Saturday, November 3, 2007

Alone last night ...

     I spent a few hours at Barnes & Noble last night pouring over art books and actually choose a new watercolor book. The tables at the coffee shop were full so I wandered upstairs and found an empty chair at a table in the FAU section to spread the books out on.

    Interesting chatter as people around me were studying different subjects together. Real estate talk at one table, algebra tutoring at another and a group of girls studying child development at the table directly in back of me. Sometimes being in the midst of a crowd, makes me feel less alone, but not last night.

     After I looked through about a dozen books to find one to bring home with me, I picked up a book off the top of a pile that someone before me left on the table. The book was called "On My Own, The Art Of Being A Woman Alone by Florence Faulk. After reading the paragraph below, I decided to buy the book, I'll let you know how it goes.

      In as much as all of us find ourselves alone, not once but many times during our lives, I use the term " Woman Alone" to refer to all women. By default, choice or necessity, we all experience our own particular life crossings that set us apart. Whether we prefer it or not, feel shame or pride in being there, this means that we may be separated, divorced, widowed, homeless, unmarried, never married, between partners, a gay woman, a welfare mother, a single mother, an aborting or miscarrying woman, childless, sick, old or dying, a jilted woman, a depressed woman, or alone in a loveless or troubled relationship. A woman may feel alone when she finds herself a seat in a crowded movie theater, waits in a hospital corridor for radiation treatment, or makes love with her partner in dull silence. For among the species of aloneness, one of the most painful to endure is to be in the presence of someone who arouses a need but does not satisfy it; another is the unblinking stare of indifference, which repels the  the exchange of concern, love or compassion between people. A woman- any woman- is alone when she feels emotionally or spiritually separate and apart from others and herself

     Sort of sums up the way I was feeling, by myself in a crowd in a bookstore on a Friday night.

                                     *** Coy ***

11 comments:

Anonymous said...

Or home reading your journal......Ü  Thanks~

Anonymous said...

Pretty powerful reading there, and I do know the 'alone' feeling.   Judy

Anonymous said...

I look forward to hearing your take on the book. The paragraph you shared was pretty powerful.

At my age - 39 - very soon to be 40 and no children, I sometimes feel alone when most of my contemporaries are busy with their married and/or child filled life. But, I enjoy my company so I never really feel lonely. I think it's okay to be alone and if we feel lonely we can do something about it - call a friend or family member, take a class, volunteer, yada yada yada.

::::hugs::::

Anonymous said...

The passage certainly resonates with me.  I will be waiting to hear what you think about the book as you get into it.

Anonymous said...

i know the feeling too.   let us know about the book as you read more...it sounds interesting...

Anonymous said...

Such a true statement

Anonymous said...

Absolutely.  I relate.

I can get lost in a good bookstore.  Days could pass ... I wouldn't even know it.  

Beautiful picture.

Anonymous said...

There sure is a difference between alone and lonely. I hope you were enjoying being alone!

xoxo

Anonymous said...

How ya doing, Coy?  No posts for a while...you ok?

Nancy

Anonymous said...

Making the rounds seeing if anyone is still out there and getting my alerts turned back on!!Know what you mean about being alone. I am alone at least 86% of the time when out in the world. Going to movies alone, that was a challenge in the beginning, now its second nature. Sitting alone in a Panera bread with a book and a cup of joe with all the buzz of Christmas shopping going on. Kind of like being ...... oh I don't know, an active observer.

Merry Christmas.

Anonymous said...

I've been wondering just how that book has gone ... and where have you been?  Hope all is well and your holiday is bright and happy.

Merry Christmas!  ~k