In Memory of Allen : It's A Wonderful Life -- Your Life Story

Note: This epinion is written in memory of my best friend who died earlier this week, Allen Camp.

There comes a time in every man's life, I suppose, where they will sit and ponder at a time of crisis whether or not their life really has meant anything at all. Such is the theme of Frank Capra's It's a Wonderful Life starring James Stewart and Donna Reed. The dramatic impact that It's A Wonderful Life truly has in regards to each person's perceptive of what a "wonderful" life is clearly shown through this movie as a testament of what each of us must realize -- that each and every one of us has had a dramatic influence upon the lives of others. Also, in most times we really don't realize what that impact may have been until we look at our lives when we come to the end of it looking at our lives as a whole in retrospect.

George Bailey's Wonderful Life

Such is the situation with George Bailey, played by James Stewart, in our story. In the beginning of the film, you hear a bunch of individuals from all walks of life praying for George Bailey. Upon hearing the prayers in heaven, the superior angels decide to send a wingless angel to help George realize that his life is precious and that he should not end it by committing suicide. However, George really has come to the point where he believes that killing himself is the only way out. Through an accident, a deposit has been lost going to the bank and unless he raises several thousands of dollars, he will be financially ruined and possibly put in jail.

The answer to the prayers is truly Clarence (Henry Travers). Prior to going to Earth to help George, the reigning angels show Clarence all of George's life and the interactions that he had between individuals and what influence he had upon them. This is actually the majority of the motion picture itself -- the background information that is shown to Clarence.

Upon the most moving parts of the background scenes include the following favorite scenes that I never tire of:

George in His Childhood

One of the most inspiring scenes that show that George's awareness of the feelings of others comes to light when young George comes to the aid of Mr. Gower, the druggist through a time of trial as he is informed of the untimely death of his son. The maturity and awareness of realizing that Gower made a serious mistake and his remedies to try to rectify the situation go beyond the traditional norms that many children would do in that same situation. Bobby Anderson as the young George shows deep emotion and tenderness through this time and because of his dramatic portrayal of this situation, the mood of the entire film is set.

George Speaking To His Father During Harry's Graduation

Another scene that really sticks into my mind is one where the Bailey family are gathered together for supper the night that George's brother Harry is graduating from high school. During this time, George is excited because he will finally be able to go out into the world, to college and become the architect and engineer he has always wanted to be.

George's conversation with his father, which would prove to be the last night his father would be alive, is filled with a sudden realization that even though his father did not have a lot of money nor prestige in the world that his dad is a great guy. When George says these things to his father, it makes me wonder how many of us really take the time to tell others just what we feel in reference to how we care about them. Have you told the persons that you are close to how much they mean to you? George didn't know that this would be the last time he would speak to his dad. Life is so short as we have seen these past few weeks with the situation in NYC/DC. Shouldn't we make sure that our love for others and appreciation is really known before it is too late?

Mary's Declaration of Love To George

Another scene that really has great significance to me is one where Mary (Donna Reed), George's wife, is lying in the bed as George comes in late. Mr. Potter (Lionel Barrymore ), who is the "Scrooge" of the town of Bedford Falls, has tried to get George to sell out the building and loan and work for him instead. Mr. Gower's offering of an absorbent amount of money and the chance to realize his dreams tempts George, but even then he realizes that he can not sell out his principles because if he does, too many people will suffer.

However, he feels guilt because at the present time, he isn't really making enough money to really make a difference in himself. With supporting his wife and mother, he feels the pinch that all of us have in life -- the lack of the means to provide at times for those we love. Depressed, he goes home to Mary who gives him the pep talk of a lifetime. Why? Because she loves him with unconditional love no matter what he does in life. How many of us can profess that? Or is our love conditional based on circumstances?

George's Prayer to God

George's final prayer though to God before his interaction with Clarence is the best though. As James Stewart puts his entire emotional being into this prayer, the tears are real and the emotions of desperation are heightened to a degree that I've not seen in motion picture before. James is George who realizes that he is out of options and like many of us who come to the end our rope, he turns to God for help. The true act of submission of George really touches my heart for in the end, who can we really turn to that would really understand our every thought, our every worry, our every need?

The Resolution

Through these scenes and many more, George's life of self-sacrifice, unconditional love, and deep caring is shown over and over again. At the end we may wonder why it is that George Bailey would even consider killing himself for the insurance money? However, when someone believes that their life hasn't really mattered and that the dreams that they had in their childhood never came to be, it's very likely that the realization that we can not "do over" our lives as Billy Crystal mentioned through his character in City Slickers. Our lives are in concrete, and can not be changed.

However, because Clarence is an angel and can change things. He gives George the chance of seeing what would happen if he had never been born.

When George realizes the great impact that his life has had upon his family, his friends, his community, and literally everything, even though he hasn't fulfilled his childhood dreams he has had a truly wonderful life.

Allen, You Had a Wonderful Life Too

As I mentioned before, this epinions is written in honor of a true friend of mine, Allen Camp. Allen and I have been close friends now for several years, as well as coworkers. Unfortunately, Allen died suddenly Monday evening and the loss has affected so many people including me in a way that is very reminiscent of Frank Capra's movie, It's A Wonderful Life.

Allen had so many friends and did so many wonderful things for many of us. For myself, he literally rescued me from a dead end life that I had over two years ago when he hired me to be his assistant. But he wasn't just a "boss", he was my confidant, and my very best friend.

I learned so much about him these past couple of years -- how he had sacrificed his dreams to take custody of his two younger sisters when his parents died. I also learned through many friends of his and his family members how he would do anything for anyone -- showing unconditional love by putting himself aside to make someone else's dreams come true. He was a man above any man I have ever known in my entire life -- a George Bailey come to life in a world that often times does not understand how to love in an unconditional way.

Because of Allen, I now have a wonderful life -- one that my children and I would have never known. I often thanked him for saving me from that horrible life I had where I was abused on my job and literally killing myself through stress, and I hope that really and truly understood the depths of gratitude and love that I had for him.

Through these past few days, I've met many of his friends who have the same kind story that I have -- where Allen had done something to change their lives for the better.

In the words that Clarence wrote in the book that he gave George as a gift, No man is a failure if he has friends --- that holds true for anyone and especially Allen. His words and his life have touched literally thousands of people all over this world. I only pray that now that he has entered eternity, he truly realizes how many of us loved him and will miss him very much.

Conclusion and Recommendation

Like Allen and George, many of us may not realize what kind of wonderful life that we truly have had because we don't see the entire picture. For those who really feel that they may not have made a difference, I encourage you very much to purchase or rent a copy of It's A Wonderful Life and watch it. Even though it is only a movie, it is the realization that each one of needs to have at one point in our lives that we do matter and that the love that we share can make a difference not only in the lives of others, but in our world.

Note: Credits concerning the complete list of actors, actresses, and so forth can be observed at the Internet Movie Database at http://us.imdb.com/Title?0038650

Personal Note:
Allen,
I realize that you can not read this, but there are absolutely no words created that can express what you have meant to me. Thank you for sharing your life with me, and for giving me a wonderful life as well.
Love, CeCe