Friday Wrap-Up

I bought the book The HerStories Project because I had several friends who had contributed to it – Nina, Alexa (with whom I worked on the Sunshine After the Storm book), Alexandra, Deborah, Galit, to name a few. And then I got to know the co-editor Jessica through reading it, and she subsequently reviewed my memoir for me here.

The book is divided into well-organised sections and it gives a continuity that is not easy to come by for anthologies. Jessica and Stephanie edited the book together and the whole is flawless and seamless – no grammatical errors (okay one tiny one but that doesn’t count), distinct voices, stories that adhere well to the sections they are in, and these sections are: Understanding Friendship, What’s New (grown-up friendships), What’s Old (family ties and early friendships), What’s Changed (motherhood and friendship), What’s Lost (friendship breakups and losses).

When you think about it, friendships are very important. I still remember at the end of 6th grade when my best friend dumped me because I had “too much imagination.” I’m sure she meant to say “you’re too clingy and immature,” but was not articulate enough to express it. It hurt so tremendously and so deeply, and I was hard-pressed to find people who would eat lunch with me the following two years in junior high. I am not even sure if the pain later on of breaking up with boyfriends equaled that devastation. In this book, women explore all sorts of aspects of friendship: the difficulty in forming them, the richness they bring to our lives, the strong ties that have lasted over the years, and yes – even the breakups.

I didn’t connect to every story, to every voice, but that’s the beauty of this book. Everyone is bound to connect to someone. Every story is bound to reach somebody. We are all different, and we can hear ourselves in the stories people share. Let me share with you a few that I liked:

Monika Sakala who quoted from Anne of Green Gables on kindred spirits, and then shared how she found hers. Kelcey Kintner, who shares my abhorrence of small talk. Shay Stewart-Bouley tackling friendships between black and white women – it made me feel like we would be friends if we lived nearby, no matter how white I am. Pam Moore, who spoke of a pen pal that she still keeps after all these years – loyal, just like me (when an overwhelming life doesn’t get in the way). Alexa Bigwarfe, who spoke of grief and stepping into the ring with her band of friends at her side. Alexandra Rosas, whose loneliness as a young mom is heartbreaking. Erica Heller, who spoke graciously about a friendship breakup that someone else would have portrayed much more acerbically.

And there are more, of course, including those by my friends, which I read with great interest. There were 50 contributors, give or take. And I absolutely love the e-mail exchange between Jessica and Stephanie that was included at the end, which showed how the idea for the book came to life – and how their own friendship came to life through working on this project together. I know you will find stories that will speak to your heart in this book. You can buy the book by clicking on this Amazon link.

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I also want to take the time to thank Jackie at With Just A Bit of Magic for reviewing my memoir. Jackie is a mom of four and she works full time, so not only does she pull it all off with just a bit of magic, she also works her butt off. She has recipes on her blog, which I can’t always make (gluten or American ingredients) but they always tempt me. She’s connected all over on social media, and I’m sure most of you bloggers reading my blog already know her.

When you read her blog, you feel comfortable. She talks about the light stuff in life – the fun and the practical. But she also delves into the usual challenges life throws our way, and even goes into the deeper struggles. This one is about depression and anxiety, and it’s one of the reasons I can connect with Jackie. I recognise those struggles all too well. I’m very glad for the e-mail friendship we’ve been able to form lately – grateful for who Jackie is – and you can read her review here.

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In other news, I’ve not yet shown you pictures of Gabriel’s birthday party.

What do you get when you have to throw a last-minute birthday party together right after Christmas? An eclectic hodgepodge.

Mario Brothers paper goods.

Balloons that stick to the ceiling by static electricity instead of helium.

Owl cupcake Toppers.

Random birthday banners.

Soccer ball Piñata.

Aaaah. But there is candy! You can’t go wrong with candy.

And this gorgeous boy turned eight.

I’m so proud to have you as my son baby cakes.

How many more years can I get away with calling him baby cakes?

That’s it for the wrap-up. Have a great weekend! 🙂

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