I've known about RTW for a couple of weeks but never gotten around to participating. Today's topic is one I couldn't pass up:
I would've given anything to be like Scarlett O'Hara of Gone with the Wind. Instead, I was far more like sweet, long-suffering Melanie Wilkes than spoiled Miss Scarlett. While reading the book, I had so much fun imagining that I was the daughter of a wealthy plantation owner in the antebellum South. Oh, the dresses I'd own. The suitors who would stand around me like love-sick puppies! But I never understood what Scarlett saw in Ashley Wilkes, when Rhett Butler was so obviously her match in every way.
Interestingly, I had a good friend in high school who was like a blonde Scarlett O'Hara. Like Scarlett who tried to steal Ashley from Melanie, my friend did actually did steal my crush from me. That's me on the left, and my friend on the right. She had boyfriends galore, and a closet full of clothes ... but she also had a darker, more troubled life, which I didn't really see as a teenager.
This friend's life has intrigued me to this day, and was the inspiration for the heroine of my current WIP. After high school, I lost contact with this friend. She's never attended any of our class reunions, and has always been one of the people on the list of "Can you help us find this person?"
that's really sad that you have lost contact. I hope one day you find her again!
ReplyDeleteFacebook eh? It is so interesting to see where people end up.
ReplyDeleteI love the picture you posted--one of those quiet images that suggests a lot going on in terms of emotions. I hope you find out more about what happened to your friend--you've captured my interest!
ReplyDeleteI agree with Rebecca about the picture. And as far as Scarlett into Ashley, maybe she had a thing for blonds?
ReplyDeleteIt's funny how things like that can go totally over your head as a kid. I know I had a friend when I was 7 or 8 who was the skinny blonde girl. Years later, my mom told me that she had been battling an eating disorder at that young age. I never saw that at all.
ReplyDeleteGreat post!
Yeah, I do think that as kids we're so wrapped up in the image thing that we don't see the darker sides of our peer's lives, especially if our own family life is blessedly boring.
ReplyDeleteI also like the picture, very powerful.
I agree, that photo has a lot of subtext. It's really cool you still have it.
ReplyDeleteI also agree about Scarlett and Ashley-- he was so not right for her.
:( I hope you find your friend someday.
ReplyDeleteAgreed with the picture - there's a lot to infer. I think a lot of us go through the emulation stage - I just read Someone Like You (Sarah Dessen) and it speaks specifically to this topic. Awesome read.
ReplyDeleteI know how that is - I had a best friend who I lost touch with after she dropped out of school/got heavily into drugs, etc. She had a troubled homelife too. I still wonder where she is, or even if she's alive.
ReplyDeleteOh, how I love Gone With The Wind! I watch it at least twice a year.
ReplyDeleteRegarding you old friend, it's funny how things look so different with a little distance and perspective.
Great post - and lots of those girls had lots of trouble - thats kinda the thing about high school - everyone get some knocks - but you don't always see them.
ReplyDeleteSuch a subtle, fascinating photo! I hope you track her down one day.
ReplyDeletei love that picture! i, too, hope you get back in touch with her someday
ReplyDeleteI adore GONE WITH THE WIND. I'm a lot more Scarlett than Melly, and I always wished I had the grace and poise that Melly did. Although I do agree, Rhett is so much better than Ashley. I always kinda thought Ashley a bit of a cowardly in his personal life, despite his war record!
ReplyDeleteLove that you're in Idaho! Probably not all too far from northern Wyoming, where LIKE MANDARIN takes place :)
ReplyDeleteI'm fascinated by the story of your friend. Thank you for including the photo. And best of luck with your book!
Like many others who've commented here, I love that photo - it says so much. I agree that your old friend would provide strong inspiration for a character - I have a similar character in the back of my mind who hasn't quite made it into my writing yet. She will though, one day.
ReplyDeleteMaybe when your book becomes a smashing success, you'll stumble across your old friend at a book signing somewhere. :-)
I had to come back - I wanted Scarlett's ability to get out of stuff ...but I would have rather been like Melanie Wilkes - after all she got the guy - got loved by all and even won selfish Scarlett. The book is so different from the movie - Scarlett wants to be like her mother and Melanie but always has to be the one to step up and deal with disaster. I would have never been attracted to Ashley as either person - I'll take drunk, violent, cruel Rhett any day...lol
ReplyDeleteOh Gosh, Cathy. She looks just like I imagined Crystal!
ReplyDeleteInteresting, I wonder what ever happened to her?
ReplyDelete