"Remember the Sweet Things"

Over the summer, well for me over the past week, I decided to read a book about the life of Ellen Greene. I usually am not one to sit down and find enjoyment out of a non-fiction book, but as I read her book "Remember the Sweet Things", it seemed just like a fiction book. I fell in love with her style of writing, the joy she found in her life, and everything she did to fulfill her life and live on edge.

Growing up in a small town in the northern part of Wisconsin, Ellen set out for Costa Rica to work on her Spanish degree. Since she was young, wild, and free from her christian home life, Ellen was ready to just have fun and part of that started at a club where she met her first husband, Carlos. She learns that she could do so much better and after a three-year's length of marriage she is back in the states. That is just her first stepping stone in life. Going through numerous men, moving her children, and losing jobs, Ellen finally finds happiness.

Back in the United States Ellen found a man that ended up being everything she ever needed. She found optimism and joy out of everything in her life. That's where her list of "Remember the Sweet Things" came from. Every time Marsh would do something nice, or she found something he did to be caring whether with her, family, or friends, she sould write it down. She figured that if you look at the negatives, you can never find the positives, and so from then on she would write down every positive thing about Marsh and when the time was appropriate she would share those memories.

Ellen had a certain edge to her. Marsh and her would just decide to travel, and so they'd pack some bags and hit the road. Sometimes with a plan, sometimes with nothing planned, just a drive and some stops. They lived in China for three years, traveled the world (well almost the whole world) in a boat, and made their life worth living. Ellen would switch up jobs and help teach English in different countries, and Marsh would work or do things at home.

If anyone were to ask me how I would want to live my life, it would be how Ellen had. She had a husband who adored her and shared the same interests as she did. They loved doing things together and had the "ideal" life. Financially they were always doing fine, but never were huge spenders. When complications came, they didn't fret, just went straight to a solution that they compromised on.

This book was a phenomenol read. Sometimes I had to stop and ask myself, "is this honestly a true story?" All the adventures and stories of what they went through seemed unreal. Along with that I couldn't believe how optimistic and up to anything these two people were. They pleased so many people, and gave so much of themselves, but didn't hesitate to meet their own needs as well. Everything they wanted accomplished was done. It was just incredible to see how she can come from having a life of disaster and pulling herself around and finding the best in everything. It's how everyone should find life, because as Ellen later found out you never know how long you'll have with someone.