suggests that we ignore his trickle-up economy theory because it means nothing.

I had to laugh when I pulled The Devil for Tulsi Gabbard, as she was blithering on about not being an agent of Putin (which we all know she is).

Interestingly, the few times I’ve done readings about our current administration, Putin shows up as The Devil. This speaks volumes about Gabbard.

For Cory Booker, I pulled two cards, the Wheel of Fortune and the Five of Cups.

While there’s a possibility that he can gain more traction if he stays in the race, he’s just not getting the notice necessary to truly move his campaign forward. But, he still has time.

I also pulled two cards for Beto O’Rourke, the Page of Cups and the Four of Cups.

He’s got some good ideas, but he doesn’t currently have the momentum necessary to gain the nomination. However, we have not heard the last of Beto – his political career will continue to grow and thrive.

. I pulled the Nine of Cups for Amy Klobuchar.

People who haven’t worked with her really like her, and I think this run for the presidency will strengthen future senatorial bids. I could see her working for a Democratic administration but now is not her time as far as the presidency is concerned.

The two cards I pulled for Pete Buttigieg are the Eight of Swords and the Knight of Cups.

Buttigieg still has a ways to go before he’ll be more than Mayor Pete of South Bend. He’s well-liked by white Democrats, but he’s going to need to learn how to better work with communities of color before he can go higher within the party.

For Kamala Harris, I pulled the Knight of Pentacles.

Her campaign will continue to thrive financially, but because the media is not giving her the same screen time as they are other candidates, I don’t think she’s going to be the Democratic nominee, at least as things stand right now. But, I do feel her continuing to move forward in a steady, positive way. I have to say that I appreciate her mentioning reproductive rights at this most recent debate because it’s an issue rarely mentioned in previous debates.

I pulled two cards for Julián Castro: TheHierophant and the Two of Pentacles.

Anyone who knows me knows that Castro is the one candidate I really like in the 2020 race. The Hierophant indicates that he is very knowledgeable and has a better handle on all the issues compared to the other candidates in the race. However, the Two of Pentacles shows that he’s walking a tightrope between needing more money and more media coverage to become a viable top-tier candidate. I wish more people would pay attention to Castro, because I truly believe he’s the most grounded and knowledgeable of all the candidates, despite his much younger age. While Booker and Harris are not my chosen candidates, it irks me that, like Castro, they have also not gotten fair amounts of media coverage compared to their white running mates. Could racism be at play? Hell, Marianne Williamson has gotten more coverage!

Now we have the frontrunners, all of whom I despise: Joe Biden, Elizabeth Warren, and Bernie Sanders. While I found Biden to be as embarrassingly incoherent as he usually is, when he found his fire, he managed to make some sense. I pulled the Ace of Wands and Nine of Wands for Biden.

This makes sense because the Nine of Wands indicates wait-and-see energy about him, but the Ace of Wands shows that he still has a chance, if for no other reason because of his political clout as former Vice President and friend of President Obama.

I only pulled one card on Elizabeth Warren and it was the Fool.

In a spread, the Fool can mean either new beginnings or it can indicate someone is being foolish about a situation. My gut feeling when I pulled this card for Warren is that some of her stories change over time, and each time she changes a detail or refuses to offer a detail, she looks foolish. However, I think her base believes her to be a wonderful new opportunity for a different kind of president. Can she beat Biden and Sanders to be the Democratic nominee? Only time will tell. But, for now, she’s in a good spot. She should probably be more consistent moving forward, though.

Finally, to that bastard who I believe helped put Trump into office: Bernie Sanders. I was moved to pull a card on Sanders before the debate even started and I pulled Temperance.

This makes sense given his age and current health issues. The Universe is saying that he needs to take it easier than he’s been doing. Later on, while Sanders was talking, I pulled a second card: the Three of Swords.

This indicates heartbreak and also heart problems. I took these two cards together to infer that Sanders is likely unable to make it through the primary and, if he does, his health issues will likely keep him from being the Democratic nominee.

