Thursday, February 5, 2015

Turn that frown upside down and smile the sad away

I will put on a happy face today. A former neighbor, the dad of my daughter's best friend died. He was my age. The visitation is today. In  the same mortuary where his wife, my best friend, Rose, was laid out.
The first thought in my mind each morning is which of my cancer stricken, paralyzed or ill friends/family members I should put on the top of my prayer list. One of my former students is hospitalized. The local, national, and international news is filled with horrific images, and this is just one of those days when I wish I could go stick my head in the sand, or at least my toes, but I know in my heart it would only be a temporary fix. I WILL bounce back.



On a positive note, my sweet, wonderful Nicholas turned 13. He is the most decent human being on this earth with a heart as big as the ocean.
George made Eagle Scout and was accepted into Vassar College on academic scholarship. I declared him a genius five minutes after he was born.
That little giggle baby, Liam makes my heart sing and I will babysit him this weekend. I will be fine by then.


For today, I will fake happiness. When I see those smiling preschoolers' faces I will be okay.
Then I will come home and bake a cake for the funeral tomorrow and wonder how the hell to decorate it. Roses will make me cry. A verse? I don't want to make anyone else cry. Maybe I should cry and let some of the sad weep out. No, I'll stuff it and head off to school. Thank you for listening. You don't have to respond to my blah post, but please read on and leave an answer.

What is your take on Harper Lee's upcoming release? Do you think she is being manipulated into releasing the book which has been collecting dust for so long?   

12 comments:

Kathy's Klothesline said...

Oh, Linda, I am so sorry. It is hard to be "perky" when you feel so sad. A few years ago one of my classmates lost her husband. I was not that close to her , but it made me profoundly sad that she had lost her mate long before his time.

tracboy2 said...

I am sad, too, and believe that both of her beloved parents will be "with us" today through our time of sadness. When I look at my precious grandson, Liam, I am assured that God has a plan for each one of us, young, middle-aged or elderly. Life must and does go on. And for that I am grateful.

Bookie said...

I know exactly where you stand today,Linda! Somedays are easier than others. Here the sun is brillant and that helps!
Harper Lee...mixed bag...I think it is just for money and that makes me sad for her. I heard she is in nursing home and someone this morning suggested she might the money for that. She never wanted to publish again for all these years and it does seem said someone else it doing it for her. I only hope it is good for her sake, for her reputation's sake.

Cathy C. Hall said...

Sorry for your sadness, Linda. I know exactly what you mean about that list of friends--

As for Harper Lee, I find it pretty unbelievable that after all these years, she's decided well, yes, let's get that other book published. Here's an excellent post about the interview w/the editor at Harper Collins, with questions I've had as well: http://the-toast.net/2015/02/04/questions-harper-lee-editor-interview/#jdmTlDOKkiUttqyc.01

Val said...

I know what you're going through today. Luckily for me, my district calls off school at the drop of a sleet pellet. I would not have been able to fake it.

As for Harper Lee...my son is reading To Kill a Mockingbird, and seems stoked for the new release.

Tammy said...

I'm so sorry, Linda. What is with this day? I just heard bad news about a friend's health, too. I have resolved to be happy about a new book from a great author, at least for now. Enjoy your giggly-baby-therapy.

Merlesworld said...

It's always sad when friends die, but we all have limited time on earth.
Merle............

Sioux Roslawski said...

Linda--I'm sorry. I hope Liam brightens you back up.

Harper Lee... I hope it's good. I understand it was written before "Mockingbird" and her editor or publisher was interested in the backstory of the characters, so she wrote Mockingbird and put aside the other one.

Pat Wahler said...

My sympathies to you, Linda. It is so difficult to lose loved ones.

From everything I've read about Harper Lee, especially regarding her state of health in recent years, I believe the push to publish comes from the woman who took over Ms. Lee's legal affairs after her older sister, Alice, retired.

When a person is frail and ill and is told by someone they trust to do something, I suspect they do it. Ms Lee's position has always emphatically been that she would never publish another book. Why would she suddenly change her mind only months after Alice, her most trusted adviser, advocate, and protector, dies?

Is the release ethical under these circumstances? I balance my eagerness to read the book against my gut feeling that if Harper Lee wanted the book published, she would have done it herself years ago. I don't believe she "forgot" the manuscript existed prior to her attorney "finding" it.

Despite the moral dilemma, I plan to read the book. I want to see if I can find even a trace of all the things I love about TKAM.

Pat
Critter Alley

Susan said...

Hi Linda...

I can identify with how you feel. Some days are just like that but I admire your attitude. Life is just hard sometimes.

As for the new book, bring it on!

Hope your weekend has a few magic moments. (I know it will, with Liam.) Susan

Connie said...

I'm so sorry, Linda. Some days it seems like there are just too many things to be sad about. It is overwhelming. Sending you a cyber hug.

As for Harper Lee's new book to be released, I look forward to reading it. I don't know all the details about how and/or why it is being released now, but I would love to read more of her work.

Lisa Ricard Claro said...

I'm so sorry for your loss Linda. But you see the light in those around you, and that more than anything, I think, is what gets us through. God bless. I'll keep you in my prayers.