I’ve always liked the movie Casablanca, which is kinda odd since I don’t especially get into old movies especially black & white movies from long ago. But there is something romantic about Casablanca….just saying it conjures up images.
The World War 2 classic tells the story of refugees from war ravaged Europe finding their way to Casablanca in hopes of securing a flight to freedom and eventually the United States. Everyone appears to be trying to leave Casablanca except Rick who seems quite happy running the most popular bar in the city. Everything seems fine with Rick, he let’s the police chief win at roulette, he looks the other way when certain activities happen in his bar and he seems unbothered by the larger world around him….until she walks in.
The stunningly attractive Ilsa and Rick had a past relationship which the memory of comes crashing back to Rick the moment he sees her. Later as he drinks the night away and laments her arrival he utters ruefully…..
“of all the gin joints, in all the towns, in all the world, she walks into mine.”
Perfect, absolutely perfect….
Who amongst us hasn’t felt that pain when an old love reemerges with a new companion. Rick had hoped that disappearing to Casablanca would shield him from ever having to see her again, but old loves never really go away.
The heartache, the pain, the feelings of abandonment are always just beneath the surface. Rick eventually handles it admirably and I’m quite sure I’ll never run into an old lover in my small Michigan town but I’ve always wanted to be half into a bottle of booze and mutter the line about gin joints, old lovers and fateful meetings.
Peace and Love,
John
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