Life is like a sappy novel

I like to think of myself as an intelligent and moderately sophisticated despite frequent appearances of evidence to the contrary.  I have been lucky enough in my life to count among my friends and family truly exceptional individuals, and I realize that I am not in the same league, but at times I hope that I display some sense of taste.  But not perhaps always.      Perhaps it is just that I have been so well indoctrinated into the culture of the educated elite, that it seems somehow shameful to admit that I adore truly trashy romantic novels and sappy television shows with happy endings.  I can watch every movie made by Fred Astaire or Gene Kelly over and over without remorse, and I love Danielle Steel novels.

By Friday I was beginning to feel a little at loose ends in Knoxville.  I had been away from home for almsot two weeks, and although I love to travel, I love being home even more.  I was longing to be back in my own space.  The kids were also getting the hang of their new schedule and getting used to spending time with Owen so I wasn’t really needed as much as I had been in at the beginning of the week.

When I saw this novel alongside the checkout line in the grocery store, I snapped it up.  Danielle Steel novels may be formulaic, but they provide a perfect escapist fantasy with a happy ending and triumph over adversity and unkindness.  Just what I needed.

So I took my book over to Starbucks and ordered a Grande Mocha and curled up in a comfortable chair and started reading.  In fact I drank two Mochas during that interlude and it doesn’t seem to have hurt me any.  I finished the book in about 2 1/2 hours and felt relaxed and refreshed.  I think the money was well spent for the time — I would have spent nearly the same for a movie and probably not have enjoyed it as much.

Having enjoyed my little escape I was able to throw myself wholeheartedly back into my cooking and cleaning duties and get everything ready for my departure from Tennessee and return to New York. 

And upon my arrival, just to prove that sometimes life can be a little bit like a sappy novel, when I came down the escalator at the airport I saw G standing right outside the security doors, waiting.  Both our eyes lit up and we went running into each other’s arms as he swirled me around in a giant hug.  Who says happy endings can’t happen every day?