Have you ever thought about what films you could never do without? Think for a moment about the films that influenced you, taught you, and inspired you. Truthfully my list would be a mile long but for now I put together a short list of eight films that I am currently thankful for.

Gone with the Wind (1939) was my first classic film. I watched it with my grandma around the age of eleven. After that I was hooked. Even to this day I love epic well-written films that flesh out all their characters. Gone with the Wind is prime example of masterpiece story-telling.

The Women (1939) and Barbarella (1968) came to mind because of how the female characters were portrayed. In The Women we have a cast only of female actresses while in Barbarella we have our first female comic superhero come to life in all her glory. In both these films the woman are strong and feisty and I found their portrayals refreshing.

Two of Hitchcock's greatest films; Rebecca (1940) and Rear Window (1954) showed me how much suspense and mystery can be created without a hundred clues or visual affects thrown in your face. And then you have Manderley and the building across the street from where L.B. Jefferies resides. Both structures loom over the films and create a character of their own. That set that Hitchcock had built as the building is one of the most intricate and brilliant set pieces I have ever seen in a film. 

The Seven Year Itch (1955) showed me that a woman can be nameless and beautiful and still be the funniest person in the room. 

West Side Story (1961) was the first time I saw Puerto Rican's depicted on screen and according to my father it really was like that back in the 1960's. This film sets gangs and racism in a backdrop of incredible music and dance. To me it is a quintessential New York film. 

And last but never least is To Sir, with Love (1968). Sidney brought to life the true struggles of an educator amidst trying odds set in a backdrop of the sixties London. As a former teacher this film always moves me and inspires me.

What classic films are you grateful for? Have you seen any of the films I listed? What did you think of them?

Sometimes we can forget to be thankful for the little things in our lives. We can get caught up with day-to-day activities and being grateful ends up staying in the back of our minds. A Penny for Your Thoughts (1961) is one of the episodes where you watch a character realize their worth and learn to be thankful for all the things they have instead of just living their life in a droll manner.

It's an ordinary day for Hector B. Poole when on his way to work Hector throws a coin into open box to pay for a newspaper but the coin lands on its edge. Not thinking anything of it he goes about his day except he begins to hear peoples thoughts. He hears strangers secrets and his coworkers deepest desires. Listening to peoples thoughts makes Hector realizes that this is a lot more than he can handle. Eventually he decides to use his new found gift for the greater good and lands himself a new job, a girlfriend, and a more positive outlook on his life.

On his way home he passes by the same newsstand to purchase another paper and he inadvertently knocks down the coin he previously tossed earlier in the day. Hector realizes the gift of being able to listen to other peoples thoughts is gone but knows that he is better man without it. Because of this experience Hector becomes aware and thankful of all the good things that were always around him.

Rod Serling ends this episode with saying, "One time in a million, a coin will land on its edge, but all it takes to knock it over is a vagrant breeze, a vibration, or a slight blow. Hector B. Poole, a human coin, on edge for a brief time - in the Twilight Zone."

Things have been tough all over the world in the past year. Some more than others but we have all felt the stress from the changes around us. Trying to do things "normally" has been challenging for all of us. For people like me who are high risk, the challenges we usually face became even more challenging. But taking the right precautions has been a priority for us. 

A few weeks ago I decided we needed to try and do something outside of our new norm. So with masks in hand we visited our local farm and attended a beautiful event called The Fall Escape. It was a chance to do something that made me and my family feel a little more a part of the world.  There were heaps of flowers everywhere and my children decided to wear their Halloween costumes for fun. We took photos, and laughed, and acted silly. Despite the masks and the social distancing, the day out really helped us feel like we were doing something special.

It was nice to doll up in my new fall dress and wear my "new-to-me" vintage cardigan. And even nicer to watch my children do something fun outside of our house. It lifted up our spirits individually and as a family. Even though family fun and outings have had to be altered, just doing this really made us all appreciate moments together even more. 

Everyone has had to change their pace and how they go about their days. But if you get a moment where you can just take a deep breathe and put the stress aside, it really is so good for our well-being. I don't know if we will be able to do something like this again. The colder weather is making its way to New York and so many things are still up in the air. But I will remember this day as the day we got to escape into the fall.

Outfit: Orange and Navy Bow Tie Plaid Dress from Unique Vintage, 

Vintage 1960's Orange Cardigan, and Orange Beret from Retrolicious