March 20, 2019 I'M ONLY HUMAN

Mistakes. We all make them. We're only human. They're a necessary evil. If we didn't make mistakes--we wouldn't learn any lessons right?? That's all well and good BUT there are different LEVELS of mistakes and SOME hurt a HELL of a lot more than others. Kind of like Dante's Circles of Hell. The level ONE mistakes are MERE fluff in comparison to LEVEL 9. WHOA-- level 9 are the BIGGIES. The scary ones. The LAPSES IN JUDGMENT--we never forget. If ONLY we could take them back-- Can't remember how many times I've thought that. These are the mistakes THAT stay with us forever. They are literally SCARS. OUCH. I have a few of those--Okay-- a few more than a few. Believe it or not--these are the IMPORTANT MISTAKES. These are the ones that BUILD CHARACTER.  They  bring us to a crossroad WHERE we have to decide WHOM WE WANT TO BE. My advice--Pull yourself up by your bootstraps--take a look in the mirror--and forgive yourself. Learn the lesson--take responsibility-- move on. In the SCHEME of life--this is just a SMALL hill. Climb it--slide down--begin again--SMILE.  Maurice Hannigan, the main character in Anne Griffin's debut When All is Said has made many mistakes over his long life too.
Set in Rainsford County, Ireland, Maurice Hannigan has decided he's lived long enough. But before he ends his life, he  wants to toast five people. These are the people who were an important part of his eighty-four years on Earth.  He decides to go to the local pub to toast each and it is here that he reflects back on his life. Through the toasts, we learn  about Maurice's life. Each chapter is dedicated to those he holds dearest in his heart. They include a brother who died of TB when Maurice was twelve, his dead wife, sister-in-law, stillborn daughter Molly and son--the only living member of the group. The story is second person as Maurice is addressing his son throughout the novel. He wants to make sure all his loose ends are tied up and that his son understands his life, the decisions he's made and the people who helped shape his life. This is a wonderful story that is at times funny, but also heartbreaking too as we will all be where Maurice is one day. This 330 page book is about a 3 mile run that packs a punch.