Linda J. Lynch

Since I have finally finished all of my Senior Projects at Pratt in the fall semester I have had time to think of new projects myself and not just photography or graphic design. Back before I even picked up a film camera I was holding on a cam-corder. Nicole Pennisi and I would do these stupid films that only featured ourselves, sometimes as multiple characters who seemed to all have twins. I am not talking any porn films although they all seemed to have porn titles 'Jenna Calls' 'Behind Closed Doors' 'Drunken Dreamers'. Anyway those were crap but I always had a huge interest in film and I said once I started to take art seriously that one day I would write and direct a movie about my mothers life. I know we all believe our families deserve stories, or more recently I hear people say to themselves and others "oh my family should have their own reality television show". That is not my mothers case. My mother grew up in Jersey City, that is where the story starts, I do not feel it is necessary to  go through the motions or the story, as of now I am gathering photos, stories from my mother and doing research on the time periods. I really want to get this right, it could be a long time away but I really want to make something of it. 

A song that is helping me along the way is a song titled "Is that all there is?" made popular by Peggy Lee, you probably have heard her singing "He's a Tramp" from Lady in the Tramp. Basically this song is going to help mold my mothers true life story into something even greater then a biography of her life.  It is going to capture the harsh reality of my mothers childhood, teenage years and later years, while staying true to time.

Peggy Lee

'Is That All There Is?'

I remember when I was a little girl, our house caught on fire.

I'll never forget the look on my fathers face as he fathered me up

In his arms and raced through the burning building out to the pavement

I stood there shivering in my pajamas and watched the whole world go up in flames

And when it was all over I said to myself, "Is that all there is to a fire"

(Chorus)

And when I was 12 years old, my father took me to a circus, the greatest show on earth

There were clowns and elephants and dancing bears

And a beautiful lady in pink tights flew high above our heads

And so I sat there watching the marvelous spectacle

I had the feeling that something was missing

I don't know what, but when it was all over

I said to myself, "is that all there is to a circus"

(Chorus)

Then I fell in love, with the most wonderful boy in the world

We would take long walks by the river or just sit for hours gazing into each other's eyes

We were so very much in love

Then one day he went away and I thought I'd die, but I didn't

And when I didn't I said to myself, "is that all there is to love"

(Chorus)

I know what you must be saying to yourselves

If thats the way she feels about it why doesn't she just end it all?

Oh, no, not me, I'm  not ready for that final disappointment

For I know just as well as I am standing here talking to you

When that final moment comes and I'm breathing my last breath, I'll be saying to myself

Is that all there is, Is that all there is

If thats all there is my friends, then let's keep dancing

Let's break out the booze and have a ball

If that's all there is