Monday, Monday, so good to me...

Today I had a rather productive day. I got all my laundry done, finished my photo presentation for Dr. Chaucer's class, got a model for my panoramic assignment in digital photo, took photos for my abstract assignment in Color photo and got quite a bit a writing done for my novel. I hope I stick to my goal and actually get to writing actual chapters and some day finish it, I want to send it to my mom when it is all done--I think she would like the story. As anyone who knows me well knows, I am very much a fan of Jane Austen. However all her books take place when the protagonist is young and falling in love and ends in marriage. We all know that life doesn't end with a wedding and happily ever after, and so I wanted to write a novel that explored that, the reality that there's a whole other story. It centers around three women at different ages: late 20's, mid 20's and late teens and their different perspectives on their lives, each others' lives, and relationships

Even though the story takes place almost 200 years ago, I have drawn a lot on some experiences from friends here in my own life. The youngest girl in particular is based off a friend of mine. She married very quickly and after very little dating experience. I remember going to her reception and noticing that she look sad, not radiant like you'd expect a young bride to be. I found out later that in the days and weeks leading up to her marriage she had apprehensions about it and was scared. I felt so sorry for her, how could she fully appreciate love and marriage without having the experience of other relationships before and the disappointment of thwarted feelings. I realized that because of my experiences and disappointments, because I had time to enjoy being single and live life on my own for a while that when I get married I can have full confidence in my choice to get married, without regrets or apprehension. I see her every now and again, always this distant, wistful look about her, as if she's had to grow up before her time. She's having a baby soon, I hope she takes my offer to baby sit, I want to help her in whatever way I can...it must be so hard to all of a sudden be married and soon to be mother when you're so young. Once one of my friends who is also married commented on how exciting my life is since I am planning on grad school and have the freedom to go to England, sometimes I wonder if my aforementioned friend doesn't think that as well. I remember when I was 19 and just out of high school and young womens, those girls in the early-mid 20's who had been on their own for a while and had had several boyfriends and adventures, they seemed so sophisticated, independent, and experienced. I know I envied them at that age and now I am them. I wonder if my friend doesn't envy me some, I still get to date and have fun as a single woman, I still can choose my husband, I'm going to grad school in England, I don't have the ties and responsibilities of a husband and children... and when I do have them I will be joyously ready for them.

Oh I wonder...