At the end of the debate, all I could think was, “Why can’t Hillary Clinton just be our president?” I know Russia is going to throw its support behind Trump again in 2020 and the Republicans will do all they can to further suppress the vote, especially amongst marginalized voting populations. Knowing this, I decided to pull three cards to see if any of these Democrats can beat Trump/Russia. I pulled Judgement, the Five of Wands, and the Page of Cups.

Every word, every movement, every moment of every person still in the race will be under the harshest scrutiny ever with the possible exception of what Hillary went through in 2016. Every mistake will be emphasized, and no one will escape criticism. The Five of Wands indicates it will be a non-stop struggle for all Democratic candidates and it will difficult for them to get good news out to a broader audience. Again, I ask, “Why can’t Hillary be our president?”

At this point, we’re still too far away from next year’s election to know who the Democratic nominee will be or how they will fare. I sincerely hope all the Democratic nominees are looking after themselves health-wise because it’s going to be a long and winding road to November 2020. What are your thoughts about the Democratic nominees? I’d love to hear them. I’ll do more political blogs between now and November 2020.

My Apologies and Make Room for Judgement

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First, let me apologize for not posting a September blog. The proverbial rug was pulled out from underneath me in early August, and while I felt the event coming and did my best to prevent it from happening, it occurred anyway. As things stand now, I need a miracle. But, in the meantime, here’s October’s tarot blog.

This month I pulled Judgement. The positive side of the Judgement card is that it asks you to review all aspects of your life – people, jobs, where you live, hobbies, and more. It’s time to do some spring cleaning in a cooler month, ridding yourself of what doesn’t make your life better.

The more troublesome energy of Judgement centers on negativity and harsh criticism. This energy can cause a myriad of problems, including disagreements amongst people, health disparities, and financial issues. The negative energy of Judgement supports a miserable way of living. So, be aware that this month will bring out the worst in people who want to be negative. Do your best to deflect any unwarranted criticism and focus on all that’s good in your life, while letting go of anything that doesn’t serve you.

I hope you have a wonderful Halloween month! For those who are willing, I’ll take all the positive energy, prayers, love, and kindness you’re willing to send.

Three of Wands – Looking to the Future

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August will find us looking towards the future and trying to figure out how to get there in the best possible way, as the Three of Wands will be the energy covering this month. This card encourages us to understand what it’s going to take to realize our dreams, and it also reminds us that we have the strength and knowledge to get done what is necessary.

The Three of Wands can also indicate travel of some sort. However, this travel could be in your mind vs an actual trip. While actual trips are possible, the Three of Wands will excite you with ideas that might require some research that could take you to new places, new people, and even more ideas.

Because the Three of Wands deals with our potential futures, it can also encourage us to change our present lives so that we can be better prepared for the future. Maybe this means taking a business class or cutting back on sugar or doing something that will better you in the now, allowing for the best you to be available in the future.

How do you envision your future self? What do you want to be doing in this future? Use the month of August to figure it out and put your ideas to work and get your plans in place!

2020 Elections – Tarot Reading – Part 2

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In my first blog about the 2020 Presidential race, I took a look at three of the front-runners: Joe Biden, Elizabeth Warren , and Bernie Sanders. I also looked at  Julián Castro, as he’s my favorite candidate. In this blog, I’m going to discuss the cards pulled on Kamala Harris, Cory Booker, and Pete Buttigieg, as they are still very much in the race. Additionally, because Castro did so well during the debate and Biden did so poorly, I pulled one card on each to show how well they are currently doing.

Kamala Harris

For Kamala, I pulled these three cards: the Five of Cups, Justice, and the Page of Wands…

…crossed by the Ten of Pentacles.

The Five of Cups indicates that Kamala was not doing as well as she thought during the early days of her candidacy and I suspect a lot of that has to do with the media always overlooking women candidates. But, she has come on strong and the debate got her the Justice she deserves, along with good news, as shown by the Page of Wands. The Ten of Pentacles crossing the reading shows that she is also bringing in the donations after her stellar debate performance.

Cory Booker

For Cory, I pulled these three cards: the Ace of Pentacles, the Moon, and The High Priestess…

…crossed by the Five of Pentacles.

