Disloyalty of moving on

When I finish reading a book, I need a few days before I can pick up the next one.

I feel so disloyal abandoning the characters, leaving the lives of the people behind who were so present in the previous book, the book that has had me absorbed for so many weeks.

After finishing my book on Saturday afternoon, a rare treat, sitting outside in the glorious sunshine, I felt very satisfied. However last night, Sunday evening, I picked up the next book.

However I had to put it down again.

The characters seemed empty and the plot seemed to be very weak.

I could not get into it.

Then I remembered that this is often how I feel when I finish a book, that has pulled me in.

It seems that I need more time to process the end, put the characters to rest and let time pass before the next adventure begins.

I guess thats why book clubs are so popular, they allow you to do find closure on a story, collectively.

So I will leave my new book on my bedside for a few more nights.

Anyone else get this sensation?

It is what you do not say

I was told that I write in a way that makes alopecia sound ok.

Yet she went on to tell me that, when you read between the lines of my alopecia blogs,  it is not what I do say but what I do not say.

She said, it is clear that alopecia is not yet OK for you.

You still worry about it.

You still compensate for it.

You are not comfortable with it.

You still hide it.


The question she left with me was, then why do you pretend it is ok?

Today the inquiry question, I often leave at the end of my blogs, is for me.

Keeping it real

Today I was called into my daughters school.

One of my daughters was being bullied by two others and it had escalated. The teacher apparently had thrown the boys out of the class, as she was apparently disgusted with what she had witnessed.

The parents of the children doing the bullying were being brought in for a discussion, with the school counsellor and the teacher.

I dropped everything and cycled like the wind to the school to be there.

My heart was pumping, how could anyone bully my little girl. She is so good and kind.

I have to say the teacher was amazing. She knew the right words to say and described the situation with such clarity, to the children, to the parents. Calmly, fact based, yet with kindess and empathy.

Her opening words to my daughter were:

"It is not your fault"
"You have the support of everyone"

Its the things she needed to hear.

After listening intently to the teacher, my little girl said:, "I have one question"

"Why do they do it?"

My heart melted.

Her innocence and goodness, could not fathom why anyone would do this to her.

Why do they do it?

The explanation is of course complicated, but the question broke my heart.

So that's todays blog. Just keeping it real.