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A New Day


"Tomorrow is a new day with no mistakes in it yet."
Lucy Maud Montgomery, Anne of Green Gables


The first day of the new year my local public television station aired the 1985 television version of Lucy Maud Montgomery’s classic Anne of Green Gables. Despite some vocal protests of some other family members who would have preferred to watch something else, I won control of the remote and we watched the classic tale.


Watching it reminded me of reading the Anne books when I was a young girl and later watching the screen adaptation. Viewing it again made me want to move to Prince Edward Island all over again – it is so beautiful! So many scenes are favorites of mine: when she dyed her hair green and Marilla decided she could stay at Green Gables after all; when she nearly drowned in the boat playing Lady of Shalott; when she accidently got Diana Barry drunk and then later when she saved Diana’s sister’s life. I loved the character of Anne because despite whatever hardships she faced in life or whatever mistakes she made, she always picked herself back up and tried again.


The new year is a lot like that for me. It is a chance to start over, to begin again fresh. Of course there are always going to be mistakes in life. Some mistakes you know when you’re doing them (third piece of pie – I’m talking to you). Some you only recognize after the fact (cat I got for Christmas who decided to spray all over my house – I’m looking at you).


Each new year for me is an opportunity to start fresh, and believe me, I need it. I ended this last year feeling rather discouraged about my writing, but now I’m excited to start again, with new ideas and lots of scenes clamoring to be put on paper.


I have a lot of plans of all the wonderful things I’m going to do this year. Some may happen (my next book, The Highlander’s Heart, will hopefully be out in November). Some may not (diet and exercise, I’ll try once again to make you a part of my life). But each day I have the opportunity to brush off my mistakes and try again.


What are your hopes for this new year? And if you love Anne of Green Gables like me, what is your favorite scene?

Comments

  1. Amanda~ I've never seen Anne of Green Gables but I'm dying to now. I must see if I can rent it.

    I love the quote. I might just put that on my computer.

    As for what my hopes for the New Year, they are: Write more, eat less, work out and find balance in all things.

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  2. Amanda - It's been years, but I remember thinking the TV version of Anne of Green Gables was a wonderful screen adaptation of the book I'd enjoyed so much when I was young. We also used to watch the series that came from that...Avonlea.

    I'm so glad that although you were discouraged about your writing at the end of the year, you've got new ideas and scenes and are ready to write.

    I agree that each new day is a chance to begin again. Heaven knows if we didn't keep making mistakes, how would we ever learn from them? I do try not to make the same mistakes more than once or twice...although there were times when it did take a third time for reality to sink in! LOL

    I have high hopes for this New Year. I didn't make any resolutions, and maybe because of that I've signed up (again) for weight watchers and am making the time to be more active, and to keep my writing schedule from last year...getting up at dawn and writing for a few hours before work. Now all I have to do is figure out where the rest of what I have to do fits in.

    Looking forward to reading The Highlander's Heart.

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  3. Amanda - I have twelve granddaughters who love, love Anne ... all but Hope Irene, who is only two but I have confidence she will love it when she gets past Dora. My hope for the new year ... to never take one thing for granted. Not the day, the deadline, the visit with an old friend, the joy of seeing a new book cover, the excitement over seeing it in a store for sale, the Casababes! My hope is that when the year is done I can look back and say, "Damn, that was one fine year and I enjoyed every single minute of it."

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  4. My mother's Highlanders ended up in Prince Edward Island and I have a genealogy posting on the site for the MacNeills and Campbells. We're supposed to be related to Lucy Maud Montgomery. I loved her books. :)

    I can't wait to get The Highlander's Heart!!! I can never get enough of Highlander hunks. *sigh*

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  5. I've never seen that movie, either. Sounds like a good one, though. Being a writer is a bit like being bipolar--what they used to call manic-depressive--and will always have its ups and downs. Here's wishing you and all the Casablanca Babes more ups this year!

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  6. I loooooooove the Anne of Green Gables movies! Haven't seen them in ages... will have to stream them in on Netflix to watch with my youngest daughter. Thanks for the reminder. :)

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  7. Robin - the TV movie is totally worth it - a great adaptation. You've pretty much summed up my New Year goals as well - with an emphasis on balance!

    C.H. - Sometimes I only make a mistake once, sometimes I'm what you might call a "slow learner". I also have high hopes for this year, but I'm not getting up at dawn - I'm totally impressed with you!

