Miss IC, I knew you and IC would do it up!!! If that is not the hand of God, I don't know what is!
Shoot me an email with her name, so I don't have to sign it: from the little 5 yr old girl whom the IC's met at the chemo place with the 26 yr old divorced single mom who had a great play date with the IC's daughters. I mean, I will end up signing it that way anyway, knowing me, just to make sure, but if you get a chance, I'd like the name too!
I am getting excited for my trip! The notes thing is taking a life of its own and I just love it! My H thinks it's wacky , but don't worry Miss IC, I knocked him around pretty good!
Since you all have shared you notes with me, this is mine:
Dear God, Thank you for making yourself known to me. I now know I will be okay, wherever the journey may lead. Please keep an eye over my family and friends ( including my internet friends), and myself...provide us with health, happiness, and purpose...so that we may help ourselves and each other to learn and grow. Peace on Earth!
Oh, Miss IC, little D. got her own note!
Well, the purpose of this trip is not these notes, which was an incidental thing, but the Bar Mitzvah of my honey of a son, who still sleeps, a al Linus, with his blankeee, but hey, Jewish Law says he is now a man!
I appreciate all your positive thoughts, as I question the wisdom of taking the kids to such a conficted atmosphere as the Middle East.
Wishing everyone a wonderful holiday and Happy New Yr...I will be here tomorrow as well! xoxo, RJ
Hey, I just got that book "Eat Pray Love" but I'm still on her trip to Italy. What did you think of it? I'm hoping it picks up speed in India and Indonesia because she is a little annoying right now. It's funny how you interpret books like that after being on this board. For instance, she said flat out she didn't want to get into her reasons for her D but then is immediately in a R with that other guy. She was having an A. Duh! She never seems to admit that though. I'll keep reading and see what she uncovers about herself. I'm thinking I'm going to be disappointed though.
I ADORED "Eat, Pray, Love"! Each section is so different. In the first section, when she was describing all the stuff she went through when breaking up, I laughed out loud. Another friend who was recently D, didn't find that part funny at all. So I guess it all strikes you depending on where you are.
LFL, I liked her. I found myself just laughing at times. You are right...she could have been more straightforward about the affair stuff...I think she was afraid it would turn people away from her story, and the pain she was in. She is somebody who was really clueless but went on a quest and did some good in the world. The marriage definitely was a casualty, and the book could be hard to read if you are a LBS and read it from a certain perspective. But my persoanl opinion was that it was a great book!
Have an awesome trip. I'm excited for you and your son. It has been interesting beind Mom to a young "man" (turns 16 this week) while also being Mom to a baby boy. Mothering Joseph has brought back many happy memories from #1 son's childhood.
Say a prayer for all of these marriages for me. I honestly pray that these marriages find a way to heal. It just seems a terrible shame for these good folks to be in such pain so frequently. And for those folks whose marriages didn't survive may they find peace, love and happiness, whatever that may look like for them.
I thought I was the only one who was disappointed in "Eat Pray Love!!" I bought it at the airport a couple of weeks ago and was really unimpressed. It wasn't awful by any means and she had some interesting insights but I just didn't enjoy it and left it at my parents the following weekend. She was in the middle of Indonesia but I had no interest to finish the book which is rare for me. I still haven't figured out exactly what was the "problem" with the book or her for me. But since I am in an obvious minority, I'll chalk it up to it being a "me" problem!!
Has anyone else read "Under the Tuscan Sun" (I LOVED Ed!) or any of Kathleen Norris' books? I found those women more interesting and liked those books much more. Oh and as a movie Under the Tuscan Sun was AWFUL and almost completely different than the book so don't judge the book by the movie!!
RJ,
Have a great trip!! I hope your son has a great time too!
fearless
But what is happiness except the simple harmony between a man and the life he leads? ~Albert Camus
I think it bothered me that she was going on this "quest" as not so much a personal journey but really for work, to complete an assignment. She already had the book deal before she left so it just seems a bit contrived. Plus, I'm just jealous that she is able to spend four months on three different parts of the globe with no real responsibilities.
LFL, She certainly gave herself permission to have that kind of freedom, but I think she needed it. You might have another take when she's scrubbing floors in India!
Karen and Fearless, Thanks for the good wishes. Fearless, I did see the UTTS movie some time ago ( beofre my marriage was really falling apart) and expected to like it more than I did...maybe I'll try the book.
Hmmm. I'm not sure if the work versus quest thing really bothered me although it certainly does make it seem much less like a risk than it would be for most of us. And risky behavior is fun to read about - Kon-tiki, Into the Wild, etc are stories that fascinate me.
I'm not really jealous of her because she doesn't really seem to have the kind of life I would want. Of course I have traveled 40+ weeks a year for almost 3 years so travel has lost it's glamor!! She met many interesting people but I've met many interesting and great people along the way and had great conversations. Which reminds me I probably should stop to write some of the conversations down: The guy who was coming back from lecturing on the difference between ADHD and Bi-polar in teens, a guy who has the same pet peeve as me - people who say and believe "He/she MAKES me feel," a woman who is a Montessori consultant, the Sikh management consultant - we talked work, India and how the traveling affected his family, a Cisco sales manager - we had a 6+ hour conversation covering just about everything! First total stranger I told about my D and relationship with Raven. We also talked about his first marriage and his current marriage. He also recommended "The Kite Runner" for which I am very grateful, the CFO - we talked books and religion, etc. Anyway... I really hate the idea of forgetting these interesting people that I've crossed paths with.
So I'm still not sure why I haven't cared for the book or her. Even her leaving her H, while without any details seemed somewhat shallow, didn't really bother me especially when he turned out to seem so vindictive (assuming that was factual). That's another thing I have a problem with - petty, vindictive people. My XH kept saying, while we were working out the dissolution, that I was only being nice to him because I still wanted him back. Well yeah I did want him back but that wasn't my main reason for being reasonable and nice. It wasn't for him; it was actually a selfish reason - I wanted to be a reasonable and nice person. Screw him!! (Well I'm not perfect!!)
Yeah, I'm still not closer to why I didn't "get" her or the book...
But what is happiness except the simple harmony between a man and the life he leads? ~Albert Camus
