word strings

I am a lover of words. Not a vocabulary geek, but a lover of words strung together to mean something beautiful or thought-provoking or wise. Here are some of the word strings I have loved lately:

 “An American Childhood” by Annie Dillard. One of my favorite memoirs ever.

 I have been making a conscious effort to listen without interrupting, to hear without being heard. You wouldn’t think it would take a conscious effort, but try it. It does. At least, for me. If this isn’t a sign I’m selfish, I don’t know what is. I can’t think of anything more disrespectful than interrupting someone’s words to spew your own. When you do that, you’re saying, “what I have to say is more important than what you have to say.”

 Adele’s “25” CD booklet. Oh Adele. You are so perfect.

 

 Nora Ephron explaining the difference between “being a parent” of her day and the active verb “parenting” of today has become. We try to cajole and prod our kids into certain people, and yes, we should enforce politeness and respectfulness. But I can not make my loud child into a quiet one, or my emotional one into a stoic one. After all, they are them, and I don’t want to screw that up. 

 

And then, on Christmas morning in my stocking, Stephen (my very own Ryan Gosling) left me the sweetest note about how he fell in love with me. Tears streamed down my face as I read my favorite words of all:

“Not everyone has somebody fall in love with them at first sight. Actually, very few probably do. You did, as it was instant for me. And I just wanted you to know that. Maybe you already did, but with my communication skills, it’s possible you didn’t.

I lived all over the world and met a lot of people, and in the end, there was just you.”

(swoon).