    Carolyn - my kids are just recovering from their Dora affliction. I am trying to get them interested in the "Little House" books now, but we seem to have taken a detour towards "Captain Underpants". [sigh] I love your hope for the New Year - I'm totally stealing your idea and doing it too!

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  8. I've never seen Anne of Green Gables. I think I'm missing out.

    It's around this time of year when I start considering doing something completely "out there", such as giving up my career and becoming a transient recycler (aka baglady), but then the winter ends around March and I realize it was just a product of seasonal depression and burnout. Right now, becoming a transient recycler sounds much more fun that starting another semester tomorrow. Okay, time to get back to the prep-work. Thanks for the temporary distraction.

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  9. Terry - that is (to quote my children) totally awesome! Wow, how exciting to be related to one of my favorite authors! Have you ever visited Prince Edward Island? It looks beautiful.

    Cheryl - yup, I know about the ups and downs. Writing has some unique challenges and there have been some heartaches along the way, but I wouldn't trade writing for anything. At the end of the day I totally love what I do! I'm with you in wishing us all lots of the "ups"!

    Catherine - sounds like fun - enjoy!!

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  10. Olivia - I totally understand about the burnout, though I confess "tansient recycler" was never high on my list either. :) I took a few weeks off from writing around the holidays and now I am feeling much more fresh and ready to go. Sometimes we all just need a break. I hope you can give yourself a breather. Good luck with your next sememster!

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  11. I want to go to PEI, Amanda!!! My mother and I both wanted to, but never made it. Still, I hope to someday. :)

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  12. I loved this series with Megan Follows as Anne. I loved every character. I loved her feistiness but my fave thing about her is that she wanted to be "called" Anne with an "e". LOL

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  13. Terry - you and me have the same dreams for travel. First Scotland, now PEI - take me with you!

    Mary - I love the scene where she smashes her chalkboard over Gilbert's head and has to write out on the blackboard that "Ann" had been naughty, and she stubbornly adds the 'e' to her name. I love the spunk! And I think Ann with an 'e' is better too!

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  14. LOL Amanda. Exactly. Such a simple thing about her but even with the great story & acting, that made me smile every time.

    BTW in 2004, hubby, son & I drove from home (Toronto) to
    Nova Scotia to visit hubby's brother who was ill. We never did have time to go to PEI which I regret. The East Coast is absolutely gorgeous & the people are so friendly. I went grocery shopping with my SIL & people just say "good morning" & nod as they pass you. It was surreal.

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  15. There's a river cruise that goes up there! So when we become rich and famous, we can schedule that cruise and go together! :) Or just drive up there! :) Driving would allow us to see more. :)

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  16. Great idea Terry. Hubby also loved that the speed limit was higher the further east we went. It went from 100 KPH to 110 KPH (62 MPH to 68 MPH). That just meant that he could go his usual speed without a ticket LOL. No one drove in the fast lane - only to pass. After driving in Toronto gridlock it was a shock.

    Sorry - didn't mean to egt off topic.

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  17. Mary - sounds like a wonderful trip! I'm definately adding PEI to my "bucket" list!

    Terry - YES! I'm with you! And I'm liking the rich and famous part too! :)

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  18. Perfect for beginnings, Amanda.

    I haven't seen Anne of Green Gables in ages and I remember reading the books just as long ago.

    A lot of beginnings for me this year and I just hope to accomplish them all.

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  19. Linda - best of luck with all your new beginnigs. That can be a terrifying fun place to be!

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  20. I love the idea of starting over. We all deserve a clean slate at least once a year. Great post!

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  21. Sara - it is great to have a chance to start over and begin again. Happy New Year!

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  22. Amanda, I hope to make some positive changes this year, not really resolutions but just making better decisions, eating better, exercising, better sleeping habits, working smarter-not harder, getting my priorities straight. Those are seriously messed up. Yep. I need balance.

    I haven't seen Anne of Green Gables, but I think I'll check it out.

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  23. Anne of Green Gables is one of my all-time faves as well. Ahoy, kindred spirit!

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  24. Anita - balance for me is something I need to work on too. Good luck to both of us!

    Leah - hello kindred spirit!

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  25. Hi Amanda! I love Anne. My favorite concept from the show is 'kindred spirits'. I often use it when referring to readers who get my work. :}

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