The End of Everything, a short story from The Netherlands.
The End of Everything, a short story from The Netherlands.
In June 2010 S and I arrived in The Netherlands with the notion of finally ‘settling down’. Yes, it was time to get ‘proper’ jobs. To buy an apartment, maybe have kids and all that malarkey. What could possibly go wrong?
——
S moved out in early July 2013, leaving me with our cats CJ & Charlie and an apartment full of memories. Each evening, when I returned home from work, I seemed to exist only in a fuzzy haze as I tried to come to terms with what was happening.
I spent a great deal of time working my way through the towering pile of movies stacked up in the living room. Damn, there were a lot of films. I also re-watched the brilliant HBO TV series The Wire, just for the hell of it. Elsewhere, I took long baths, overate, under-exercised, over analysed and underslept.
The Wire: More depressing than divorce.
Nights were particularly difficult. Unable to sleep, I’d sometimes sit playing with the cats for hours. Other times I’d just stare at the ceiling as my mind trudged uselessly through the key events of our relationship.
I thought about those early days in Belgium and our travels around China. And of course I found myself going over our arrival in The Netherlands and the rocky road that led to this current state of affairs.
The End of Everything, a short story from The Netherlands.
Hmm… there’s nothing here about binge watching.
I also listened to a ton of music. I’d always wanted to collect Marvin Gaye, so I bought a bunch of his stuff and gorged on it. No surprise that I found myself drawn to his epic divorce record Here, My Dear. As a companion piece, I picked up a copy of the engrossing David Ritz book Divided Soul, the ultimate Marvin Gaye biography.
The book details Gaye’s messy breakup with Anna Gordy, the daughter of Motown Records boss Berry Gordy. It was an intense separation, a sorry affair punctuated by bitter legal action, out of control spending habits, debilitating drug use and a fierce child custody battle.
The End of Everything, a short story from The Netherlands.
With his estranged wife suing him for a huge amount of money, Gaye was talked into putting out a new record. Fifty percent of the royalties, his lawyer said, would go to Gordy as a settlement. In the beginning, Marvin was determined to make the record “quick and painless”, not wanting to put in much effort.
Marvin Gaye and Anna Gordy Gaye before it all went wrong.
However, as the recording process unfolded, he found himself fascinated by the idea of documenting the most painful experience of his life. As a result, Gaye ended up pouring his heart and soul into the record. Furthermore, knowing Anna would end up getting half the profits, he cheekily titled his album, Here, My Dear.
The Ultimate Divorce Record.
The End of Everything, a short story from The Netherlands.
Marvin’s divorce story certainly helped me put things into perspective. After all, S and I were actually dealing with everything very well. We’d managed to iron out the financial side of things without a major row and had even begun the awful process of separating possessions.
Dividing up the movie collection…
It wasn’t easy of course, but piece by piece we were getting through it. “Um… Titanic!” said S, a ponderous finger on her lips as she scanned the shelves. “True Romance!” I replied. “Cry Baby!” she announced vigorously. “The Deer Hunter” I countered, trying not to hide the smirk that was breaking out on my face.
Titanic, an expendable component of any divorce negotiation.
“This is literally the most amicable breakup in history” quipped a friend of mine over the phone. “Why are you guys splitting up again?” asked another.
“Are you sure this is what you both want?” my mum asked, back when my parents had visited. We’d been sitting in the little garden of their canal side hotel room, the four of us drinking wine. My dad listening intently as he puffed away on his signature vacation cigars. “It’s all so strangely civil” he observed.
The End of Everything, a short story from The Netherlands.
I could see how things might have looked from the outside. But I was beginning to grow tired of trying to explain it to people. They could never understand, especially those whose own relationships had survived all kinds of shit. Habitual fighting, screwing around on each other, alcoholism, abuse, drug addiction. You name it, so many people just seemed to deal with it and stay together.
S and I hadn’t wronged each other in any way. We’d just drifted apart, lost our spark, run our course. I wasn’t angry or resentful, I was simply sad. I felt gutted for the young idealistic people we’d been when we first met eight years earlier.
The End of Everything, a short story from The Netherlands.
At Old Harbour I was starting to grow tired of the job. After three years with the company, I felt like I’d hit a wall when it came to the nuts and bolts of my typical working day. I could pretty much knock out the daily news items in my sleep, while the formulaic structure of our weekly programs no longer felt fresh or exciting. Now that S and I were calling it a day, a frightening notion hit me one morning while I was cycling to work.
Do I really need to stay in Amsterdam?
This is what three years of writing celebrity news will do to you.
The thought lingered in my head for almost a week before I finally came to the conclusion that the only reason to stay was the opportunity to interview more Hollywood folk. In the words of Mr. Marvin Gaye: “Is that enough?”