The Ace of Pentacles shows that Cory started his campaign with the support of people involved in politics and their money, enabling him to get into the race as a contender. The Moon, though, indicates that there could be damaging information about Cory that, if it were to emerge, might harm his campaign. The High Priestess indicates that Cory has a special kind of allure about him – he’s got softer energy than those of the other men running, but his appeal is strong. However, the card that crosses the spread, the Five of Pentacles, indicates that Cory is not doing as well financially right now as other candidates. Can his High Priestess energy pull in more dollars?

Pete Buttigieg

For Pete, I pulled these three cards: Knight of Pentacles, Knight of Wands, and The Fool…

…crossed by the Six of Cups.

The Knight of Pentacles and the Knight of Wands indicate that Pete got into this race and was immediately noticed. It didn’t matter which news channel you turned on or what paper you were reading, Pete was everywhere. Being the only LGBTQIA candidate running, it makes sense that those within this community are taking extra notice, but they are not alone. Pete has been something of a media darling and things looked good until he ran into trouble when a White cop in South Bend killed yet another Black man.

Being Mayor of this city, Pete was called to action and most of the Black community in South Bend, as well as Black people and commentators, do not think Pete did a good job handling the situation. This caused Pete to look foolish in their eyes, hence The Fool. However, the upside of The Fool is that it can offer a new beginning and with the Six of Cups crossing the spread, Pete could well get past this incident while being thought of highly by most – just maybe not by the Black community.

Joe Biden

For those who watched the Democratic debates last week, you know that Biden did not do too well. The card I pulled for him is the Five of Wands, which indicate a lot of struggle. As things stand right now, Biden will have to work hard to overcome these struggles. He’s still the leader of the Democratic candidates, according to the polls, but polls can be wrong and they can change.

Julián Castro

In my first blog, the cards I pulled for Castro showed that he was a relatively unknown candidate who becomes a favorite once he becomes known by people. However, during the first Tarot reading, he wasn’t pulling in the money. After his extraordinary performance during the debates, though, he’s even more well-known than when he first got into the race, and he’s pulling in the donations, as indicated by the Ten of Pentacles. Can this energy carry him to the nomination?

As I stated in my first blog about the 2020 race, these readings show a snapshot in time and indicate the most likely future within the successive few months. But, there’s still a lot of time between now and the Democratic National Convention, and even more time until the election. I’ll continue to post readings about the candidates over time. CNN is holding its Democratic debates next week, so I’ll probably post after this event concludes.

The Magician – Ready to Make Things Happen

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July should be a great month for everyone, as you will be working with The Magician. This is great energy, as it represents finding that little bit of magic deep down inside. Once you tap into this energy, you’ll find that things start falling in to place, just a little bit easier than usual.

The Magician is asking you to recognize your abilities and put them to use. In the process, not only will you create something new, but this energy almost always transforms those working with it.

Most of us have, at some time in our lives, been afraid to shine. Or, we have been too scared to try something we really want to do because we’re afraid of failure. Maybe you secretly want to paint, but have never taken up a brush and you fear you might be terrible. Maybe. Or, maybe you will surprise yourself and others and find a new path to pursue. And, even if you decide painting is not what you really want to do, I bet it will trigger an idea that will lead you to a new and interesting place.

The Magician is all about willpower. Often, when we try to do something new, we will run into obstacles. When you’re working with this card’s energy, you can look at any roadblocks as nothing more than a rubber ball that you can bounce out of your way. And then you can create a masterpiece.

What do you want to accomplish? Do it and be brilliant!

2020 Election – Tarot Reading – Part 1

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In February 2000, I was at work, at my desk, editing some technical documentation, minding my own business, when – just suddenly – I had a premonition that Bush was going to steal the 2000 election. There had been nothing in the news to lead me to believe this would happen, and while I’d never been a fan of Republicans and have viewed their agenda as inhumane, I wasn’t even thinking that the 2000 election might be vulnerable. However, the premonition was sooooooooooo strong, that I knew it held merit.

