So... since reading Melissa Gilbert's book, I have purchased one of her movies on iTunes and actually been OBSESSED with Little House on the Prairie the television show. I am in love with Michael Landon and Victor French. I think Karen Grassle is a godsend and Alison Arngrim is utterly witty. Crazy how quickly a girl can change, huh? Here is the continuation on my review or response to her book!
Prairie Tale: A Memoir by Melissa Gilbert
So, I have more quotes that I want to share with you. After each quote, you can catch my response and what it means to me.
This totally makes me think of a father-daughter relationship. It can be the father sending their child off to college or into the "real world" (whatever that is). Sometimes it really does feel like an end when you are in the moment. But someone who is older and had more experience knows, this isn't really the end. It's just time for a change. The part that makes me a little sad is it sounds like Michael Landon (the "he" in the quote) felt that this was the end for him. The end of what, I don't know. But he didn't lose his drive. He went on and worked on another great show. Maybe that is just me reading into the words incorrectly... or it could be Melissa's word choice.
In this quote, Bruce Boxleitner, Melissa's husband, is speaking. Melissa was fighting a story that the National Enquirer had published. The reason that I really appreciate this quote is because I can be pretty competitive and sometime I can be an "all or nothing" kind of person. If I'm going to win, I want to win it all. But this quote is more true and common than winning it all. I think that the notion of compromise and acceptance is beautiful. Sometimes it's also about those who want to keep fighting. The battle was over, but Melissa wanted to stay and fight more until she got the rest of her wishes. It doesn't really work like that. When the two parties make an agreement, you don't get to continue pressing the issue.
This is actually a quote that comes up in Lisa Whelchel's book on adult friendship. I'm not sure if that blog is posted yet or not. Sometimes it's interested... you think that people will like you better if you don't really need. Instead, if you are constantly giving of yourself and not much of a bother you will be loved. The more you give the better friend you are, right? Well, I suppose it's partially right. But let's me honest, how hard is it to relate to someone that has a perfect life? Someone who portrays that perfection may make others feel inferior and less than worthy. It's hard, but sometimes you may actually need to let people find out what's special about you over time. Instead of being shiny and made of porcelain, try being open and vulnerable. People will find what is special and cherish that. They will remember the times that you have listened to them and were caring in spirit.
I won't mention this too much, but Melissa discusses her struggles as an alcoholic in the book. It's very personal and detailed enough. I think that this is where Melissa can really become more than the girl from Hollywood. She has the problems that the rest of the world experiences too. Although, I am very impressed at the amount of alcohol she could ingest. I don't know that any of the people I have ever met could do that much in a single night! But anyways, she should be proud that she has come so far--I'm guessing about six years sober as of now.
Oh the wise words of the actual Laura Ingalls Wilder. Once Melissa started drinking more often and more of it, she started to snowball. Isn't that always how it goes? As you begin down a path, sometimes you are going to quickly to control yourself... hmm... this reminds me of the first time I went snowboarding. Whew! That was hard times. I went with someone, but she also had never been. After a really long time, we were finally all suited up and strapped in. We followed the sign to the beginner hills... it led us to a chairlift. We got on and went up the hill. That should have been the first sign of disaster--chairlift. Chairlift=big hill. Anyways, we finally got started going down. It was crazy going down. Once I got started going, I was ok. However... the farther down the hill I went the faster I went. The faster I went the more scared and out of control I felt! The only way out of this mess was to take a pretty big fall so I could tumble down the hill more slowly. That's a little like poor behavior decisions. Once you start, you can get out of control until you finally have to take a dive off the path. For Melissa, drinking was that thing that got out of control.
Those are the words of a young man, Dustin that was suffering from cancer. These words ring so simple, and yet so true. Each day needs to be seen as a gift, and even on the worst days, do your best to find a little fun. The bracelet Melissa is wearing on the cover has those exact words engraved on it. I think it is beautiful, and I totally appreciate the work that Melissa does with children in the pediatric oncology wards of various hospitals. It's a great way to give back.
"I was better off when I experienced everything life dealt me and then moved on to the next thing--whatever that turned out to be."
Wow... I love this. I think so often people feel like they need to be happy or content all the time. They need to act in such a way where they don't appear needy. They don't need another person to help them in life. Really, life is about all the experiences and how they add up in the end. You won't remember all those times where you sat around and were just peaceful like you will remember specific experiences of extreme happiness or sadness. Although I wouldn't want to always be in an extreme state, I do think that they are completely necessary. How boring would life be if we set things aside that life brought us in order to remain content and peaceful?
That was my last quote that I will write about... I think there are many many more I could include, but I think you should go an get the book. Everything I have written about is how the book touched me. I didn't cover the stories as much as the lessons. But the stories are fantastic and riveting. I loved it--if you are clueless and couldn't tell! :)
xoJLG
Prairie Tale: A Memoir by Melissa Gilbert
So, I have more quotes that I want to share with you. After each quote, you can catch my response and what it means to me.