I was still mulling it all over as I trammed my way across Amsterdam to interview the French film maestro Jean-Pierre Jeunet. While I could never proclaim myself an expert on French cinema, I did love Jeunet’s work.
Jean-Pierre Jeunet.
For me, his movies Delicatessen, Amélie and The City of Lost Children are titans of modern day cinema. Movies stuffed full of cartoonish visuals, unpredictable plots and off-kilter characters. I also liked how he tastefully balanced tones of heightened romance with dark, brooding despair. My interview with him was for his second English language movie, The Prodigious T.S. Spivet, starring Helena Bonham Carter.
The End of Everything, a short story from The Netherlands.
I’m not sure if it was just my state of mind, but I found the movie underwhelming. On the one hand it contained all the elements of what a great Jeunet picture should be. However, despite the beautiful cinematography and quirky characters, Spivet seemed full of contrived character decisions, heavy handed dialogue and a muddled plot.
The End of Everything, a short story from The Netherlands.
The Young and Prodigious T.S. Spivet.
If I was a little disappointed with the movie, that was nothing compared to the experience of interviewing Jeunet. Unfortunately, he was an abrasive, uncooperative prick from the moment I sat down and said hello.
With the limpest of handshakes, he refused to even look at me until the cameras started rolling. Which meant that we just sat there in awkward silence. Moreover, he seemed intent on peppering our chat with withering looks and one word answers. Maybe he’d just been having a bad day, though my online research suggests this probably wasn’t the case.
Jean-Pierre Jeunet: Great director, lousy interview.
“Leighton, how are you?” asked Trudy. “How about your life in Amsterdam?” I was skyping with my old boss from the school S and I had taught at in Beijing. Despite our somewhat bumpy year working together, we’d kept in touch. I’d even continued working for her as a freelance recruitment consultant.
Every now and then she’d ask me to screen a bunch of CVs and interview any desirables before making a final recommendation. It wasn’t a great deal of work and my bank account certainly appreciated the extra cash injections. When I gave Trudy a brief rundown of “my life in Amsterdam” she was initially lost for words. “Oh… I’m so sorry” she muttered and quickly changed the subject.
The End of Everything, a short story from The Netherlands.
But around a week later I was surprised to receive an email from Trudy with an unexpected job offer! Basically she wanted me to return to Beijing and help her manage the school. “You will be my head teacher” she explained, as if the matter had already been agreed. “You will help me take care of everything, especially when I take Happy to school in America”.
Ah yes, the prodigious Happy Wang. Boy genius… the micromanaged one… reluctant student of infinite subjects. The child who would sometimes look at me as if he’d love nothing more than to do a T.S. Spivet and jump on a train that would take him away from everything.
The End of Everything, a short story from The Netherlands.
I knew I was going to accept the job offer the moment I’d finished reading the email. Overall, I felt a move away from The Netherlands was just what I needed to get my life back on track. It would be a great chance to reflect on everything and begin the long journey towards inner peace. Yes, it was going to be an exciting new start!
The End of Everything, a short story from The Netherlands.
Those last four months of 2013 were the toughest of my life. Having made my decision to leave Amsterdam, it was agreed that S would retain the apartment and buy me out of my half of the mortgage.
But then, in a truly horrible morning with a valuator, we discovered that our place was in negative equity. This meant I’d have to buy myself out of the contract. I lost about 75% of my life savings that winter, but hey, sometimes you just have to bite a big old bullet.
Signing on the Dotted Line.
The End of Everything, a short story from The Netherlands.
S had no interest in keeping the cats. Thus it was up to me to find them new homes. After a succession of frustrating time wasters, I finally found a young Moroccan couple who I felt wanted to adopt them for the right reasons. Packing up all their stuff and popping them both into their cat bags for the last time was just another level of heartbreak.
I can still see little Charlie fixing me with a confused, wide-eyed look. Right up until the moment the car sped off. “What’s going on?” his little black and white face said. If only I could have explained.
The End of Everything, a short story from The Netherlands.
“We’ll be sorry to lose you,” said Ap, shifting his glasses up to his forehead. “But I understand, you gotta do what you gotta do”. With just three months to go until I boarded my plane to China, it was a scary thought to realise that I was gradually building up to the end of everything.
I’d lost S, my home and most of my savings. Additionally, I was turning my back on the best job I’d ever had and bidding farewell to some good friends. Eventually, I sorted my earthly possessions into packing boxes and arranged for everything to go into a storage facility outside Amsterdam.
The End of Everything, a short story from The Netherlands.
Another depressing divorce task.
