Dick Van Dyke isn’t from Southern Illinois where I’m from, but I do have a remote connection because my Aunt Pat dated him when they were both in high school in Danville, Illinois. She wasn’t my Aunt Pat then, and would never have been my aunt if she’d stayed with Dick Van Dyke, but I didn’t understand that at first–I remember saying “You mean if she hadn’t married Uncle Leroy, Dick Van Dyke could’ve been my uncle?” Nope, because Leroy (who later went by Foster and became an art professor in Texas among many, many other things) was my blood relation, my Gran’mommy’s brother.
Of course Dick Van Dyke feels like family because I’ve known about him my whole life;
Mary Poppins was released not quite a year before I was born. He’s just always been there.
I’ve been thinking about Dick Van Dyke because of the director’s cut released last week of the Coldplay song “All My Love.” Honestly, it’s the most I’ve ever listened to or thought about Chris Martin. Not that I disliked him or his band before–just hadn’t really entered my attention span much. Watching Chris Martin with Dick Van Dyke in that video and then both of them on Jimmy Kimmel, it was so clear they have a real friendship, that they’re both incredibly talented, and what a gift to see such a rich tribute to the man for his 99th birthday, not for his passing, which as he says, could be any day (and it sounds as if the current fire season almost made that day happen this week–news stories report that neighbors helped him and his wife evacuate, and they’re back now & only minor damage to a guest house–and all pets accounted for).
Today is Dick’s 99th birthdays and the official video was released, but honestly, I like the director’s cut better.
I think I’ll return to it for comfort as the years go by. The mix of music and dancing and family and that light in his eyes, along with the still very solid clown work he’s got going–well worth revisiting.
Here’s a list of other comfort videos for me:
- Neil Patrick Harris’s Tony Award Show opening “Bigger” from 2013, which it took me several years to learn was written by Lin Manuel Miranda.
- “Thunder Thighs” by Miss Eaves–the song is catchy but the women dancing are part of what made me begin to see the world differently.
- “Soy Yo” by Bomba Estereo. The little girl in that inspires me, almost beyond what I can articulate.
- Bill Hader & Kristen Wiig lip syncing in Skeleton Twins. They are magic together & I always appreciate seeing a little Luke Owen cameo.
I feel like I’m forgetting some important ones, but these are the ones I revisit when I need to get revved up or remind myself what’s important or just need some comfort and joy. And even though I’m not related to him, I’m happy to have one more way Dick Van Dyke is adding comfort and joy to my life. Thanks to everyone involved in the video for that, and thanks to the neighbors who got him in his car!
What are some of your fave comfort/rev up videos? Post a link in the comments!
marniere 