For the longest time, the only person I told about my premonition was my daughter. About a week before the election, several my co-workers and I had a goodbye luncheon for another co-worker. I ended up sitting next to a woman I knew was a Bush fan and across the table from many of our South Asian employees, none of whom could vote, but who were all rooting for Gore. When they asked me if I thought Gore was going to be our next President, I bravely said, “No. I think Bush is going to steal the election.”

Everyone looked shocked, even the Republican woman sitting next to me. I suspect everyone thought I was nuts, until the election was actually stolen. Despite my premonition, I never thought to do a Tarot reading about any election. However, in June of 2016, I started having horrible premonitions that Trump was going to pull a Bush, and with Russia on his side and with Republicans being completely amoral, I was terrified for all of us.

Again, I only told my daughter about my worries. However, when a friend from New York called me and said, “Hillary’s got this, right,” I could only say, “I hope so.” Two nights before the election, I was so upset that my daughter actually raised her voice to me and exclaimed, “Mom. It’s okay. Calm down. Hillary is going to win!”

And come 2 a.m. on November 9th, Trump was declared President and not only was my birthday ruined for the rest of my current lifetime, but I knew we were in trouble that I’m still not sure we can ever extricate ourselves from, much less fix in a reasonable amount of time. And, to get any lasting fixes made, Democrats would have to take back not only the Presidency, but also the Senate. With the abominable Mitch McConnell blocking any kind of necessary change in the Senate and with our Russia-appointed president, Trump, do we stand a chance of taking back our country – which was horribly flawed before Election Day 2016, but still had the chance to become the country it has claimed to be for a long time.

I’ve still not done a Tarot reading for any future election, but after the stolen election of 2016, four days after the apocalypse had occurred, I did do a reading to see whether the election had been stolen. Before doing the actual reading, I asked the Universe to show Putin as The Devil, Trump as The Fool, and Pence as The Hierophant. I said to the Universe that if each of these cards appeared, it would be proof that the 2016 election was stolen. Each card appeared, with Putin being in the spread’s Foundation spot. He oversaw the stolen election and both Trump and Pence knew what was happening and even helped. I did share the results of this reading with my daughter and a few girlfriends. But, have never written about it before now.

More than a few of my friends and customers have asked me whether I think the Democrats can take back the Senate and the Presidency. I had a good feeling that the Dems would take back the House during the 2018 election, but during that night of voting, I was still out of my mind with worry. I heard Malcom Nance tell how he was also terrified and couldn’t get to sleep until he had heard all of the election results from each race, and only when he knew that the Dems had taken back the House could he lie down and get a few hours of sleep, knowing that our country had not yet descended into full fascism and anti-democratic rule.

This doesn’t mean, though, that we aren’t in BIG trouble. Because of what could await, I’ve agreed to pull cards on the Democratic candidates running for President, who are polling well. Let me state my biases first: except for Julián Castro, I’m not excited about any of the other candidates. I think Michael Bennet is a good guy and I hope he remains in politics, as I think he can do a lot of good. While I think that some of the Democratic candidates are running because of their oversized egos, I think many are doing so because they care about our country, its residents, and our future. But, I don’t think any of them have the depth and breadth of knowledge and experience that Hillary Clinton has. I’m still furious that an election was stolen from her, and while I know it’s crazy, I still hope she runs in 2020. If Castro doesn’t win the Democratic nomination for the 2020 General Election, I will write in Hillary’s name on Election Day. And, to be transparent, I will never forgive Elizabeth Warren for lying and saying that Hillary rigged the 2016 Democratic Primary. I once supported Warren and once sent her money. After that whopper of a lie, I no longer support her.

Also, let it be known that I despise Bernie Sanders beyond any words that I could pull together to attempt and describe my hatred for him, and I’ve never liked Joe Biden. I was horrified when Obama chose Biden as his running mate. I also think Tulsi Gabbard is awful. The only reason she’s a Democrat is because it’s hard to win as a Republican in Hawai’i. Otherwise, she’d be a Republican.

