Originally, I was going to title this post: "Some Interesting Ironies." I then recalled "Weird Al" Yankovic's lyrical reminder that "irony is not coincidence." This caused me to reassess my title choice and go with "Some Interesting Coincidences." Now, after writing this post, stepping away from it for a while, and returning to it in preparation to foist it upon the world, I find I can't choose between the two. What I'm about share appears to be dripping with coincidence rather than irony. Still, I like both ideas. You'd think as an English major, I'd be able to automatically pick between the two. Some of the blame for my waffling I will place on Alanis Morissette. Ever since her song "Ironic" arrived on the radio airwaves, a great many people (me included, it seems) have lost all perspective of the word irony. I like the song--always have. In fact there are those who have tried to defend its irony. In the end, however, I'm not sure any of the scenarios in the song are ironic, but to sing, "isn't that coincidental" does not a catchy tune make. Let's be honest, pop songs are not the bastions of good grammar! In Solomon fashion, I've decided to pay homage to both sides of the conundrum. You may take your pick or chose both--it mattereth not to me. J
I didn't mention the following scenario during my vacation posts of our time with my sister Joanna because I didn't think it was relevant. Now, however, something has happened to change my mind.
First, a background statement for anyone reading my blog or this post who is not a family member: several of my recent posts have made it clear that I'm from Cokeville, Wyoming. Having said that, a little over 28 years ago (May 16, 1986), my hometown made the national news when a nut job named David Young and his wife, Doris, entered the elementary school with a homemade gasoline bomb and several guns and held the students, staff, and a few other adults (around 158 people) hostage in one of the 30' x 30' classrooms for several hours. I won't go into details, but, miraculously, when the bomb was accidentally set off by Doris it did not explode as planned. In the ensuing chaos, the only two people to die were the perpetrators. Although some children and staff were injured, everyone else lived. Two of my sisters (Joanna and Jaime) and one of my brothers (Jay) were numbered among the hostages. I had entered the Missionary Training Center (MTC) 15 days previous and was completely unaware of what was going on that day until a message was relayed to me that evening. Perhaps I will tell the story from my perspective in this venue one day, but today is not that day.
My reason for this background statement is to set up the fact that a director, T. C. Christensen (his most recent films are 17 Miracles and Ephraim's Rescue), is making a movie based on the events in Cokeville that day in 1986. From what I understand, the feelings of the survivors range from very much for it, to somewhat optimistic, to very much against it. The negative feelings may partially have something to do with the terrible TV movie made several years after the incident, (it's still difficult to wrap my head around John Boy Walton as David Young), but I'm probably being too simplistic. Again, my reasoning for this post is not to discuss the pros or cons of the undertaking. As far as I'm concerned, I have no voice in the debate since I was not in the room.
What brings me to this particular post has its origins in the fact that Joanna and her family visited the movie set the morning we were leaving Mom and Dad's house and driving to hers. The production is using a school not far from her home to double as the Cokeville Elementary School. Jaime alerted Joanna to the fact that the movie staff had invited survivors to come and watch or even participate in the film if they wished. Joanna wasn't interested in participating, but after talking it over with Chad and her children, she decided she wanted to visit the set. She told us about her experience later on that evening and she and Heather and I swapped stories of how the ordeal affected us. This was a good experience for me because it gave me a perspective I hadn't had before (as you can image, the events of that day have never been a dinner table topic and are rarely broached) and allowed me to tell them what I went through the evening of the 16th when I learned of what had happened and into the next day because of the fact that I couldn't just pick up a phone and call home from the MTC.
Because of Joanna's experience, I've become more aware of the movie. I have not been actively seeking for articles, but while perusing the Desert News website I came across this one. What caught my attention first was the headline stating that Shawn Stevens was acting in the movie. He looked familiar, but I couldn't quite place his face. When I began reading the article, however, what jumped out at me was that Brother Stevens was the principle actor in "Our Heavenly Father's Plan". As soon as that fact was established, the coincidences began rolling in fast and furious. To begin, his role in the Cokeville movie will be his first acting role since he made Our Heavenly Father's Plan back in ... 1986. The article goes on to relate that Stevens role is "the leader of the local religious congregation. The character is based on the man who served as bishop of the Cokeville Ward of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 1986, but will not be denomination specific in the movie" (Deseret News article). Okay, that's interesting for two reasons: 1) Cokeville had two wards by then, and 2) it's possible his character could be based on my bishop at the time; the odds are 50/50. Finally, having used "Our Heavenly Father's Plan" quite a bit during my service as a full-time missionary, I became very familiar with the lines. At the beginning of the film, several people are asked the question, "What is the purpose of life?" One of the answers (found at 1:01 of the film) is given by a young man when he responds, "Life in general; in abstract? I can't help but ask these questions." This is where sub-title of my blog comes from. I mentioned this in my very first post.