"'Well, don't be scared,' he said. 'Don't be afraid. It's not the end for you.' He enveloped me in his arms like a proud daddy, like someone who had genuinely watched me grow up. 'For you, this is just the beginning.'"
This totally makes me think of a father-daughter relationship. It can be the father sending their child off to college or into the "real world" (whatever that is). Sometimes it really does feel like an end when you are in the moment. But someone who is older and had more experience knows, this isn't really the end. It's just time for a change. The part that makes me a little sad is it sounds like Michael Landon (the "he" in the quote) felt that this was the end for him. The end of what, I don't know. But he didn't lose his drive. He went on and worked on another great show. Maybe that is just me reading into the words incorrectly... or it could be Melissa's word choice.
"'In some victories, you don't always get everything you want,' he said. 'But this is a victory. It's over. Walk away. Michael is fine.'"
In this quote, Bruce Boxleitner, Melissa's husband, is speaking. Melissa was fighting a story that the National Enquirer had published. The reason that I really appreciate this quote is because I can be pretty competitive and sometime I can be an "all or nothing" kind of person. If I'm going to win, I want to win it all. But this quote is more true and common than winning it all. I think that the notion of compromise and acceptance is beautiful. Sometimes it's also about those who want to keep fighting. The battle was over, but Melissa wanted to stay and fight more until she got the rest of her wishes. It doesn't really work like that. When the two parties make an agreement, you don't get to continue pressing the issue.
"I was also desperately trying to prove myself to be lovable. My need to be loved and cherished was driving me to go out of my way to show people how 'special' I was. I was the first to arrive during a crisis and the last to leave."
This is actually a quote that comes up in Lisa Whelchel's book on adult friendship. I'm not sure if that blog is posted yet or not. Sometimes it's interested... you think that people will like you better if you don't really need. Instead, if you are constantly giving of yourself and not much of a bother you will be loved. The more you give the better friend you are, right? Well, I suppose it's partially right. But let's me honest, how hard is it to relate to someone that has a perfect life? Someone who portrays that perfection may make others feel inferior and less than worthy. It's hard, but sometimes you may actually need to let people find out what's special about you over time. Instead of being shiny and made of porcelain, try being open and vulnerable. People will find what is special and cherish that. They will remember the times that you have listened to them and were caring in spirit.
"But in hindsight, two or three Guinnesses, half a bottle of wine, and a couple of whiskeys over the course of an evening, that's a lot, right?"
I won't mention this too much, but Melissa discusses her struggles as an alcoholic in the book. It's very personal and detailed enough. I think that this is where Melissa can really become more than the girl from Hollywood. She has the problems that the rest of the world experiences too. Although, I am very impressed at the amount of alcohol she could ingest. I don't know that any of the people I have ever met could do that much in a single night! But anyways, she should be proud that she has come so far--I'm guessing about six years sober as of now.
"Once you begin being naughty, it's easier to go on and on and on, and sooner or later something dreadful happens."
Oh the wise words of the actual Laura Ingalls Wilder. Once Melissa started drinking more often and more of it, she started to snowball. Isn't that always how it goes? As you begin down a path, sometimes you are going to quickly to control yourself... hmm... this reminds me of the first time I went snowboarding. Whew! That was hard times. I went with someone, but she also had never been. After a really long time, we were finally all suited up and strapped in. We followed the sign to the beginner hills... it led us to a chairlift. We got on and went up the hill. That should have been the first sign of disaster--chairlift. Chairlift=big hill. Anyways, we finally got started going down. It was crazy going down. Once I got started going, I was ok. However... the farther down the hill I went the faster I went. The faster I went the more scared and out of control I felt! The only way out of this mess was to take a pretty big fall so I could tumble down the hill more slowly. That's a little like poor behavior decisions. Once you start, you can get out of control until you finally have to take a dive off the path. For Melissa, drinking was that thing that got out of control.
"Today is a gift, have fun."
Those are the words of a young man, Dustin that was suffering from cancer. These words ring so simple, and yet so true. Each day needs to be seen as a gift, and even on the worst days, do your best to find a little fun. The bracelet Melissa is wearing on the cover has those exact words engraved on it. I think it is beautiful, and I totally appreciate the work that Melissa does with children in the pediatric oncology wards of various hospitals. It's a great way to give back.
"I was better off when I experienced everything life dealt me and then moved on to the next thing--whatever that turned out to be."
Wow... I love this. I think so often people feel like they need to be happy or content all the time. They need to act in such a way where they don't appear needy. They don't need another person to help them in life. Really, life is about all the experiences and how they add up in the end. You won't remember all those times where you sat around and were just peaceful like you will remember specific experiences of extreme happiness or sadness. Although I wouldn't want to always be in an extreme state, I do think that they are completely necessary. How boring would life be if we set things aside that life brought us in order to remain content and peaceful?
That was my last quote that I will write about... I think there are many many more I could include, but I think you should go an get the book. Everything I have written about is how the book touched me. I didn't cover the stories as much as the lessons. But the stories are fantastic and riveting. I loved it--if you are clueless and couldn't tell! :)
xoJLG
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