What I Wish I'd Known

I wrote this a couple of years ago for another blog. Since it's a busy week and I still feel the same way about both the blog and the husband, I hope you don't mind a rerun. Have a great week. - Liz
Happy!
I have thought and thought about this post. And I still don’t have an answer to the implied question in the title.
And maybe that’s what I wish I’d known. How often I would spend hours upon non-productive hours trying to decide on a word. Not a chapter or a scene or a protagonist’s name, but a word. Four or five letters that can make the difference between stones and diamonds.
You know, like if Rhett Butler had said “I don’t give a darn.” Or Pollyanna had played the sad game. Or Anne Shirley hadn’t had an “e” added to her name.
Cover print         Okay, I don’t wish I’d known that, but since it’s the first time it’s ever occurred to me, I think I’ll run with it. I think it’s amazing how much difference a word can make. In One More Summer, the book of my own that would be my favorite if I’d admit to it, Grace Elliot had a shrug that explained better than anything else the depths of the wounds to her soul.
When I read The Scarlet Letter in high school, an exercise I recommend to absolutely no one, the teacher mentioned Hawthorne’s heavy usage of the word ignominy and other words that came from it. In truth, I don’t remember much of Hester Prynne’s story, but until this very day, I’ve never used ignominy a single time. It is my intent to never use it again.
In 1971, I asked my husband to marry me. (Old, long, happy story.) He said Yes. Since I’m pretty convinced no one else could live with me—much less live with me for going on 44 years—if he’d said No, I’d probably be living in a senior residence somewhere surrounded by cats.
I’m an echo writer. I often start a post or a story with a thought, spend the middle making my point, and end with a reiteration of the beginning. Since that didn’t work out well on this post, I went back to the beginning and added a word. One word. I wish it for you this week.
Happy!

Comments

  1. I asked my husband to marry me, too! Something like, "When are we going to get married?" Lol Up until the wedding he'd tease, " You know I didn't ask you yet?" 33 years later and we are still happy.

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    1. Margie, I think my conversation with my now husband went something like that too!

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    2. Duane had proposed first, before Vietnam. I said No, not because of Vietnam but for other reasons; when he came home, I was so afraid he wouldn't ask again that I asked him.

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  2. Thanks for happy, Liz, and yes, the one word thing--I've done that so often...sat for a long time trying to find the word. We're in our 44th year too--still crazy about him.

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    1. We'll hit 46 in May. I probably should have changed the year when I posted. Words are harder to find these days, too!

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  3. Well said, each and every word. It's amazing how much power a word has. "Happy" is one with great power. Thanks for sharing it!

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    1. It is a powerful one. I tend to forget that it takes work and want it handed to me--it doesn't happen that way!

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  4. You're right, sometimes one word can make all the difference. Great post!

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  5. Thanks for the happy, Liz. Sometimes I forget about everything I should be happy about, and I need a reminder.

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    1. Yeah, it's like the counting blessings thing. Sometimes it's done through clenched teeth. :-)

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  6. Liz, great post. Yes one word can make all the difference in the world, especially happy. My husband and I will be together 42 years this year. He is my best friend and the love of my life (he knows that also). One More Summer is one of my all time favorite books. I recommend it highly to all my friends.

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    1. Congratulations, Carolyn. As I said above, we're working on 46 now and I'm pretty sure that no matter how long we're given, it's not going to feel like enough. Thank you so much--Grace's story still has a lock on my heart, too.

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  7. What a nice post! I only remember the scarlet A and not the word. I was terrible about looking up words I don't know and pretty much don't today. lol

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    1. I've always loved looking them up--even more so now that the Internet makes it all so easy!

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  8. Late to get on
    Facebook today. I got exercise and productive writing done so I'm happy. You post is always something that makes me think. Thank you for sharing. I'm not sure who asked but my hasnand and I will celebrate 30 years in August.

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