It’s Sunday, but I’ll post this on Monday. Just keeping myself on schedule.
This time, I didn’t post on Thursday because I was sick pretty much straight through until Sunday morning. I managed work on Friday, but immediately felt pukey again afterwards and found myself in the ER again early Saturday morning. But I don’t want to talk about that, because aside from this little snafu, I feel great. Really. Today I am fine, of course, and while I am terrified of what tomorrow will bring (more later) I am feeling confident.
What I did do during my illness was watch television. I love TV, like how some people love movies. I just think television provides better character development, and that is my bread and butter when it comes to entertainment. So, I was scouting for a new show to watch, and Hulu suggested something called Life & Beth.
First of all, I’d heard of this, through relentless Spotify advertisements that actually made me NOT want to watch it because I found the ads so annoying. Then I discovered Amy Schumer was in it.
I like Amy Schumer. I liked her standup, more or less…she made a lot of jokes sometimes that I didn’t necessarily dig, but it was kind of a 50/50 split of what I liked and didn’t like, so I always caught her specials. Then Mark and I started watching Inside Amy Schumer, which was hilarious, and that made us go see her movie Trainwreck, which was a decent flick that showed a little of her range…not just the raunchy stuff, you know? Anyway, that’s about what I was expecting from Life & Beth.
I was mistaken.
It started with a Hollywood Reporter article that Buzzfeed posted, discussing Amy Schumer’s new show and how it explored her “big secret.” I mean…clickbait is clickbait for a reason, so of course I go open it, and what do I find? A gosh darn heroine.
Amy Schumer has trichotillomania.
If I were a crying sort of girl. you know, the kind that tears up at coffee commercials and puppy videos, I would have bawled right there. I’m not going to say they don’t exist, but please show me another celeb who has come out and admitted this, because I have yet to know ANYONE famous who suffered as I did.
So, of course, I devoured Life & Beth.
First of all, forget everything you know about Amy Schumer and understand that you now need a broader definition for her talent. The show is a sort of creative autobiography, and while the character of Beth obviously leans on Amy’s real-life persona a bit, she is unlike anything I’ve ever seen her in. It is heartfelt and funny and sweet and sad all at once. And best of all…episode 9.
In episode 9, we flashback to Beth pulling out her hair. She has to get a ill-fitting wig. She has kids at school make fun of her. She sometimes knows she does it, sometimes not. And finally, in one scene, she rips the wig from her head and throws it across the room, crying and beating on her pillows and head…angry and ashamed.
Just like me. Just like most of us, who were 12 years old and going bald.
It was just so good. Not just a good show that I would have liked without this detail, but it was certainly made better for it. Once, I saw a documentary called Bad Hair Life, about Trichotillomania. It was, until this week, the only real representation of TTM in the media that I have ever come across.
In Life & Beth, Beth goes to the doctor at one point, and asks him for a hug. It’s a peculiar but sweet moment, and I wish I could reenact that with her myself. I would love to hug you, Amy Schumer, for being brave. How we both would have longed for someone like you back when we were young.
Anyhoo, I must bid adieu because I have to get ready for my first day of in-person work (hence the aforementioned terror.) I’m sure it will go well; I just feel rusty. Oh well, wish me luck, and happy Monday!
Ham 'N Eggs 