Appendix
Flashforward to February 2017 when this book begins to be written.
I ask Omar – a genius friend – for some feedback and he repeatedly challenges me, “Anna, the nicest parts are the ones where you dare to be vulnerable, like when you’re concerned for your teens after moving out.”
“Yeah, but isn’t the story supposed to be funny? And how can I expose myself?? I’m a teacher and a mother,” I wonder for months ahead.
CT2 reads some excerpts as well and he agrees. I should definitely say what I’m really, really thinking. He suggests a blog.
Now, flashforward again to yesterday – if you get what I mean (8 October 2017).
Some of my smartest friends have been reading my blog. They like it🤘. We’re all visiting Iris’s family in Vantaa:
Joey. Mom Riitta and I. Carol & Sami. Velho. Natasha and her daughter Anastasia.
Carol introduces us to her boyfriend…
“Well, finally Carol! Where were you hiding him for all these months?” I tease her.
Aww. Such a beautiful couple. And I can totally get what she sees in him. So happy for them… Emotional me thinking to myself.
Carol and Sami met online after Iris and I insisted for months she join our virtual club – which she did. Reluctantly.
Gosh. Love at first date. More importantly: with the first guy she goes out with!! Lucky bastards.
We’re at the table and this is when my mom Riitta, usually quiet/just observing everything tells Carol and Sami, “You guys have had more luck than Anna!”
Ouch.
“Cause as far as I know, she’s not dating anyone right now!” she says, looking at Velho.
More about that later.
“Hey Anna,” Carol says, “it’s cool that your blog is funny and light, but what can really set it apart is that you won’t just share your online dating to your reader. Above all, share your emotions, the pain of the divorce, your inner life…” she’s adamant in reminding me.
Lucy and Fred are divorced friends of mine, still single like myself. They asked me for more blood in the story; the gory details and I quote: “How did you sleep the first night alone? Where’s the rage?! The hurt. The reader will want to relate.”
“But, but, I want to tell the story as it actually unfolded. To me, it has to be authentic. Be patient. It’s coming,” I try to explain, feeling defensive.
Humpf. I’ve been adding some scarlet drops here and there. 🦈 I hope you’ve noticed.🦇🐲🦂 🐊 🐆 🐃🐲🦏 💉💣🐻 OK, some of these emojis don’t look that scary, so: 👿 👹 👺
Truth be told, all this feedback has been helping me dig into my deepest self.
I’m getting there…
It’s therapeutic. All part of a process. Remember that Anna is determined. And she tries hard to live according to the following challenges: Let it go. Let it be. Live and let live. There are no problems in life: just solutions.
Well, at least I hope so.🕊
What about Iris? Oh, Iris is something else.
My loving friend Iris is ab-so-lu-te-ly hilarious. A Jewish engineer, she’s always loud and clear about her opinions – if anything, you can count on that. Kind of like Golde from Fiddler on the Roof.
“Oh, for F#c*’s sake! Who cares what the others think of your writing??! It’s your story. Your book. Just do it like you want to, my dear, and enjoy..!”
After the evening with her friends, Anna feels inspired to go back to Chapter 7 to add some more sensitive material there. Scroll down all the way back to Tino’s, if you will.
“Two days. My very first date! Yay.”
…Blah Blah Blah. Long story short, the guy cancels. Maybe you recall it?
Amiga Lucy rereads chapter 7 with its additions this morning. Then she gets back to me.
“The part I like the most is ‘Stupid Tino thanked me for understanding…’ I would have told him:
”
Ops, Tino.
Roasted!
© 2017 rf
The Chronicles of a Happy Divorcée 