Wednesday, June 8, 2016

"Tell Me About the Rabbits, George."




So many years ago, before Sam and I were even married, I read Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck.  It affected me greatly at the time, and I remember just sobbing at the end of that book.  One can honestly say it is really an American classic, and I doubt that readers from other countries would necessarily be familiar with it.  It is the story of 2 drifters who travel from ranch to ranch during the Great Depression looking for work.  Although George is not an educated man, he is intelligent and watches over Lenny, who is a huge mentally disabled man.  The two men form a bond of friendship and dream of having a ranch of their own.  Lenny's favorite story is how he will one day be able to tend the rabbits.  So, hence, the famous quote I chose as the title for this post.




Lenny repeats this childish request often, and it makes him very happy to hear George tell him what it will be like in the future.  Steinbeck emphasizes the theme of dreams throughout the book.  I will admit to being a dreamer, too.  Don't quite remember when I first started saying this line to Sam, but it always made him smile and still does.  "Tell me about the rabbits, George."  He knows me so well.  I am quite like Lenny in this way.  Anticipation makes me just as happy as any special upcoming event in my life. 




When I was a child, I would look forward to vacations and Christmas and the last day of school and drive my family a little
batty, I'm sure.  I would draw maps to tape to the dashboard of the car so we would know the way to the lake and the little cottage on the hill.  There would be checklists and little papers stapled together like tear-off countdown calendars. 

                               
                                      Twelve days to go.....
                                       eleven days to go.....
                                             ten days....  
                          Are we there yet?  Are we there yet?



If you ask Sam, he will tell you that not much has changed.  When I am very excited about a vacation or visit or a present, I will sit on his lap or nestle in to spoon in bed and say.....   

"Tell me about the rabbits, George."  He is used to it by now but almost always chuckles.

"Ella, I told you about the rabbits last night," he will try to sound exasperated but is only teasing.

"I know, but I like to hear you tell it," I will plead.  "Please - just one more time."
 

Over the years the "rabbits" can change.  Special days, visits from faraway friends and family, times when Sam would return after he and I were forced to be apart, boys coming home, big trips and
small ones.  Having Sam tell me about a day that is coming makes me happy, even if the wait is a long one.  Sometimes I will even tell myself about the rabbits as I make plans or am falling to sleep.  Lately there is a special friend out in blogland to whom I explained this strange quote of mine.  Now she knows when an email from Ella says, "Tell me about the rabbits, George" that I want to talk about a special day in the future.


Ever since I discovered that there were other women just like me out there in the virtual neighborhood, I have ached to meet a friend that would know me for who I really am.  I'm not sure why that is so important to me?  Maybe some of you reading here today will identify with this need, and I would love to hear your thoughts on this.  But for me, it is 

                                              REALLY,
                                             FINALLY,
                                    CROSS MY HEART 
                                     GOING TO HAPPEN



very soon, and I cannot tell you how excited I am!  It will be one of those earth-shaking days that I will never forget.  The forecast is for smiles and hugs and even tears.  So for weeks now whenever I say, "Tell me about the rabbits, George," Sam just smiles and shakes his head.  I have dreamed of this just as sure as Lenny dreamed of his rabbits.  Right now I am counting down the days and hours and minutes. And I love that the anticipation is such a glorious part of the lead up to this special event in my life.  I would not trade it for anything.  Gustave Flaubert wrote this about that wonderful time of waiting.

          "Pleasure is found first in anticipation,
                          later in memory."

             I promise to share some of those memories, too.




















16 comments:

  1. What a lovely post Ella, I love the anticipation of special days and events. I'm so happy for you and hope you have a wonderful time together. I would love to be able to meet blog friends in person.

    Hugs
    Roz

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  2. You will all have such a wonderful time..how could you not???
    Can't wait to hear all about it!
    hugs abby

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  3. Lovely post, Ella. One of my daughters is an English teacher and 'Of Mice and Men' was one of her favourite books on the curriculum. Not sure whether it's still on the reading list now.

    Jan was the one of the first people I de-lurked to and we've been friends ever since. One of her sons is moving to a village near me soon, so we're looking forward to getting together in the not too distant future.

    I know you'll all have a great time together; colour me green with envy.

    Rosie xx

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    1. Grr... The preview pane on my iPad doesn't show the whole comment.
      Jan was one of the first...

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    2. Yes and I can't wait. Then we will both meet Ella !x

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  4. Smiling -
    Toe is tapping and the suitcase is in the house.

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  5. Ella,
    It won't be long now.
    Meredith

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  6. You'll have a blast.

    Love,
    Ronnie
    xx

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  7. Hi Ella! This is such a heartfelt, BEAUTIFUL post! I loved how you shared your love of 'Of Mice and Men'. I love how you shared that you say that line in anticipation of special events. I love how you tell us that Sam knows, and understands how excited you get about special events, and listens and talks about the lead up with you!

    I also love how you speak of how special these kinds of friendships are! You know, we are very, very lucky to be able to stand in front of others who we have made such special ties with. Finding other people, who are similar to us, as well as accept us for who we are/allow us to be ourselves, is pretty amazing. Speaking for myself, I have made some incredible friends from blogging, and I don't even have to ever have met them in the flesh to be certain of that. It is a concept that took some time for Rob to understand. I guess that you really have to go through it to "get it". To meet up, is icing on the cake! That is for sure! Wish that a whole bunch of us could gather- but unfortunately, geography makes it tough. One day, maybe! :)

    You can "Tell me about the rabbits, George" any time! I'm incredibly excited too!!!! Many hugs,

    <3 Katie

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  8. I picture you jumping up and down clapping your hands with great excitement!!

    Lucky lady!

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  9. Awww, Ella, you make me so happy. Women don't always accept one another. Here we do a darn good job! Anticipation, excitement, memories... we have it all coming.

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  10. So very excited for all of you, Ella and looking forward to hearing all the fun details. Have fun and make awesome memories!

    Hugs and blessings...Cat

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  11. This is such a beautiful post...I can feel every word in my heart. :-) Hugs for real soon.

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  12. Ella loved reading this post. You definitely sound very excited about your upcoming meeting with other blog friends. Bet you all have a ball.
    Hugs Lindy

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  13. This is very cute, I love your post. Enjoy your time with special friends.

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  14. Hi Ella, oh it is so exciting this life we lead. Just leaving Madeira, in case you were wondering, lol
    love Jan, xx

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