Crossing The Moon by Paulette Alden
Paulette's story was one I could relate to at many different points. She was raised in the prim and proper south. I was not, however the same moral values were drummed into my head beginning at a very young age. When Paulette set off to a fellowship at Stanford, she drove across country not knowing anything of the rest of the world. Her innocence and naivete may have been her greatest strength. I made a similar choice to move to a strange city where I knew no one after I graduated from college. It was struggle, but today I am better off because of it.
I also admired Paulette's desire to be a writer. I related completely to the struggle of time and distraction that is every writer's enemy. And I felt her joy at receiving an acceptance letter from a publisher. A writer's life is full of ups and downs and as a writer myself, I found comfort knowing I am not alone.
The bulk of this story is Paulette's path through infertility treatments. In my thirties, I made a conscious decision not to have children. No woman comes to that choice lightly and I remember that phase of my life well. Paulette took a step further through years of fertility treatment but in the end came to the same resolution that children were not going to be a part of her life. She found peace. I completely understood her choice and her thought process.
Crossing The Moon is a lovely memoir of a woman's choices in life. As women we have a habit of second guessing ourselves but we need to remember that each step we take is part of a journey called life. The voyage belongs to you and only you no matter where it might lead.
Paulette's story was one I could relate to at many different points. She was raised in the prim and proper south. I was not, however the same moral values were drummed into my head beginning at a very young age. When Paulette set off to a fellowship at Stanford, she drove across country not knowing anything of the rest of the world. Her innocence and naivete may have been her greatest strength. I made a similar choice to move to a strange city where I knew no one after I graduated from college. It was struggle, but today I am better off because of it.
I also admired Paulette's desire to be a writer. I related completely to the struggle of time and distraction that is every writer's enemy. And I felt her joy at receiving an acceptance letter from a publisher. A writer's life is full of ups and downs and as a writer myself, I found comfort knowing I am not alone.
The bulk of this story is Paulette's path through infertility treatments. In my thirties, I made a conscious decision not to have children. No woman comes to that choice lightly and I remember that phase of my life well. Paulette took a step further through years of fertility treatment but in the end came to the same resolution that children were not going to be a part of her life. She found peace. I completely understood her choice and her thought process.
Crossing The Moon is a lovely memoir of a woman's choices in life. As women we have a habit of second guessing ourselves but we need to remember that each step we take is part of a journey called life. The voyage belongs to you and only you no matter where it might lead.
