Pretending normalcy

The last two days I have done my best to get back to business as usual.  I went back to work.  I'm trying to catch up in the blog world.  I cooked dinner for the first time in a week and a half.  It's part of the process I go through whenever I face loss.  For instance, I went to work the day after my Grandmother died.  Not because I expected to be of any use to my employer on December 27, 2009, but because I tend to wallow when I have nothing to do.  I hate wallowing.  There is no good reason for it in my world.

So it only makes sense that here in this space, I should try to write about things other than pain, and loss, and grief.  There are a million things that are on the roster to write about, and they deserve to be shared.

Today I'm catching up on the Blogger Book Club, my most favorite excuse to read in the whole entire interwebs.  This month's theme was "books made into movies", and allowed us all to pick our own books.  I decided to read The Silver Linings Playbook.

Source: kobobooks.com via MaryAnne on Pinterest

What it's about:  This book chronicles the story of Pat.  At the beginning of the story, we meet Pat while he is living in a mental institution, about to be released to his parents.  He is madly in love with his wife, who he has been separated from, and trying his hardest to be reunited with.  Throughout the book, we watch Pat learn to live life as a member of society while dealing with psychological illness.

My thoughts:  When I saw the trailers for the movie, I never guessed that the story line was what it is.  I honestly thought it was a cute story about friendship and love.  And it is, to a certain extent.  That really isn't what I took away from this book, however.  I found this story to be a lot about human struggle, and our constant desire to better ourselves.  I think that this need to become better is not only good, it is necessary.  And that is what this story reminded me.  Pat thinks that he is trying to get better so he can reunite with his wife, Nikki.  In reality, Pat's life goes down an entirely new path, and takes on new meaning.

I finished this book prior to what happened at Sandy Hook Elementary.  However, I can't help but see in this story the sad truth that we as a society just don't do enough for those suffering from mental illness.  The author paints a terrifying, stark picture of life for Pat inside of a mental hospital, where Doctors are cruel, and nurses are mean.  I've erased 4 different follow-up sentences to what I've just said, and erased them all.  I have a lot to say on this subject, but a book review is simply not the place.

In the end, we do find that Pat has found a new life.  An unexpected, but no less happy life.  And that is the big take-away of this book:  sometimes in the midst of turmoil, a better life comes along, and we don't even realize it's exactly what we need.

Buy, Borrow, or skip:  I strongly believe that in light of what is happening around us, this book should be a must-read for everyone.  Compassion is needed now more than ever.  So I am giving this book a buy.  I simply adored it.

Has anyone seen the movie yet?  I'm dying to see it, after hearing several people tell me how great it is.  Hopefully we'll get around to making that happen sooner rather than later.

That's about all I have for you today.  But don't fear, in the midst of everything, we did manage to attend the company Christmas party, and we will have pictures of that coming at you soon.  For now, have a good day, and go out and LIVE, wontcha?