SJP Sighting

This is why I love Gawker Stalker.

"Everyone’s favorite Village denizen, Sarah Jessica Parker, with no-longer-so-little James Wilke propped on her hip, getting into a cab on University and 12th today with a guy (not Matthew) and a woman (galpal? nanny?). Sporting her big ole’ wrap sunnies, even though it was gray out, and a snug army-green parachute bomber jacket. Oh so tiny, and oh so distinctive."

As we speed along this endless road to the destination called "Who-We-Hope-to-Be," I can't help but whine, are we there yet?

Episode 4.11/59, "Coulda, Woulda, Shoulda"

So since they're so good, I guess I'll continue with the end of the fourth season. This is the episode where the women find out that Miranda is pregnant with Steve's baby. It's interesting that this show has so many episodes about pregnancy and babies--"The Baby Shower," "A Woman's Right to Shoes," "Catch-38"--but I guess that's an important plot point when you have a bunch of sexually active women.

I think that the best part of this episode is the emphasis on their friendships. The ups-and-downs of their friendships are really the focus, and the confrontation that takes place between Charlotte and Miranda on the street always makes me cry a little. The question is excellent too, and could apply to so much more than just this issue. We give up so much to become the person we think we want to be, but do we ever really become that person? Do we ever really get the life that we want? Or is life just one big journey, where we constantly sacrifice and muddle through in the hopes of eventually getting somewhere that looks (and feels) pretty good? I think that it's both: eventually we get there, but it usually doesn't look like we thought it would. And then there are always those inexplicable paths that we take that lead our life in an entirely new direction, like Miranda does in this episode, totally altering our sense of who we are and what we think we can be. But then again, that's life too, and part of what makes it worthwhile as well.

Own A Bit of Charlotte

Got an extra $600 lying around? Someone on eBay is auctioning the painting of Charlotte's vagina from episode 1.5/5, "The Power of Female Sex." It's sure to match any sofa, and talk about a conversation piece.

Can you ever really forgive if you can't forget?

Episode 4.7/55, "Time and Punishment"

Although I didn't list any in my top five, I think that the fourth season episodes covering Aidan's return are some of the best. Now Aidan isn't my favorite--I'm a big Big fan--but there's something about all of these episodes that works. I like this one because you get a deeper sense of Aidan as a character, from his integrity--helping the naked, immobilized Miranda off the bathroom floor--and his indignation--passive-aggressively brushing Carrie off. Do people ever really forgive and forget? Neither is very simple. I think it is definitely possible to forgive, but perhaps not forget. That just doesn't seem humanly possible to me. Instead of forgetting, there must be a constantly conscious choice to ignore what happened, without retribution, whether direct or indirect. Making this choice can be a powerful personal action, and over time, whatever happened may eventually fall to the background.

When did we stop being free to be you and me?

From Episode 6.9/83, "A Woman's Right to Shoes"

On my other blog, The Daily Jones, I listed my top five Sex and the City episodes, so I figured that I would begin here with my next five. This episode was my Honorable Mention: I like the way that it continues the themes from my favorite episode, "The Baby Shower." While it would be nice to have gift registries for "Avoiding Mr. Wrong" and "My First Cross-Country Solo Move," the greater gesture is in the simple recognition of circumstance and choice. Embracing your life alone can be a major milestone, and aside from DeBeers' marketing for the "right hand" ring, it's rarely celebrated. No one encourages anyone to consciously appreciate living life alone, so for me, that choice becomes even more powerful and valuable.