Chapter 21:
Dear Diary,
I think I learnt some things today. I learnt that sometimes, what you think is best for someone may not in fact be true. Not for them. Not for Rita or for Ellie. Dare I say it, not for Oliver either. It's funny. One of the things that has always got under my skin about my mother is how she always barges in, thinking that she knows what is best of everyone – that she has to 'fix' everything. Today I learned that what annoys me about her, might be something I need to work on myself.
I truly did think that giving Rita a makeover was the right thing to do. I mean, she looked gorgeous! But I was too busy looking at that external stuff to notice that she was so uncomfortable. My intentions were true, but was I a bad friend because I assumed what was right for her, even if it wasn't? Has shutting myself off from others for so long meant that I have very limited friendship skills? I think that is true. I do want to try at it though. Rita saying that she felt that she had already won with friends like us was pretty special. Actually, seeing Norman's reaction to Rita's makeover was pretty hilariously special too. (Oliver's attempt to support Norman and Rita at the same time was pretty hilarious also.)
So, even though Oliver thought we were done with Ellie and Bobbie's story, it turns out we weren't. I really misjudged Mr Kempert. He is a good man, trying to do what is best for his daughter. What did he say, parenting was about protection, patience, humour and wisdom? I was in no position to judge him. I respect him so much, especially when he was willing to admit to his own doubts, and that he might had misjudged Bobbie and Ellie. What amazing parents the Kempert's and the Richards are. We attended an amazing wedding today and got to share such a special day with these amazing people. It was a bit bittersweet though, and I couldn't help but reflect on my own lack of fatherly support. Ellie is a strong and determined woman, and her father helped her to become that. There is no expiration date on that love and support for her. Go Ellie! Go Mr Kempert!
Bobbie is a great guy too, and I know that he has all of those qualities to make him a great husband to Ellie – patience, humour, protection and definitely wisdom. He knows that Ellie understands him, and after all, finding that person who gets you no matter what is what love is about isn't it? I think that is why I have such hopes for Rita and Norman.
Speaking of Rita and Norman, today was the local 'Miss Special Delivery' competition, and both Rita, and Norman shone. Rita was outstanding. She was articulate, clever and great on a pair of skates. She even managed to call Glynnis Rucker a spider! Go Rita! Norman was amazing too. His tree lobster story was just what Rita needed. Dare I say that Oliver was right too? He got that, 'to thine own self be true,' mattered to Rita. I looked up the whole quote. Polonius says that, 'This above all: to thine own self be true / And it must follow, as the night the day / Thou canst not then be false to any man.' Yep, O'Toole, I stand corrected.
Well diary, it is almost time to conclude this entry. I have a couple of last ponderings before I sleep.
Today was a great day. Apart from all else, I got to see Oliver O'Toole sit on a hay bale …. twice.
Finally, what do I conclude from Oliver asking me to dance? Was he just being polite because it was a wedding and seemed expected? Was he offering another olive branch? Why did he ask if I thought I would remember the steps? Did he think I had put them from my mind in anger? Whatever it was, although it didn't have the same … intensity as the last time we danced, it was .. nice. It was as if some equilibrium had been restored. For the first time in a while, I have hope that Oliver and I might get back to where we were before - friends. That, is a good thing, isn't it?