Thank you, Tom Hanks.

As writers it's the story that interests us, that captures our attention, whether we are reading a new book, skimming celebrity gossip news(seriously surprised Taylor and Jake didn't work out?), or watching a movie.

It's the words that paint the pictures in our head when we read a novel but when it comes to movies, it's up to the actor to tell us the story.  Some do it fairly well, others should have just stayed home, and a few...like Tom Hanks...are so awesome at it that the story would never have come alive to us without them. 

I want to say thank you, Tom Hanks. 

Thank you for showing me love can conquer anything...even when someone you love is another species.

Thank you for making me believe you were a child in a thirty year old's body, and rooting for you to get back even while I laughed my ass off.

Thank you for letting me see Jenny the way you did and loving Forrest so much that my husband threatened to walk out of the movie theater if I didn't stop crying.

Thank you for bringing a soccer ball to life so magnificently that I actually caught myself looking at him during the movie to see what he thought.

Thank you for making me feel physical pain when you had to 'Roll on One' to end John Coffey's life.

And thank you for making me love you even when you were a hit man for the mafia and out for revenge.

Finally, thank you for being Woody and teaching my son the importance of friendship...and being nice to our toys.


These stories lived for me because of your brilliance in the telling of them.  May you continue to do so for a long time to come.