The Little Mermaid 25th Anniversary

[blackcauldron85]

Hugs to you, EW. Thank you for sharing your story. I'm glad you can find some comfort while watching the movie now.

[Disney Duster]

Wow I had no idea Elladorine, that is one powerful story. I'm glad The Little Mermaid is something you had from your happier times, just before the terrible times. It's special as the last part of your happy innocence.

[Elladorine]

Thanks everyone. As I was trying to say, I didn't mean for my post to be such a downer. If anything, I find it interesting how something like Disney winds its way around our lives, through both the good and the bad. Just like everything else, I guess. I've always loved the film, so it's a relief I can actually sit down and enjoy it again for what it is, rather than get too overwhelmed with emotion. I can still hear my dad talk about how Ursula was, in fact, teaching us all a very important lesson during her number, and I can remember my mom and I fast-forwarding the VHS to get to the "best parts" [the songs]. Much more recently, I shared the film with my son for the first time. I want to create those kinds of fun memories with him, of us together, enjoying something. I'm sure he's far too young to grasp specific memories, but his associations are already forming, and he giggled like crazy throughout the Daughters of Triton sequence.

This is slightly OT, but I imagine Frozen will always be a big part of his life. They say that babies can hear music while still in the womb, and I played a lot of "Let it Go" toward the end of my pregnancy. He's a year old now, and sometimes playing or singing the song is still the only way to soothe him!

[DisneyFan09]

Your post wasn't a downer at all, Elladorine. You're allowed to express/tell about the tragedies that has affected your life. We all experience tragedies or experiences that affect us now and then, sometimes more than often. Sometimes it can be a relief to just talk about the issues. I'm sorry to hear about what happened to you and I hope that your life is better now.

I know this is off topic, but it's not long ago since I've experienced an traumatic tragedy as well. I've lost my older brother to suicide a couple a years ago. I know that he had some anxiety problems, but I never knew that it was that bad, so the news came as a shock. It was hard to deal with at first and initially I was angry at him for what he did, but I've learned to accept it and deal with it. I know that my life will eventually get better and thankfully I have some good moments now and then. I'll just have to keep moving on with my life.

[Disney Duster]

Oh my goodness DisneyFan09, I am so, so sorry about that happening to you. Some personal pain must have been too much for your brother. I'm sure he's is in a better place now.

[DisneyFan09]

Oh my goodness DisneyFan09, I am so, so sorry about that happening to you. Some personal pain must have been too much for your brother. I'm sure he's is in a better place now.

Aaaw, thanks, Disney Duster, that's really sweet of you. Yes, I'm not going to lie, it was a painful incident and I went into a deep depression because of this. But life goes on and I'm thankfully better now.

[Disney Duster]

I can imagine you would fall into depression from such a thing. But wow, depression, that's hard. But I'm so glad you're better.

[DisneyFan09]

I can imagine you would fall into depression from such a thing. But wow, depression, that's hard. But I'm so glad you're better.

That's why I previously wrote to you and shared my concerns with you. I know depression is a hard thing to fight.

I'm not quite recovered from my depression yet, but fortunately I can handle it much better now. I'll just have to give it time and take one step at the time. I've struggled with mild depressions prior to my brother's suicide, but although they were hard, this depression because of my brother's death is much deeper and harder.

I hope you're better as well.

[Disney Duster]

Yes, neither one of us can be the same after our depressions, but we can go on, and have happiness. And thank you, DisneyFan09.

[DisneyFan09]

Thankyou, likewise DisneyDuster.

[blackcauldron85]

This Legal Analysis Of “The Little Mermaid” Is Kind Of Amazing
https://www.buzzfeed.com/juliareinstein ... xcvKjRPlye

[Disney's Divinity]

While I've always found discussions about legality in regards to TLM interesting--and amusing--I always assumed the contract didn't work in normal, legal terms because it was magic created by a witch. Ariel being a minor because she's 16 is a modern distinction anyway, but because it works as a Faustian bargain*, it really operates beyond the scope of courtroom law. I always imagined something similar to The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, where Aslan dies because Edmund "belongs to" the White Witch due to an ancient law beyond humankind.

*In religious terms, the idea of a Faustian bargain is pretty funny anyway. The idea that a person can sell their soul wouldn't really work because a person doesn't really "own" their soul in a way that they could sell it to the Devil or anyone else. Thankfully TLM keeps it in material terms, almost like human/mermaid enslavement, ie, Ariel as a commodity.

[Kyle]

Kind of random but my sister just found out she's having a baby girl. She's going to name it Ariel after the character. The funny thing is she hopes its not a redhead.

[Disney Duster]

Selling your soul to someone, Devil or otherwise, is metaphoric. You can do it.