I don't believe in coincidences all that much anymore. Don't misunderstand, I believe coincidence exists. I've just narrowed the scope of my personal definition of coincidence because of the many examples of the non-coincidental hand of God in my life. In this situation, there seems to be a weird circular thing going on with me and this actor. I may be the only one who is fascinated by this connection (it wouldn't be the first time), but I couldn't let the news article pass without making some sort of comment. I count myself in the optimistic side when thinking about the movie. T.C. Christensen strikes me as the type of director who will be sensitive to the subject and not sensationalize it. Taking these feelings into account, I will probably want to see the movie when it is released (if it shows up in theaters around here). Maybe then I'll be ready to tell my own story about that day and document it as a post rather than just speaking it orally. We'll see.
*You can come out of hiding; I'm stepping off my soapbox now!*
I didn't mention the following scenario during my vacation posts of our time with my sister Joanna because I didn't think it was relevant. Now, however, something has happened to change my mind.
First, a background statement for anyone reading my blog or this post who is not a family member: several of my recent posts have made it clear that I'm from Cokeville, Wyoming. Having said that, a little over 28 years ago (May 16, 1986), my hometown made the national news when a nut job named David Young and his wife, Doris, entered the elementary school with a homemade gasoline bomb and several guns and held the students, staff, and a few other adults (around 158 people) hostage in one of the 30' x 30' classrooms for several hours. I won't go into details, but, miraculously, when the bomb was accidentally set off by Doris it did not explode as planned. In the ensuing chaos, the only two people to die were the perpetrators. Although some children and staff were injured, everyone else lived. Two of my sisters (Joanna and Jaime) and one of my brothers (Jay) were numbered among the hostages. I had entered the Missionary Training Center (MTC) 15 days previous and was completely unaware of what was going on that day until a message was relayed to me that evening. Perhaps I will tell the story from my perspective in this venue one day, but today is not that day.
My reason for this background statement is to set up the fact that a director, T. C. Christensen (his most recent films are 17 Miracles and Ephraim's Rescue), is making a movie based on the events in Cokeville that day in 1986. From what I understand, the feelings of the survivors range from very much for it, to somewhat optimistic, to very much against it. The negative feelings may partially have something to do with the terrible TV movie made several years after the incident, (it's still difficult to wrap my head around John Boy Walton as David Young), but I'm probably being too simplistic. Again, my reasoning for this post is not to discuss the pros or cons of the undertaking. As far as I'm concerned, I have no voice in the debate since I was not in the room.What brings me to this particular post has its origins in the fact that Joanna and her family visited the movie set the morning we were leaving Mom and Dad's house and driving to hers. The production is using a school not far from her home to double as the Cokeville Elementary School. Jaime alerted Joanna to the fact that the movie staff had invited survivors to come and watch or even participate in the film if they wished. Joanna wasn't interested in participating, but after talking it over with Chad and her children, she decided she wanted to visit the set. She told us about her experience later on that evening and she and Heather and I swapped stories of how the ordeal affected us. This was a good experience for me because it gave me a perspective I hadn't had before (as you can image, the events of that day have never been a dinner table topic and are rarely broached) and allowed me to tell them what I went through the evening of the 16th when I learned of what had happened and into the next day because of the fact that I couldn't just pick up a phone and call home from the MTC.
Because of Joanna's experience, I've become more aware of the movie. I have not been actively seeking for articles, but while perusing the Desert News website I came across this one. What caught my attention first was the headline stating that Shawn Stevens was acting in the movie. He looked familiar, but I couldn't quite place his face. When I began reading the article, however, what jumped out at me was that Brother Stevens was the principle actor in "Our Heavenly Father's Plan". As soon as that fact was established, the coincidences began rolling in fast and furious. To begin, his role in the Cokeville movie will be his first acting role since he made Our Heavenly Father's Plan back in ... 1986. The article goes on to relate that Stevens role is "the leader of the local religious congregation. The character is based on the man who served as bishop of the Cokeville Ward of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 1986, but will not be denomination specific in the movie" (Deseret News article). Okay, that's interesting for two reasons: 1) Cokeville had two wards by then, and 2) it's possible his character could be based on my bishop at the time; the odds are 50/50. Finally, having used "Our Heavenly Father's Plan" quite a bit during my service as a full-time missionary, I became very familiar with the lines. At the beginning of the film, several people are asked the question, "What is the purpose of life?" One of the answers (found at 1:01 of the film) is given by a young man when he responds, "Life in general; in abstract? I can't help but ask these questions." This is where sub-title of my blog comes from. I mentioned this in my very first post.I don't believe in coincidences all that much anymore. Don't misunderstand, I believe coincidence exists. I've just narrowed the scope of my personal definition of coincidence because of the many examples of the non-coincidental hand of God in my life. In this situation, there seems to be a weird circular thing going on with me and this actor. I may be the only one who is fascinated by this connection (it wouldn't be the first time), but I couldn't let the news article pass without making some sort of comment. I count myself in the optimistic side when thinking about the movie. T.C. Christensen strikes me as the type of director who will be sensitive to the subject and not sensationalize it. Taking these feelings into account, I will probably want to see the movie when it is released (if it shows up in theaters around here). Maybe then I'll be ready to tell my own story about that day and document it as a post rather than just speaking it orally. We'll see.
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