Some couples grow closer with the years, but the Haskells had opted for continuity.
He had dumped his friends, and now, alone with his solitude, he discovered that his solitude preferred his friends.
There were lonely days, when her mind recalled promises not kept, and lonely nights, when her heart recalled promises not made.
Alone with her thoughts, Meg worried that somewhere Carl was alone with his inability to think.
He could read her like an ancient map of the known world.
She had always thought the McDermotts a curious couple, his face a map of Ireland, her face a map of Iceland.
When had she ever entered the world of her thoughts but as a stranger.
She had had several facelifts, and he wondered how she could be comfortable in her own skin when her skin looked so uncomfortable on her.
A bit of dialogue:
"I have several times, sitting bolt upright in bed in the middle of the night, completely comprehended God's plan, but I'm afraid one never has a pencil when one needs one."
"Truth be known, I have never gotten along that well with the part of the world that didn't marry me."
"It was a case of the innermost me falling madly in love with the outermost her."
"Artistic ability? My dear, I couldn't even draw a blank."
And, with apologies to Jane Austen, the opening of my novel of manners : "If God has not yet created a heaven for the good-intentioned, no doubt He intends to."
~~ Robert Brault
18 comments:
So where's the book? I'm ready to read it!
=)
PS. Every one of these was superior.
Sue,
Last I browsed in a bookstore, there were plenty of books to read -- but thank you.
smiles,
rb
rb: I'm in agreement about the book. Some publisher, agent, or editor is bound to pick up the trail of a really talented, enjoyable writer. I've told you, if I were in either category you'd be under contract as quickly as I could get your signature on one. This post, for some reason, was especially amusing to me. donkimrey
Hi Robert!
Smiling after reading these quotes~
This one:
"She had had several facelifts, and he wondered how she could be comfortable in her own skin when her skin looked so uncomfortable on her."
... makes me think of the women in the media that don't look like themselves any more because of all the extreme treatments / surgeries...
I love Diane Keaton for her authenticity.
~Enjoying the long awaited sunshine~
*Maria
Don/Anon
Unfortunately I am a writer who pretty much exhausts his subject in one sentence, which makes a very small book.
Maria,
The snow is gone in central Connecticut, and our string of 55 degree days has reached six. If winter returns, there will be grumbling.
smiles both,
rb
Very enjoyable reading. I too particularly like
"She had had several facelifts, and he wondered how she could be comfortable in her own skin when her skin looked so uncomfortable on her." as it reminds me so much of my sister-in-law.
"When had she ever entered the world of her thoughts but as a stranger"
This is a powerful thought/statement. I would think you could build a short story around it involving self discovery. I think that of most of the above listed. Sometime fewer words can say much. There have been many times I have read your quotes and thought on them all day long. I think they should be made into posters or framed photos for many to see all the time!
"I have several times, sitting bolt upright in bed in the middle of the night, completely comprehended God's plan, but I'm afraid one never has a pencil when one needs one."
I KNOW, right? Where does the clarity go when daylight hits? I just love everything you write. I'd buy the book...
Marlene,
Oh, I meant to tell you, your sister-in-law reads this blog. (Smile).
Anon,
Is that you Don? I should tell you that my thoughts have many times been made into posters and framed photos, and every other novelty item you can mention -- calendars, t-shirts, refrigerator magnets, coasters, notepads, stationery, restaurant place settings, even decorative snowflakes.
Regarding the thought you mention, I orginally wrote it as "When had she ever entered the world of her thoughts but as a stranger in a strange land" but I hesitated to borrow from Exodus (and Heinlein.) Now I notice that I added a follower this morning, Kristie, who has a blog called "Stranger in a Strange Land." We are a small interconnected world, we bloggers.
smiles,
rb
Karen,
Thanks, you are becoming a real friend. Well, that makes five who would buy my book, six counting friends, relatives, schoolmates, former work colleagues and the mailman.
smiles,
rb
Hi Robert
Dumping friends, promises, face maps, skin, clarity of thought and the superficial are just very, very good. You might guess I'd choose this one though.."Artistic ability? My dear, I couldn't even draw a blank." I reckon Groucho would have had you as his script writer.
You know how I feel about the book and you must have very good reasons not to make it happen, so I won't mention it again...this month!
I'm afraid you'll just have to ignore our pleadings until either of us gets the message.
Ken,
I have many times thanked you for your interest and encouragement, and I do so again. A book? I have no reason to think that a self-published book would return cost. It might sell a few hundred copies --and that's assuming that 1 of 3 people who regularly visit this blog would buy a copy. I'm happy enough with the blog.
smiles,
rb
I'm in 100% agreement with those who commented on the face-lift quote -- so many celebrities look like they had their faces slammed in a door these days.
Me? Sagging. Sigh.
Jan,
Good image! I've always wondered what I would do with my 15 minutes of fame, besides a face-lift, a quickie divorce and the DUI arrest.
smiles,
rb
"He had dumped his friends, and now, alone with his solitude, he discovered that his solitude preferred his friends" simply enjoyed the notes Robert, Thanks. We gradually get to terms with our "solitude". Its a pleasure to see the exchanges in this little community ! In line with your advice, have posted a few notes, written over months. Regards PS Pl count me in for the book !
Raj,
Your latest two posts are a small treasure. Your image of looking inward for "The ONE" and finding him with the blessing of "grace from above" suggests to me the notion of the Oversoul in which we all partake. I am a bit of a Transcendentalist by way of Emerson and Thoreau. The notion of "grace" has always intrigued me, and you have stirred a few new thoughts on the subject.
smiles,
rb
Robert I love each one of these quotes and yes a book would be brilliant. I wish I could think up something even half as good as you do. I'm trying my hand at writing and get stuck so often..:(
khushi,
Thanks. I get stuck at writing all the time, which is why I salvage a tidbit here and there and throw it into the blog.
smiles,
rb
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