Family Matters

"If only we could have the impossible, he thought, we could vanquish unhappiness. But that was not how things worked in the world."

I read the book "A Fine Balance" by Rohinton Mistry, more than a year ago. It was the most sad yet an eye-opener read I ever had. It is fiction but I can't help correlate it with reality. Some things that happened in the book and the respective characters' circumstances did happen in real life.

"Remember, people can take away everything from you, but they cannot rob you of your decency. Not if you want to keep it. You alone can do that, by your actions."

One day, I was in Chapters. While I walked around and browsed over different titles, I came across Rohinton Mistry's works. I didn't realize that he wrote three previous books before "A Fine Balance". So, I jot down the titles. Once I got back home, I put  a request for "Family Matters" in the library.

Reading the book made me think about my own family-- the relationship I had ( or lack thereof ) with my late father and my attitude towards my mother and younger siblings.

As with any good book that I read, I always make it a point to take note of phrases that I like or I think, impacted me in some ways.

So, here's one...

"Everyone underestimates their own life. Funny thing is, in the end, all our stories--your life, my life---they're the same. In fact, no matter where you go in the world, there is only one important story: of youth, and loss, and yearning for redemption. So we tell the same story, over and over. Just the details are different."

Oh, hello there....

So, what's up with you guys? January and February just went by in a blur. March is here and it's time to change the clock again, "spring forward", so they say. Resolutions, still there? I know it can be daunting and difficult to keep ourselves in check when something nice and tempting is right in front of us. ( Say, a big slice of a very tasty cheesecake or lemon pie. Just saying. )

I made this "huge announcement" of reading more often, but I didn't get to read for more than a week after I left behind my glasses in my aunt's place. The book, which I was reading at that time and that I would have otherwise finish days ago, lay, collecting dust on my bedside table. Thankfully, my sister realized my "predicament" and mailed my glasses for me. And all was good again. ( I can't read for long or use the computer without my glasses on. And if I do, I get headaches and feel nauseated.)

I like to think that you do check out my blog and read what I write from time to time. So, I assume you know a little bit about what's going on in my life. Not that its my intention to keep you posted on every mundane detail about it.

 My journals...

I have you know that I drank almost an entire bottle of sparkling wine. Yes, this is true. One Sunday night, I hang out with my sister and while she was getting dinner ready, I on the other hand, was busy knocking off a few glasses of sparkling wine. It was really my intention to get drunk but my plan didn't work. My sister was like, what's wrong with you? I dismissed her question with a laugh and drank the remaining contents of my glass. Just to be clear, getting drunk is not part of my resolution.

Another "resolution" I thought of doing is to write often. I even go as far as bought Moleskine notebooks from Chapters. ( Considering that they're $10 a piece and they were already on SALE, it was a splurge. ) Anyway, I'm back to writing on my journal again. I mean, there's no way that I can just let those pricey $10 notebooks to waste and gather dust.

As for my running, it is good so far. I'm happy that I get to do a short run during my work week on top of the ones that I usually do on my days off. I can't complain.

So far, things are good. Hopefully, they stay that way. I try to downplay the fact that I'm happy and like being where I'm at now, for fear that it may not last and then I have to move again.

Now, let's go back to those  resolutions. Where we at, again?

February reads...

February started a bit slow for me, if we talk about reading and books. I borrowed a couple of books from the library which I didn't read. I rarely write something about the books I've read except, to say, they're good or an excellent read. And that's it.

Towards the end of February, after such a long wait and aimless wandering from one day to the next, I was fortunate enough to come across two books that I had a great time with.

I finally get hold of "The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry" by Rachel Joyce. I first saw it from the Chapters website and decided that I want to read it. So I put a request at the library and then, waited. This book appealed to me because of the "long walk" ( I was curious as to how he fared at the end.) that Harold did to visit a friend that he haven't heard from for twenty years. He met a lot of people along the way and endured all sorts of discomfort. When he begun to falter, he allowed hope to keep him going and not give up. And plow ahead. In the end, he see his friend for the last time and in the process, rekindled the failing relationship he had with her wife.

"The Light Between Oceans" by M.L. Stedman has me occupied for three days. A friend read it for her book club. She told me it was good so I read it too. I'm glad I did. I always find it hard to put a good book down. "The Light Between Oceans" is one. I told myself to read just a  couple of chapters every time but I ended reading more. I even stayed up until midnight to finish it. The story is about the choices people make through the course of their lives and the consequences they have to deal with after. I feel Tom's struggle between doing what is right and his love for Isabel.

I'm glad to read these books. I enjoyed them and feel a bit lost, after I turned the last page.