PLL starts with a bang as author Sara Shepard makes a special guest appearance. Mona’s old friend, Lesli Stone, takes the stand, and her testimony isn't particularly kind (or honest). It doesn't help that Alison’s public label as the ultimate “Mean Girl” further tarnishes her image. The only hope that she has is for someone to corroborate her whereabouts on Thanksgiving Day. Months back, at the park awaiting Cyrus’s arrival, Alison heard someone inside one of the large pipes near where she was sitting. The girls track down the lead, but it winds up being a dead-end. Mike’s eagerness to help with Alison’s case throws the Montgomery clan into hot water. It’s obvious he wants to testify, but Aria puts the kibosh on that when “A” ships a large box to their house with a huge cow tongue inside.
Aria convinces Mike to go with Ezra out to his cabin, and the boys find an unwanted guest waiting inside for the two. Caleb, the cabin-crasher, insists that Mike return to Rosewood for the sake of Hanna and Ali, but Ezra argues differently. During the spat, the youngest Montgomery exits stage left and takes the car, only to be attacked. Ezra and Caleb race after him and come across an old Pathfinder’s camp where a mysterious archer starts firing at the boys. With arrows flying through the air, they flee from the scene before coming across Mike. Having been pepper sprayed in the eyes and knocked unconscious, “A” ties Mike up and leaves him for the others to find.
Caleb and Ezra race to Detective Tanner, and relay the ordeal. Being the archetypal cop in town, Tanner simply brushes them off. Rosewood P.D.’s finest at work. Andrew continues to up the creep factor with every discussion he shares with Aria. First, he blows a gasket over Aria asking for Ezra’s help instead of his. Then, after the whole crazy target practice at the scout camp, Andrew mentions to Aria that he just so happens to be an award-winning Pathfinder . . . .
Alison DeLaurentis may be the prettiest prisoner of them all, and she’s going to be wearing a whole lot of orange--for life. Following a grueling murder trial, the verdict finally comes in, and it’s unanimous. Guilty. The Liars remain shell-shocked by the ruling, until Aria notices Detective Tanner waiting for all of the girls. Without any explanation over the charges filed against them, Spencer, Aria, and Emily get hauled off to be processed before entering the slammer.
The plot of this episode meanders here and there, but “I’m a Good Girl, I Am” is entertaining overall, even if outlandishly so. Mike’s commonsense (or lack thereof) to go venture out alone in the woods is blatant proof that the kid got what was coming to him. The mentioning of Andrew’s archery skills immediately after “Hawkeye” attacks Mike, Ezra, and Caleb was about as subtle as a brick to the small of one’s back. The whole Kendra story-line was pure time filler. We already knew Alison was framed, so Kendra’s confession wasn't for the audience’s sake. The plot-line wound up being put on a fast track to nowhere. The only good news to take away from the episode would probably be Toby’s declaration of love to Spencer. Thank the Lord! About time man. Hopefully, no one held their breath waiting for this turnaround. Geez.
Detective Tanner has to be working for the “A”-team. Someone gets attacked, and she treats it like it was a jaywalking violation. How could you be in that job position and be that useless? She’s smarter than that, and we all know it. With “A”’s identity apparently being revealed next week, it makes us wonder…who’s under the hood? Some still think Mona’s alive (I strongly agree). Some think Aria might be behind the whole debacle. Whispers still linger over Wren’s involvement. Remember, how could “A” sabotage Spencer’s Oxford interview and know the exact moment the blood vials would bleed out unless “A” was there in England? Definitely something to think about.
As I get older, my memory seems to be getting poorer. We all know senior citizens who can pull some obscure occurrence from their memory banks at the blink of an eye--give you the complete details, date, day of the week, time, and weather surrounding the occurrence. If it happened to be during a meal, they can give you the entire menu--and a culinary evaluation of the dishes. It truly amazes me! I wouldn't be able to tell you what I had for lunch yesterday--except for the fact that I eat half a peanut butter sandwich almost everyday for lunch. I don't spend a lot of time obsessing over what I am going to eat.