In this post, I’ll do readings on Biden, Sanders, and Warren, as they are the front runners. I’m also going to read for Castro, as I think he’s amazing and I’d love to see him become President. I had so hoped that Hillary would have chosen him as her running mate in 2016.

After we watch the upcoming Democratic debates, I’ll do another reading, based on the candidate’s performance. In the future, I’ll even pull cards for Bill Weld, who has announced a run against Trump on the Republican ticket. I don’t think he’ll win over Trump, but it could be interesting to see whether he might damage Trump. And, as much as it nauseates me, I’ll do a reading on Trump, too. Although, with his openly inviting foreign countries to help him, can we really expect him to lose in 2020?

Joe Biden

The Lovers, Eight of Pentacles, and the Three of Cups…

…with the Three of Cups being crossed by the Three of Swords.

The Lovers show Joe’s past being Vice President to President Obama, and it shows his present being wrapped up in fund raising. He is and will continue to do well with the fund raising and he will be shown first among the Democrats in most polls and he will think he’s got the nomination in the bag, but the Three of Swords shows that he won’t be nominated.

Bernie Sanders

The Five of Swords, The World, and the Chariot…

…crossed by the Queen of Wands.

The Five of Swords indicates that Bernie Sanders has done more than his fair share of trash talking and troublemaking in the past, but right now, he’s enjoying being a front runner. He’s absolutely convinced that he can beat Joe Biden and he isn’t really taking any of the other candidates seriously, including Elizabeth Warren, who is right behind him in the polls. However, the Chariot indicates an energy of someone who knows where they’re going, but it also indicates that the person being read will find themselves in a place they didn’t intend. This card can also mean that you need to watch the person carefully, as more than likely, they’ve done their best to hide their true nature. I’m not sure that Bernie has done a great job hiding his nasty, cranky self, but at some point during the Democratic Primary, you might see him really lose it and go off on one or more people. The Queen of Wands shows a woman surpassing Berne and when I pulled this card, I immediately felt it was Warren. I don’t think Bernie is meant to get the nomination in 2020, just like in 2016. How will he blame Hilary this time for his loss?

Elizabeth Warren

Page of Pentacles, Page of Swords, and the Four of Wands…

…crossed by the Three of Pentacles.

The Page of Pentacles shows Warren entering the Democratic Primary with a strong backing from supporters, as they are giving her the money she needs to continue fighting for the nomination. The Page of Swords shows how she keeps cutting through the crowd and making herself known. The four of Wands shows that she’s currently on track to win the Democratic Primary nomination. However, the Three of Pentacles shows that she still has some work to do to absolutely secure this nomination.

Julián Castro

Ace of Wands, Strength,  and the Three of Cups…

…crossed by the Five of Pentacles.

The Ace of Wands shows that Castro has started his race with confidence and a solid plan in place. Strength indicates that he’s got the stamina and the policies to outlast his opponents, and the Three of Cups indicates that the longer Castro remains in the race, the more people will notice and support him. However, the Five of Pentacles indicates that Castro will have a hard time pulling in the money he needs to do what is necessary to surpass the front runners.

Be aware that readings are indicative of what has happened, is currently happening, and the most likely outcome. Because the run-up to the 2020 election covers a long period of time, the above readings really show what the current situation is and what the most likely outcome is based on the current energy. All of this can change after the debates, and six months from now, the reading could be entirely different. Therefore, I will do another reading after the debates, as it’s quite possible that one of these people will do poorly and someone not currently polling so well will entice and entrance millions. You just never know.

Who are you supporting as the 2020 Democratic nominee?

Knight of Cups – It’s All About Who and What You Love!

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June should be a good month for all, as the Knight of Cups appeared for this month’s reading. This card indicates that you should be surrounding yourself with the people you love and the stuff that makes you happy. June will be the perfect time to re-assess your personal relationships and ensure that you are giving as much to those you love as they are giving you.

If there is someone in your world that is toxic, June is the perfect time to let them go with love and kindness. Also, the Knight of Cups indicates that now is the time to move forward with various ideas that you’ve been tossing about. Thinking about looking for a new job? Great time to do so! Want to learn a new skill? Do it! This month is all about spending time with those you love and doing what makes you happy.

