All Shall Be Walker
The good thing about Frameline having so many movies is that, for the most part, you’re bound to find at least one film that you can relate to. But if you told me the film that I was going to relate to the most was going to be a film about elderly Chinese lesbians, I don’t think I would’ve believed you. All Shall Be Well is a beautiful story of grief and the importance of community that also brings attention to the lack of marriage equality in China. A fantastic and impactful story for sure, but definitely not something you’d associate with the Prim-core aesthetic.
When it comes to the Dudley’s (mom’s side) and the Walker’s (dad’s side), let’s just say that blood is definitely not thicker than water. Both of my parents have sisters, both of my parents don’t really like their sisters, and both of my parents grew even more distant from their sisters after the deaths of my grandparents. All I heard about my aunts was that they tried to screw my parents over when it came to my grandparents’ wills. After that, the nicest thing my parents said about my aunts was nothing at all. My parents cut their sisters off completely after that.
If what my parents say about my aunts is true, then I can definitely see them kicking my family out of an apartment like Pat’s family tried to do to Angie. I can also see my parents doing the same to other members of my family. Realistically, I know that they wouldn’t do the same to me, but a part of me still feels like they would try to take my apartment for themselves.
Angie’s lawyer friend was right when she said that a will can tear a family apart. You take people who are already selfish and emotionally immature, give them an emotion as complex and all-consuming as grief, and make them fight over property. It’s barbaric. Gets me thinking about my own mortality, which isn’t new, but still. When is the right time to write a will? I don’t plan on dying anytime soon, but I’d hate to be up a creek without a paddle. Literally or figuratively, because that sounds like a shitty way to die.
Pat’s death was both unexpected and unpreventable. It didn’t seem like she had any outstanding health issues, she didn’t get into an accident, and she wasn’t murdered; she died peacefully in her sleep, a complete surprise to Angie and the rest of Pat’s family. No one knows how or when they will die, and I am no exception. As the saying goes, I believe we should hope for the best and plan for the worst in every situation. But when the worst is death, when does preparation become paranoia?
Oh, that got heavy. Another thing not in line with the Prim-core aesthetic, I try to keep things light. Uh… here’s a cat.