One of the things I have discovered in my old age--is the "Memory of the 5 senses" are much more reliable than the video replays of my mind. My memory is excellent when it is associated with taste, smell, sound, sight, or feel. The five senses have long standing memories--which can be pulled to the top of the memory pile with the mere glimpse of remembrance of some long ago awakening of one of those senses.
A few months after my dad died, I had my first stark reminder of how my sense memory works. It was late in the evening, and all the family were in their bedrooms reading--as was our before bed practice. I had my door shut, to the long hall leading from my brothers' room to my parents'--with my room in the very middle. From out of the blue--with no prompting--I heard my daddy's footsteps go down the hall. He had a very distinct foot fall--which I had heard over and over during my childhood---and it was not mistaking---I heard his footfall. Something that night---consciously or sub-consciously had brought to surface the memory of his footsteps--and my mind replayed that memory. I do not believe in ghosts, but I do believe in the power of the human mind. I heard---in my mind---daddy walking down that hall for the last time that night when my memory was stirred.
I can walk into a room with a fire blazing and immediately replay thousands of fires I have enjoyed over the years with one whiff of that wood smoke. One of my favorite memories beginning as a child--up until selling the house my children were raised in---was sitting in front of that fire and watching the flames tickle the logs as the smoke curled up the chimney. I am instantly transported back to the fires of my youth and most of my adult life when I walk into a room with a wood fire burning. Scene upon scene unfolds with the unlocking of those memories by the smell of a cool evening's fire.
Recently I had a dream---a touch which I had experienced thousands of times in my life--was in the dream. The familiarity of the touch---the sameness of the repeated motion leading to that touch---pulled from the deep recesses of my mind a memory I have been trying to leave behind. I awoke from the dream with the warmth of the imprint from that touch still apparent, and was reminded of the memories which will not be denied by my desire to forget.
The human mind is an amazing thing---far more complex than any scientist can begin to explain. Oh--he can tell us which part of the brain controls what--but he cannot explain the complexity of God's creation--when He gave us not only a brain--but a mind.
We are truly fearfully and wonderfully made---all for God's good purpose---how amazing it is the triggers that pull long hidden memories from the deep recesses of our minds. It gives us a glimpse of how truly vast our God is--when we consider the wonders of the complexities of our minds--which pale when compared to the vastness of our God.
When we remember passed events, music, tastes, smells of log fires or whatever ... what is it that brings this passed occurences back to life? Where are they stored anyway, to be brought back to life again? Are they in our mind, (whatever that is), in our brain, (a mixture of water, nerves and fat?), or in our very soul? Is that where the memories abide as they become part of our very beings?
Profound- Friend- since the eternal part of is is our soul-perhaps the storage vault is there- another of God's mysteries.
Oh yes, Lulu ... I'm hearing my dad's voice joining in occasional phone conversations with my mom. See him walk around the corner to fool around with the thermostat or crank up the music. It's only been 3 months since he left, but he's still very much present.
Hi Lulu! I so agree with your thoughts about our senses and our memories. When I smell a wood fire, I always think of camping, such lovely memories. I don't know how it works either, but it is a wonder. I don't dream much (that I remember) but I will think of my mom at times like shopping (which she loved) and in the family rituals that are so dear to my heart. I thank God for those times, because it makes me realize that she is with me always in the things I do, see and remember.
God's gift to us-the ability to recall those sweet times & fondly remember those so dear to us. Thank you for your comment & sweet memory-
My very wise second step-mother once stated she believed that with a little effort we can remember everything, and once something is seen it can not be unseen. I think there must be something to that. Although, if the Lord tarries and I'm not called Home for awhile, I pray that I can forget this current Administration. What a nightmare these past 7+ years will have been.
BTW, I like that "we are a soul, we have a body." I like to tell people I'm only renting while on Earth. One day the rented body will rest and I will go live in the house of the Lord forever because of His grace.
I agree with your step mother--I am certain the files are there--accessing them is a problem! Yes--there are times we would prefer to forget--but thankfully--we SHOULD learn from all experiences! Our good friend, Victor, has wise words for us today!