Charlotte's Web

Charlotte is for many of us like Cher and Liberace: her first name is enough. Everyone knows Charlotte. Everyone has a story: a time they rose from shrinking fear to do something brave, a moment they realized they could do something they thought unthinkable, a quote so clever they taped it to their wall. We all think she's ours, but I can't imagine anyone so very much her own.

Charlotte does everything her way, including telling the world really difficult news. There is no artifice to this woman as she participates in the world so fully and directly. At the same time, she is the least attention-seeking person I know.

I have never really believed in "denial." I am sure this is because I've not really tried it. I can report now being in genuine thrall to its charms. Denial feels like a perfectly respectable and practical refuge.

Comments

  1. Laura, can you budge up there in the denial corner, I want to come and join you. Charlotte is one of life's forces - an energy source and a force to be reckoned with; some things are unimaginable and denial looks to me like a perfectly good way of managing while continuing to live life one day at a time for as long as any of us is able.

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  2. Plenty of room in here, door is open, all are welcome.

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  3. I agree. Sorrowfully.

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  4. I like your title Charlotte's "web". Years ago I participated in one of those group things during which everyone was invited to paste those dreaded sticky notes with one comment or another up on a wall giving the moderator something useful to do. One of the questions following the exercise was something to the effect of how we visualize our workplace. I piped up with the remark that I view our organization like a web rather than the traditional org chart. I still remember the silence (of recognition) that followed for we all live within all sorts of webs. Those that are intricately woven and therefore include so many people, even subtly, are very strong, indeed. Charlotte's web is like that. I have never met her but I respect her profoundly and I'm in the camp that wants to climb wherever you are, Laura, to join you for awhile in denial having had an extended cry yesterday after reading Charlotte's post.

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    Replies
    1. A web is really a better analogy, you're right. This community of ours - of which Charlotte is a busy builder and maintainer of threads - is the perfect example.

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  5. Room for a tall one? I'll bring tea and tissues. We just need cake and a decent WiFi connection...

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  6. Ahem. There are no TISSUES in Denial because we do not have tears or snot. Tea is welcome. Also cake.

    In here we watch vintage romantic comedies, 1940s musicals, re-runs of Lucy and Friends, and after noon we switch up tea for Margaritas.

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  7. You don't cry in 1940's musicals?

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  8. Hmm. Good point. But then again I cry during touching commercials.

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  9. If I can join you I'll bring the cake!!

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  10. I'm joining your group - and am still at a loss for words to express to Charlotte.
    She has been my silent partner in the Big Girl Pants approach for so long - it was just a given that her Big Girl Pants would beat this too. Re-runs of Lucy and Friends sounds perfect.

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  11. As my daughter is doing well, I don't keep tabs on ED/AN stuff like I used to, I just now read this. Thank you for sharing.

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