Austin's favorite quote...it has become my words to live by



Austin's favorite quote, which has become my mantra:

"Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover." — Mark Twain

Tuesday, May 10, 2011

Water for Elephants

I just started reading the book.  I always need something to read in bed so I can get completely exhausted and finally fall asleep.  At the start of the book, the main character is an old man, reflecting on his life.  His wife of 61 years has died of cancer, and the following quote jumped out at me:

"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."  (p. 13)

It's too early for me to know if I'll like this book, but I love that quote.  Being the survivor sure does stink, and I'm glad Austin doesn't have to experience it.  I've decided that in surviving, I took one for the team.  Yeah me...

10 comments:

womanNshadows said...

i have not read this book yet, but oh, my God. i love that quote. totally agree. i would not want my Dragon to have experienced this. thinking of you and all your busyness. don't wear yourself down. rest when you can. love to you.

peace.

Lynda Halliger-Otvos said...

Yay you. I hear you and endorse you one hundred percent.

Grandma Poppi said...

I could not agree more. Read the book, really liked it. Saw the movie also and it stayed pretty true to the book.

Sandy said...

"being the survivor stinks" I couldn't agree more!

Janine (txmomx6) said...

Yes you did. Yay for you!!! But even in the "yaying", there is still much suckiness (like how I just make up words at a whim?).
I loved that book.
And I hope the movie does it justice.
Enjoy every line, Boo.
:)

Janine (txmomx6) said...

Sorry ..... I called you Boo!!!! My brain is melting .....
I profusely apologize .... even though it's a compliment.
:)

Boo said...

look what I wrote 5 months after he died:

http://boomayhew.blogspot.com/2009/06/sounds-selfish-but.html

and like you, I still feel the same. Even though it sucks.

Sudden widow said...

Great to hear from you all. After accidentally putting comment moderation on my blog, and not realizing it, I was wondering if my blogging days were over since no one was out there reading it. So glad to find out you are all still out there! And Janine, I completely take it as a compliment to be called Boo! Boo, I'm off to check out your previous post.

Am I Truly A Widow? said...

What an awesome quote. I would have to agree with it. Thanks for posting, gives me a different way of seeing all this!

Autumn said...

very great quote. thank you for posting this. keep your chin up, doll. we can do this.