When All is Lost

“Although there are times I’d give anything to have her back, I’m glad she went first. Losing her was like being cleft down the middle. It was the moment it all ended for me, and I wouldn’t have wanted her to go through that. Being the survivor stinks.”

—Sara Gruen, Water for Elephants

This is what I want. When I’m old I want my man to be like this. He thinks of her pain instead of his own. You get thinking about how romantic and sweet it is...but then you think he’s old, he’s alone, and he’s sad. It’s upsetting.

This poor old man, Jacob, is alone in a retirement home. His family has forgotten him, and his wife is no longer around. It’s definitely no Notebook ending (movie version at least) where they die together. But still, he goes on living still loving her just as much as when he first met her, barely waiting to see her again once his time is up.

He had found his true love and he had taken her away from the rotten situation she was in. It’s rotten thinking when that time comes being stuck their alone until it’s your time to die. What do you do when the one you’ve loved for some many years is no longer there beside you in the morning? Certainly killing yourself is not the option. Again (I can relate it to my older post) memories is the key to happiness, especially at this point in his old life. He can remember her beautiful smile even as she grew older when she was with him, the children, and their pets (horses, and their elephant Rosie).

I don’t know if I would be so caring when I’m older. It’s always quite scary thinking about the future. What would be worse dying first leaving your spouse with all the misery, pain, and bills, or you being left with all that knowing that you may be handling it better than your spouse? Being the last survivor must suck and be very lonely. It would be like Lost (I’ve only recently started it but I know everyone dies) where the dog is all by himself someone surviving. Who is there for him? I’d probably go insane, especially if the one you loved and shared everything with all the time was no longer around.

If this quotes intrigued you, but readings not your thing then definitely check out the movie! Both are incredible (like every novel, movie, and show I’ve posted already). If that hasn’t sold you then the fact that Christoph Waltz being in it should convince you.

I would like to thank quickly MovieFone for making it very easy for me to find the quote instead of scrolling through page after page trying to find the perfect quote to talk about. There are more terrific quotes on their page.

Memories are Forever

“My wife: same thing. There I am, packing survival gear, she’s grabbing photo albums”

                —Morgan Jones, The Walking Dead (Season 1, Episode 1)

If any of you haven’t seen The Walking Dead then I’m quite ashamed GO DO IT! NOW! Anyways I love this quote from the show. Sorry that’s a lie. I love most of the show (quite obsessed to be honest) but this is the best touching quote when you start out the series. When the world’s ending in an apocalypse (zombies, natural disaster, or whatever it may be) what is the first thing the guys think about? Obviously, how the heck they’re going to destroy the zombies and get around for the next few weeks. Us girls? Well that’s another story...

We think of how we’ll remember our “normal” life. Doesn’t this quote here prove that memories are important? No matter how small. Just the little things can make one so emotional looking back at a typical happy photo of their family. It’s touching when we see Morgan look back at the albums his wife brought along.

We don’t think at the time anything about a picture in the park, or about the party you went to a week before. But when there’s no hope left (like in the zombie apocalypse) memories are the strongest thing to have. Nothing can replace them and sometimes that’s all you need if you’re down. Especially if you lose a loved one. Fortunately, I haven’t gone through a zombie apocalypse nor have I lost a dear one. But if you go through life hiding from photos how will you be remembered?

Morgan Jones moves on from the photos that he has. He can accept it that yes his wife has turned into a zombie like many people in the world. And that he must remember her in her prime happy days as a beautiful wife, rather than what’s happened to them in the few weeks for the apocalypse turning into a flesh eating zombie. He has to remember her in the photo and “put her out of her misery”.  

It proves the famous saying “a picture is worth a thousand words”. Maybe it’s a good idea to always keep some with you. I know with my phone I have a very tough time deleting all my photos. It’s memories I’m not quite ready to give up yet. (Now go start that show!!!)

Everyone wants Attention

“Us sing and dance, make faces and give flower bouquets, trying to be loved. You ever notice that trees do everything to get attention we do, except walk?”

                —Alice Walker, The Color Purple

It’s been some time since I read this novel. I believe it was the first novel I read that A) doesn’t have chapters. Everything just starts with ‘Dear Celie’ or ‘Dear Nettie’ (until now, I am currently reading Anne Frank). And B) it’s all in slang.

I’ll admit the first reason why I decided to read this book for a school project was because I absolutely love the colour Purple. Walker’s novel is fabulous so long as you don’t mind reading about abuse, rape, different sexual relationships, and racial issues. I never had the chance to watch the movie with, I think, Whoopi Goldberg. But as most people would agree the book is ALWAYS better.

Now why this quote? It doesn’t really have anything to do with the abuse and issues that the two sisters go through. I’m not even quite sure it’s my favourite quote in the novel. However, I think it’s an interesting take on people and how we love. After hearing all the cruelty that Celie was going through it was nice when she would take a second and notice the nature of things around her. What could be made more beautiful in such a situation?

Some of us are very delicate, and some of us are sturdy enough that even strong winds can’t stop us. We dye our hair and lose weight to impress people to fall in love. The trees do the same to grab our attention. They change their leaves grabbing everyone’s attention with their reds, oranges, and yellows. Some trees work harder than others to provide us with gifts like flowers, and fruits.

Am I being cheesy or overanalyzing the quote? Probably. I would have never considered trees and people to be similar in anyway. Especially for trying to be loved and noticed. This quote would actually help with the movement of ‘Being Green’. Tree’s only want our attention and love. Not for us to tear them down and destroy them.

For my closing thought, I would just like to say how I love the towering trees that unfortunately only allow squirrels and chipmunks to climb up. The best time is when they flaunt their changing colours just before the harsh, dry winter. And just to cheer us up...some purple.

Don’t forget to love those trees. Until again.