So after that, I needed to “cleanse the palate” so to speak. So I caught the last hour of Vanilla Sky on cable. And it reminded me of how much it moved me and how strange it seemed to be. Even now, I can’t say I enjoy that movie, but I did influence me. 

Take Jerry Maguire and mix in Vanilla Sky. Then put Travis Thrasher into the blender and you know what you have? The novel that was released in 2007 entitled Sky Blue. Even the title was influenced by that Cameron Crowe movie dealing with reality verses fantasy. 

It’s strange to see something that was released around Christmas of 2001 when the country was still reeling from 9/11. That might be why it didn’t really connect with audiences. Perhaps it never would connect with all audiences. But it connected with me. 

I was already working on Sky Blue when I saw Vanilla Sky, but it helped me take it to new levels. I didn’t finish it until years later. And the result is imperfect just like that movie. But I still dearly love that book in so many ways. 

Art influences art. I’m going to tackle that theme in the future. Forgive me for sounding so deep. But it’s true. And imperfect art can influence imperfect art. But then again, when is art perfect? It never is, not down here in the imperfect world. In a world where I watch The Bachelor and follow it up with Vanilla Sky (and then a dose of U2 on Letterman). 

It’s cool to hear a song and remember. To see a movie and remember. To have anything happen and remember. That’s what life is about. And writing is about putting those memories down. And as long as God gives me days and nights, I’ll be writing those memories down.