"When dreariness and fear threaten to overwhelm
me I shall remember this letter and say to myself,
'Take heart my child. As long as you can bring a little
delight or comfort into the lives of others life is worth living.' "
The Selected Journals of Lucy Maud Montgomery,
Volume V, Sept 24, 1938
Tomorrow—November 30th—marks Lucy Maud Montgomery's 150th birthday. Today's post wraps up the series I've been writing in celebration of this amazing woman and what her life and work have meant to me over the years. I thought about closing with a list of 150 reasons why I appreciate this author. But that felt rather daunting, both for me to write it and for you to read it, so here is a tithe's worth of that longer list. Hope you enjoy.
15 Reasons Why I Love and Appreciate Lucy Maud Montgomery1. I was nine years old, in Grade Four, when I first 'met' Anne spelled with an 'E'. After lunch, our teacher would settle the class down by reading a chapter or two to us. I was enchanted and could hardly wait to hear more the next day. Little did I realize that having been introduced to Anne of Green Gables in elementary school, this chapter book would one day lead me to a lifetime admiration of the story's author.2. Having been born and raised in Canada myself, I loved that Anne and her creator were also Canadian - from Prince Edward Island, on the other side of the country. It made me proud.3. I fell in love with Anne's phrase 'kindred spirits' and secretly searched for my own bosom buddy. Anne discovered, as did I, "Kindred spirits are not so scarce as I used to think. It's splendid to find out there are so many of them in the world." Yes, it is! And I have met many of them right here in blogland. And I did eventually find a dear bosom buddy or two, too.
4. Lucy Maud gave me heroines in my girlhood who were so real and alive to me. From Anne Shirley and Diana Barry to Emily of New Moon, I learned about friendship and getting along with people, dealing with life's disappointments, and taking joy in the little things in my small world.
5. First, it was the storybook heroines who captured my imagination. Later, it was Lucy Maud herself who became my inspiration and mentor from afar as I began making my way in life, trying to figure out how I could live a beautiful life, and live it well.
6. I loved discovering that Lucy Maud and I shared interests in things domestic, gardens, kitty cats, beauty in nature, and books.
7. I think it was Lucy Maud who 'gave' me permission to allow myself to take real enjoyment in the beauty of the world around me, and that it was okay to have pretty items which brought joyful pleasure to my life. It wasn't being frivolous.8. I appreciated learning that Lucy Maud enjoyed both solitude and the society of others. I think that's when I recognized that I, too, enjoyed spending time in my own company as well as taking pleasure in those companionable times with family and friends. I needed both to flourish.9. Her novels, poetry, autobiography (The Alpine Path, The Story of My Career), and published journals drew me into her world—a world she described in fiction and nonfiction. Even giving me a glimpse of my grandmother's era, who was born in the mid-1890s on the Canadian Prairies.
10. Lucy Maud gave me a glimpse into a writer’s life - her struggles as well as her joys and triumphs. This ignited something within me that hitherto had lain dormant. I began to dream about writing just like LMM. She would become my literary hero.
11. I took a more active interest in poetry after reading a book of her published poems and even attempted writing a few from time to time. I enjoyed the experience. Still do.
12. Because of Lucy Maud, I began what would become a life-long joy in journaling. Learning to express myself in my journals was great practice for when I'd start writing to an audience of more than one, like here on my blog. I'm about to start Journal #193. Old volumes are stuffed in boxes stacked in the closet. I have revisited some journals - I use them as reference material for memoir writing.
Of all the wonderful quotes from which I could choose to wrap this series, here is one that is starred in my old copy of Anne of the Island: "There is so much in the world for us all if we only have the eyes to see it, and the heart to love it, and the hand to gather it to ourselves—so much in men and women, so much in art and literature, so much everywhere in which to delight, and for which to be thankful."13. I'm grateful for the many marvelous quotes we have that are attributed to Lucy Maud. She gave me words and lines to which I could pin my own thoughts and desires, including the familiar, hopeful words, "Tomorrow is a new day with no mistakes in it." Written directly into my notebooks for future reference, I cannot recall how often her wisdom buoyed, comforted, and gave me courage.
14. Lucy Maud's descriptions both in her novels and journals let me feel the thrill of her delight in the world's beauty around her. Who hasn't loved Anne describing, via the author's pen, her joy in the apple blossoms in spring, the full moon in a winter sky, or the softness of a kitty purring on a lap. I started to pay attention to my world, to notice the details, and then describe them in the Lucy Maud style.
15. Through her writing, Lucy Maud showed her readers how she felt about her own life. She shared her joys and her many sorrows. I believe her candidness gave me the courage to explore with honesty my own fears and ups and downs.
I lift my glass of bubbly to Lucy Maud Montgomery. An author of whom we can be proud. I am glad for the delightful stories she wrote that so many of us still enjoy. I'm filled with gratitude for her mentorship from a bookshelf, and I'm so, so thankful for her life well lived. She was a lovely role model, and I am forever indebted to her. Happy 150th birthday to one of my favourite authors.
❦
Next week we'll be well into December with Christmas full steam ahead.
(As I write, the sun glimmers off snowy rooftops set against pale blue skies.)
Until then, I wish you beauty and grace.
Brenda
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My December schedule:
I post on Fridays
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To My Beautiful Readers,
Some people come into our lives, leave footprints on our hearts, and we are never the same. ~ Franz Peter Schubert
Thank you so much for leaving your 'footprint' here in my comment box. I do appreciate you taking a moment to share your thoughts today.
Brenda xo