Benny & Joon

is one of my favorite movies. It's quirky and loving and always entertaining, but most of all, it has a pure and wonderful heart. Johnny Depp earned my admiration forever with just this one role, and Mary Stuart Masterson was perfect. Aidan Quinn and Julianne Moore in key supporting roles were also amazing.

The music, too, was often wonderful. Sarah and Ben watched this film last night, TV in different places but a shared experience nonetheless, and Sarah pointed out the following video, which is for a great John Hiatt song I've long loved.



Watching it got me thinking about the song that acted more or less as Benny & Joon's theme, "I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles)" from the Proclaimers. I can't embed the link to that video, but I'll wait while you go watch it.

Even though I know the real world leaves few of us with ideal outcomes, even though many of us go to bed alone each night far from our loved ones, even though most hours of most days may be hard for us, even though we may never get as much as we want of those we cherish, I will always believe in love. I will always believe that no matter how weird, how troubled, or how different you are, you will be able to find at least moments of transforming love with someone who tries to see you for everything that you are and still loves you with an aching, longing heart.

Those moments make everything else worthwhile.