I think I like her books so much because I have a similar temperament to hers. She wrote early on in the book that she has tended to love places more than people. And, though of course I love many people dearly, I love Lynden as a place and I love my house as a place to live and especially my deck, where I grow flowers, and the back yard.
Later in the book she wrote about the gift of singleness and said one doesn't appreciate it until one is older because at first it's so disappointing to be childless, and this also was my experience. I fretted a lot about never finding the right person to marry until I was into my 40s. When it was too late for me to have children, then I lost my desire to find a husband. Elizabeth Goudge mentions in this paragraph that one can always find children to love, and that is true for me. I have received great joy from my nieces and nephews, and now my great-nieces and great-nephew. They're all sweethearts.
Miss Goudge is very introverted and mentions the challenge of social occasions. I am nearly off the scale introverted.
She had a nervous breakdown after her father died, and I have struggled with depression.
She writes of the development of her Christian faith in terms I can relate to.
One quality she possessed, which I do not share, was a certain level of sixth sense, or extra-sensory perception, which ran in her mother's family. But I don't think I would want that.
Meanwhile, I have been having distressing sinus symptoms today. I did have a few stray sneezes last night at my church's New Year's Eve service and this morning. This afternoon, with my kind sister-in-law's kind help, I took down my Christmas tree, and I think the close contact with the tree and the shaking it around that the process entailed triggered an allergy attack. I have been trying various remedies from Flonase nasal spray to decongestant pills to sitting over a steaming bowl of hot water with my head and the bowl covered by a towel. I really want it to be allergies and not a cold because on Monday I have to assist my elderly mother to go to and from a surgical procedure and I don't want to be infectious with a respiratory complaint that would be harder on her than it is on my if she catches it. So I'm praying my symptoms clear up overnight when my immune system has a chance to chill out and get grip while I sleep.
Now, readers, whoever and wherever you may be, a truly happy and blessed new year to you.
2 comments:
Jan, I am reading the 2nd of the 3 Elizabeth Goudge books you gave me and enjoying them very much. I liked reading here about her and her similarities to you. The books I am reading, about the Eliot family, have a lot about place, which fits with what you said. Often, when I read a book that contains lovely descriptions, I tell myself I will read every word and not skim them, as I am wont to do. With these books, I am actually able to keep that resolution.
Thanks for the books and for your thoughts.
I'm glad you're enjoying the books, Mave. LysJK
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