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Every year about this time, many people go rushing about making gads and gads of resolutions to carry them into the New Year. Well, I don’t. I don’t ever keep my resolutions – but I do respect the need to start the new year on an improved foot. Instead of resolving to ‘lose ten pounds’ or ‘drink more water’, I take some time to look back on myself and my year’s experiences. I sit down – have a nice long think – and decide what I have done right, what I could have handled better, and how I can be a better person/friend/sister/wife/employee/daughter in the coming year.
‘If I should ever offend you, I will send a red rose to ask forgiveness. And if ever I receive one tendered for that purpose, I will return a white rose to say that all is forgiven.’
This book starts at the end of the story and thus, the end of the disastrous love affair between Mary Tolliver and Percy Warwick. {I am not ruining anything, you learn that right as you open the book} Therefore, I knew as I was being taken through Mary’s and Percy’s flashbacks, that this part of the story was not going to end happy. Nonetheless, I found myself wishing and hoping that maybe this time, just maybe, Mary would make the ‘right’ decision.
Most bloggers are writing about their New Year’s resolutions right now. Well, I have never been normal, I never keep my resolutions, and this post is much more dear and real to my heart. The past two years of my life have been a whirlwind of change and emotion – both good and bad. I have sold a house, bought a house, lived with my in-laws, started this blog, said goodbye to my Nani after a long illness, said goodbye to my godmother after a devastatingly short and unexpected illness, gotten married, added Frankie to my household, welcomed babies galore into my heart, dealt with the unexplained betrayal of a once-trusted friend, and changed jobs. And let me tell you … if you could open my chest up you would see the effects these two years have had on my heart. Now, normally I keep my blog light and airy and a place for me to post fun things. This is a little deeper than my normal ‘how to‘ post or ‘friday fashion break’ … and hopefully after reading this you will be able to take some of my life lessons and not only apply them to your own life, but also start this New Year out with hope and a real chance at change – like I will be doing.
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“There are some people who say they’re able to ‘compartmentalize’ things, as though it is possible to put negative or distressing thoughts into neat mental drawers to be taken out only at a psychologically convenient time. It’s a beguiling idea, but I’ve never bought it. In my experience, sadness and regret seek into one’s consciousness willy-nilly, or they suddenly leap out at you with a snarl. The only real remedy is time…”
Over the past several months I have learned a lot about friendship. I have learned:
1. Real friends stay by your side through the good times; better friends stay by your side through the bad times
2. Mom was right in saying that if I can fill one hand with good, true friends then I am one lucky duck
3. Sometimes friendship hurts
4. To forgive is easy; forget impossible
Maybe that is why I was drawn to this novel.
I was recently given the honor of co-hosting {x8} a dear friends’ shower. And since it was my first duty as Matron of Honor, I knew I needed to both impress and be able to move and mingle. Not only did we need to feed almost 100 people, but the event was outside at a summer camp where we were battling mother nature {and I was even warned to beware of bears!}. This my friends was no small event.