Does working out make you happy? Get on it! Want to start exercising? Great time to find the energy to do so! Haven’t had time lately to concentrate on your hobbies? Make the time for this this month. It will make you feel better. And, if you’re not in a romantic relationship, June is the time to assess what you’d like out of a relationship and let the Universe know you’re open to meeting the right person.

There’s a lot of bad going on in the larger world and we must all do what we can to change the world for the better. June is the time to take on an activity that you think will better the world. Plant some trees. Help people in need. Get involved politically. There’s more than enough work that requires your time and love.

Have a beautiful month!

The Appeal of Classic Movies

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Growing up, I was not allowed to watch much TV, as my parents were convinced the Devil had penetrated most TV (and movies) and were I to watch such heathen nonsense, then I would turn out to be one of His monsters. The irony was that I was so busy trying to survive the monsters that were my parents, I didn’t have any time for the Devil.

I wasn’t too interested in most of what played on TV when I grew up, so I wasn’t terribly distraught that I wasn’t allowed to watch TV. If I had a book, I was fine. I didn’t see too many movies growing up, either. My mother did take me to see Bambi when I was five and I still remember how hard I cried when Bambi’s mom was killed. It didn’t help that my mother laughed at me while I sobbed. The memory of that day remains vivid, right down to the baby-blue dress with white polka dots that I wore with white shoes and lacy white socks. I felt terribly grown up when the day started.

The only other movies I saw growing up were The Ten Commandments and Gone With the Wind. The religious cult my parents belonged to gave approval to these two movies, so I got dragged to them. While I was grateful to get out of the house, I found The Ten Commandments to be too religious for my taste and I hated everything about Gone with the Wind, except for the character of Melanie. I didn’t get to see too many movies until I was 13 and CBS began showing MGM movies on late-night television that had never before been shown outside a movie theatre. Later, CBS aired classic movies that had already run on TV and soon, also showed popular series, like Barnaby Jones and Kojak.

Sleep and I have never been on good terms, so when I was young, I’d sneak out of bed after my family had gone to sleep and I’d stay up late watching whatever CBS had to offer. I didn’t love every movie or TV show proffered, but I did fall in love with classic films. My daughter teases me because I constantly fill up our DVR with movies from TCM. But, I find some comfort in these old films. Now granted, there are plenty of moments when I cringe, like seeing Judy Garland in blackface in Everybody Sing. And it’s hard to watch Black actors playing subordinate roles in which they’re always depicted as silly and dumb.

Although, I must give lots of credit to all these Black actors as they found a way to steal so many scenes and paved the way for today’s great Black actors. I just recently found out that Butterfly McQueen, who played Hattie in Mildred Pierce (and, in my opinion, was the star of every scene she was in), was never credited for this role. It’s never easy watching the misogyny, racism, and queerphobia that can be found in many classic films. What’s sadder is that we still have to deal with these ills in the twenty-first century. Still, I find a lot of comfort in these old films, cringes aside.

TCM includes a fan club called Backlot. For a monthly fee, fans get free swag, get to vote on programming, get the opportunity to tour the TCM studios, appear on TCM, and more. I’ve not yet joined (too many bills), but when I watch TCM, I’m always pleasantly surprised to see more than a few Black members talking about how much they love being in TCM’s fan club. To TCM’s credit, they do show classic Black films, and one night, I happened to catch the station saluting queer people in film.

The other day I was talking to my daughter about my love of classic films and I told her I wasn’t sure what I find so magical about them, but it might have something to do with the mysterious feel that the black-and-white production offers. I’m not nearly as big of a fan as the classic movies that are shown in color; although, I do have a soft spot for Meet Me in St. Louis. I might love these classic films because good always triumphs over evil and love wipes away all horrors. How often does that happen in real life? So, whether or not it’s cool, I’m always down for a class film, like the great noir, The Postman Always Rings Twice, or the feminist-before-its time, Mildred Pierce, or the star-crossed lovers in Roman Holiday, or so many others. What do you think of classic films?

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