It's the kind of character that I am going to develop. I am going to
pretend that all life is just a game which I must play as skilfully and fairly
as I can. If I lose, I am going to shrug my shoulders and laugh--also if I
win
I'm going to be good and sweet and kind to everybody because I'm so
happy ...
Oh, I'm
developing a beautiful character! It droops a bit under cold and frost, but
it does grow fast when the sun shines
I find that it isn't safe to discuss religion with the Semples. Their
God (whom they have inherited intact from their remote Puritan
ancestors) is a narrow, irrational, unjust, mean, revengeful, bigoted Person.
Thank
heaven I don't inherit God from anybody! I am free to make mine up as I
wish Him. He's kind and sympathetic and imaginative and forgiving and
understanding--and He has a sense of humour
I like the Semples immensely; their practice is so superior to their
theory.
They are better than their own God. I told them so-- and they
are horribly troubled. They think I am blasphemous-- and I think they
are! We've dropped theology from our conversation
I've discovered the true secret of happiness
Daddy, and that is to live in the now. Not to be for ever regretting the
past, or anticipating the future; but to get the most that you can out of this
very instant. It's like farming. You can have extensive farming and
intensive farming; well, I am going to have intensive living after this.
I'm going to enjoy every second, and I'm going to KNOW I'm enjoying it
while I'm enjoying it. Most people don't live; they just race. They are
trying to reach some goal far away on the horizon, and in the heat of the
going they get so breathless and panting that they lose all sight of the beautiful, tranquil country they are passing through; and then the first
thing they know, they are old and worn out, and it doesn't make any
difference whether they've reached the goal or not.
I've decided to sit
down by the way and pile up a lot of little happinesses
One doesn't miss what one has never had; but it's awfully hard going without
things after one has commenced thinking they are his-- hers (English
language needs another pronoun) by natural right
No one can ever accuse me of
being a pessimist! If I had a husband and twelve children swallowed by
an earthquake one day, I'd bob up smilingly the next morning and
commence to look for another set
I know lots of girls (Julia, for instance) who never know that they are
happy. They are so accustomed to the feeling that their senses are
deadened to it; but as for me--I am perfectly sure every moment of my life
that I am happy. And I'm going to keep on being, no matter what
unpleasant things turn up. I'm going to regard them (even toothaches) as
interesting experiences, and be glad to know what they feel like.
`Whatever sky's above me, I've a heart for any fate'
If you just want a thing hard enough and keep on trying, you
do get it in the end
But I still love you, Daddy dear, and I'm very happy.
With beautiful scenery all about, and lots to eat and a comfortable fourpost
bed and a ream of blank paper and a pint of ink--what more does one
want in the world?i
Please be thinking about me. I'm quite lonely and I
want to be thought about
I suppose that some day in the far future-- one of us must leave the other
but at least we shall have had our happiness and there will be memories to
live with
Daddy-Long-Legs By Jean Webster
وقتی این کتاب رو می خوندم (البته کتاب نیست، از اینترنت دانلود شده و پرینت گرفته شده و باندینگ شده!) کلی به سازنده ی کارتون بابا لنگ دراز بد و بیراه گفتم چون واقعا دلم می خواست (هنوز هم می خواد) بدونم اگه اون کارتون رو ندیده بودم چهره ی جودی رو چه شکلی تصور می کردم. مطمئنا چهره ی یک دختر واقعی تو ذهنم مجسم میشد که شاید موهاش نارنجی نبود و چشماش بیش از حد بزرگ نبود و دهانش گل و گشاد نبود!! اما خب نمی تونستم چون مدام چهره ی جودی کارتونی میومد تو ذهنم. البته بعدش بد و بیراه گفتنم رو پس گرفتم چون اگه این کارتون ساخته نشده بود شاید من هیچوقت دنبال این داستان نمی رفتم و اصلا نمی دونستم که چنین چیزی نوشته شده که این اصلا خوب نبود چون واقعا داستان قشنگیه و ارزش چندبار خوندن رو داره. نمی خوام نظرم رو راجع به جودی بگم چون کمتر کسی هست که جودی رو نشناسه و شخصیتش رو ندونه و فکر می کنم همه ی دخترهایی که باهاش آشنا هستن دلشون میخواد که مثل اون باشن، شاید هم اشتباه فکر می کنم.
نکته ی دیگه ای که توی این کتاب هست و جالبه اینه که کل داستان نامه هاییه که جودی واسه بابا لنگ دراز می نویسه و داستان از طریق اون نامه ها پیش میره.
مهم اینه که همه ی ما باور داشته باشیم یک بابا لنگ درازی یه جایی هست که نامه های ما رو می خونه، شخصیت مجهولی داره و هیچی ازش نمی دونیم. هیچوقت هم جواب نامه هامون رو نمیده ولی ما باز هم نیاز داریم که واسش بنویسیم ...من
اتفاقا همین چند وقت پیش داشتم دوباره سریالشو می دیدم. :)