stefanie says

At this point, it seems almost cliche to make a Year in Review post on the last day of the year. But New Years’ Eve tends to make me sentimental, and 2011 has been a year certainly worth reviewing.

I feel like I’m at the end of one of those grand rapturous movies that wrenches your heart and lifts your soul at the same time. There have been heroes and villains, the memorable quote here and there, and its fair share of startlingly difficult moments (or what screenwriters call “plot twists”, or more specifically, “obstacles the protagonist has to go through to achieve his dramatic need”). These moments have shifted the paradigm, they’ve said “There’s no turning back now.” And so I have moved forward, grudging and unsure, only to find myself here at the end of the triumphant third act, slightly bruised but completely and utterly alive.  

So while there will be reminiscing here, this post will not focus on the “Best Of”s (because the low points cannot be discounted), but instead my 2011 will be told in a series of borrowed lines, unaccompanied by explanations because I hope the words will tell their own stories:

2011 in Summary, as borrowed from… Books

You cannot protect yourself from sadness without protecting yourself from happiness.”

- Jonathan Safran Foer, Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close

“I wasn’t actually in love, but I felt a sort of tender curiousity.”

- F. Scott Fitzgerald, The Great Gatsby

“A cold voice answered: ‘Come not between the Nazgûl and his prey! Or he will not slay thee in thy turn. He will bear thee away to the houses of lamentation, beyond all darkness, where thy flesh shall be devoured, and thy shriveled mind be left naked to the Lidless Eye.’

 A sword rang as it was drawn. ‘Do what you will; but I will hinder it, if I may.’

‘Hinder me? Thou fool. No living man may hinder me!’

Then Merry heard of all sounds in that hour the strangest. It seemed that Dernhelm laughed, and the clear voice was like the ring of steel.

‘But no living man am I! You look upon a woman. Éowyn I am, Éomund’s daughter. You stand between me and my lord and kin. Begone, if you be not deathless! For living or dark undead, I will smite you if you touch him.’”

- J.R.R. Tolkein, The Return of the King (The Battle of the Pelennor Fields)

She is clothed with strength and dignity; And she laughs without fear of the future.

- Proverbs 31:25

2011 in Summary, as borrowed from… Poems

“You will put the wind in winsome, lose some. You will put the star in starting over, and over. And no matter how many land mines erupt in a minute, be sure your mind lands on the beauty of this funny place called life. I want her to know that this world is made out of sugar. It can crumble so easily, but don’t be afraid to stick your tongue out and taste it.

Sarah Kay, If I Should Have a Daughter

“We shall not cease from exploration / And the end of all our exploring / Will be to arrive where we started / And know the place for the first time.” 

T. S. Eliot, Four Quartets

2011 in Summary, as borrowed from… Movie Scenes

I believe that love that is true and real creates a respite from death. All cowardice comes from not loving or not loving well, which is the same thing and when the man that is brave and true looks death squarely in the face, like some rhino hunters I know, or Belmonte who is truly brave, it is because they love with sufficient passion to push death out of their minds, until it returns, as it does, to all men.

- Midnight in Paris

She used to look at me… this way, like really look… and I just knew I was there… that I existed. 

- Super 8

2011 in Summary, as borrowed from… Song Lyrics

There will come a time, you’ll see, with no more tears.
And love will not break your heart, but dismiss your fears.
Get over your hill and see what you find there,
With grace in your heart and flowers in your hair.

- Mumford and Sons, After the Storm

I see the scars of searches everywhere I go 
From hearts to wars to literature to radio 
There’s a question like a shame no one will show 
“What do I live for?” 

- Brooke Fraser, Hosea’s Wife

2011 in Summary, as borrowed from… Other People

“A ship is safe in harbour, but that’s not what ships are for.”

- William Shedd

“It’s good to have something that is undiscoverable, which frankly, I think every human being has.”

 - Meryl Streep

“It is our failure to become our perceived ideal that ultimately defines us and makes us unique. It’s not easy, but if you accept your misfortune and handle it right your perceived failure can become a catalyst for profound re-invention.”