But unlike the rest of the world, the most memorable phrase for me from the film was not Rhett's pithy:
Frankly my dear, I don't give a damn.
What lodged itself in my 12 year old memory was this. Melanie after tending to Scarlett in labour for god-knows how long (did they have epidurals in those days. I think not), announced:
The best days are when babies come.
Quite why this phrase resonated with me remained a mystery for many years. I was and am not a clucky type. Babies seemed like little wrinkly aliens that cry constantly and made a lot of mess.
Then three years ago my best girlfriend-soul-sister gave birth to a baby girl. When I crept in to see this newborn for the first time, something happened. This wee little thing stared at me and I stared at her and something passed between us. And in that moment, I got it.
Hello, I thought. You were in my friends' belly a minute ago and now you're here. That's really something.
A few years have passed since and my mate and her fella have done it again. Another little wrinkly person arrived today and I can't wait to meet her. The Sharklette.
You were right Melanie Wilkes. The best days really are when babies come.
