A Steel Magnolias Thanksgiving

So, it’s Thanksgiving Week. A time for gratefulness. A time for family. A time for laughing at (I mean with!) family.

One of my favorite movie “families” has to be the cast of ladies from Steel Magnolias.

Without a doubt, some of the movie world’s best one-liners come from that iconic Southern movie.

Allow me to share:

“He so confused, he doesn’t know whether to scratch his watch or wind his butt.”
“The only thing that separates us from the animals is our ability to accessorize.”
“Miss Truvy, I promise that my personal tragedy will not interfere with my ability to do good hair.”
“The nicest thing I can say about her is that all her tattoos are spelled correctly.”
“Men. You can’t live with ’em, and you can’t shoot ’em.”

And those, my friends, are only a few. Nearly every line of that movie is perfection. Not to mention populated by some of the finest, most talented actresses around, including the incomparable Dolly Parton.

I was reminded of Steel Magnolias yesterday, when I finally had a moment to dip into my December/January issue of Garden & Gun magazine. I love this magazine. I’ve mentioned this before. Mostly, it’s because of the writing.

Page 33 immediately caught my eye. “Man of Steel: The untold story of Steel Magnolias,” read the title, and after noticing the byline was the wry Julia Reed’s, I read on.

It’s an interview with Robert Harling, who wrote the original stage play “Steel Magnolias.” I’d no idea one of my favorite movies began as a play! The story is based on his life in Natichoches, Louisiana, and about losing his sister. And the movie was actually shot in his hometown–as Harling says, “… in the houses and churches with the family and friends who inspired it in the background.”

It’s a fabulous interview, full of Harling’s anecdotes about filming, about the actors (he and Dolly apparently rode around town in search of the best fried okra). But what I found most incredible are Harling’s observations on the Southern women in his life, on whom the play was based. It’s totally worth checking out.

I advise buying the whole issue. But thankfully, Garden & Gun has posted the interview in its entirety online:

http://gardenandgun.com/article/interview-robert-harling

So as we all head out to be with our own crazy, wonderful families this week–or, heavens to Betsy, have them come to us–here’s a chance to laugh. Laugh and be thankful that we’ve got each other.

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!

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