A Milestone in Any Young Woman's Life

This year has been a year of firsts; a year of ups and downs; a year of late nights and early mornings. Before you roll your eyes at another supposed "hooray for me" post, let me tell you, that is not what this is. Today marked a very important day in my life. Last year I let two very influential women into my life. These women have been my "go to", if you will. They've let me create lesson plans in front of them. They've allowed me to eat bowl after bowl of cream of wheat in front of them. They've weathered my mocking and my pleading. They've endured long, unrelenting hours of having to "be on" just for me. And today, I had to bid them adieu. It was a sad day. I sat in my living room incredulously trying to fight back tears. I know I can see them again, but it won't be the same.

Today, I said my farewells to...the Gilmore Girls. That's right, up to today I held out hope for a Luke and Lorelai wedding. I held my breath for a tear inducing Jess/Rory reunion (that's right--Jess!). I held my breath for a tidy series finale tie up; but that is not the Gilmore way. Nothing is tidy and contrived in Stars Hollow. We roll with the punches, my friends, and we keep going. Oh the last season definitely was somewhat of a letdown. I mean without Amy Sherman-Palladino, some of the magic is gone. I mean Christopher and Lorelai? Married?! I had to deal with an overactive gag reflex for about 5 episodes (5 episodes too many). But, it was not a season 10 debacle a la Friends (sorry, Sara--you know how I feel, though).

It was a bittersweet parting. I know, I know--I'll always have re-reruns on ABC Family and DVDs, but now the element of surprise is gone; I know how it all ends. Oh, I'm sure it's like a good book--one that you can read and read and pick up new things every time. I'm sure I'll have more late evenings and early morning cream of wheat meetings. It was a sad moment, though, taking that last disc out of the DVD player, knowing that I couldn't rush to put the next one in (dangling preposition).

Now then, since I have just spent a pathetic week and a half watching theses DVDs and have accomplished nothing of merit, I feel I should begin something that doesn't require my monopolizing the television. I don't think seeing how long I can hold out on a shower before HAZMAT is alerted is a laudable achievement. So, I will be starting my summer reading list (not that I haven't been reading; I gave myself little breaks in between seasons...I'm not a complete loser).

So here it is--the books I would like to be able to read this summer (3 of which I am currently reading):

-Moby Dick by Herman Melville (this one requires an accountability partner--shout out to my good friend, Rachel)

-Peace Like a River by Leif Enger (wonderful suggestion from a wonderful friend)

-I Love You Beth Cooper by Larry Doyle (wonderful suggestion from a hilarious friend)

-There's a Slight Chance I Might be Going to Hell by Laurie Notaro (my mother highly recommended it and is allowing me to borrow her copy).

-The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath (because one can never be too depressed)

-The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway (because I feel like I should give him another chance...misogynistic pessimist)

-One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez (I really did enjoy Love in the Time of Cholera...let's see what G.G. Marqz (oh, Rachel) can do with this one).

and if there's time (because I do have to do some reading for the upcoming school year),

-The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseni.

Okay, Summer reading begins...NOW!