“Leighton, do you think you can handle one last junket?” Lianne asked me one snowy December morning. “Sure, who’s up?” I enquired.
My final set of interviews for Old Harbour took place on December the 11th 2013 at The Marriott Hotel on Grosvenor Square in London. The movie Anchorman 2 hadn’t been my cup of tea at all. In fact, I thought it was a bit crap. Still, I had no complaints whatsoever with The Hollywood stars I’d be adding to my CV.
The Marriott at Grosvenor Square, London.
My first chat of the day was with Steve Carell and Paul Rudd, who were incredible fun from start to finish. “Jellybeans?” asked Rudd, as I took my seat. He was stuffing his face from a giant glass jar and didn’t hold back as he emptied a small mountain into my hands. “Oh, you’ve dropped a few” he pointed out helpfully.
The End of Everything, a short story from The Netherlands.
I’d hardly finished relocating them to my jeans pocket when Carell leaned forward with a fishbowl of shiny, plastic wrappers. “Would you care for a condom?” he enquired. “Uh… sure” I replied, “any recommendations?” “I’d go for the skins” he said. Hence I fished out a pink one and popped it into my pocket with the jellybeans.
Paul Rudd & Steve Carell.
The End of Everything, a short story from The Netherlands.
Will Ferrell was an odd one, just as I’d expected him to be. When I entered the room he was in deep conversation with David Koechner about something Will had said in the previous interview.
“Maybe we can edit that out. I don’t want it to sound like I was… oh, hey!” he cried suddenly, interrupting himself as he became aware of my presence. “How’s it going? Are you all psyched up for Cyber Monday?”
Will Ferrell.
During our interview we talked about who pulled off the best perm (Paul Rudd?), which actor could have played Doby the Shark (Warren Buffet, Sylvester Stallone) and why live police car chases make such great TV. “You literally have no idea what’s going to happen next” explained Will, leaning forward, a picture of seriousness.
The End of Everything, a short story from The Netherlands.
While Ferrell was totally cooperative and highly quotable, there was something about his stiff body language and forced laughter that was painfully awkward. “Did you like the movie?” he asked at the end, once the cameras had stopped rolling. “Uh… yeah, it was… entertaining”. Fuck, he’d really caught me by surprise.
The End of Everything, a short story from The Netherlands.
The End of Everything, a short story from The Netherlands.
Director Adam McKay meanwhile was really personable, though there was initially some confusion when he assumed I was Dutch. “Leighton, your English is fantastic!” He was also genuinely interested in finding out how I’d ended up in Amsterdam and if I could teach him a few Dutch words.
As a director of mainly goofy comedies, I was surprised and delighted when, some years later, McKay won a Best Adapted Screenplay Oscar for the financial drama The Big Short.
Hollywood director Adam McKay.
Elsewhere Judd Apatow joked that making an Anchorman sequel was “all about the money”, while James Marsden was polite and handsome, but ultimately a bit bland with his answers.
Finally, there was Christina Applegate, who did nothing to charm me with her snippy comments and general argumentativeness. All in all though it was still a fun day. As I headed off to Heathrow for my flight back to Amsterdam, I knew that I would miss all this, no doubt about it.
James Marsden.
The End of Everything, a short story from The Netherlands.
My farewell drink with S was easier than I’d thought, initially at least. We knocked back a few beers, reminisced over old times and kept the anecdotes light and breezy. Then it was time to part, the two of us stood at Rembrandt Square tram stop like stone statues set apart at a polite distance.
“Goodbye” she sobbed. We were hugging each other, an embrace I admittedly didn’t want to step away from. But of course I had to, because my tram was pulling in. The tram that would take me away from her forever. Back to the empty apartment that would be mine for only one more night.
The End of Everything, a short story from The Netherlands.
The End of Everything, a short story from The Netherlands.
Turning away, I boarded the tram and dropped into a seat. As I wiped my eyes with the sleeve of my coat, I caught sight of a young Dutch couple sniggering at me from a few seats ahead. The guy had a smirk on his face that, for a few brief seconds, ignited a rage in me I’d never felt before.
Luckily I kept it together and the tram rumbled away, its clunking wheels acting as a sedative. I could feel S was still standing there, waiting for me to turn the corner out of sight. I wanted to look back one last time, but thought it best not to. So I whipped out my phone, dove into a Franz Ferdinand album, hit play and emptied my mind.
‘The End of Everything’ is the sixth and final chapter of my short story collection Notes From The Netherlands.
I’ve been living, working and traveling all over the world since 2001. So why not check out my huge library of travel reports from over 40 countries.
67 Comments
The title The End of Everything has a really ominous feel to it. Your natural sense of drama makes it work even though it is the start of something too thanks to Trudy. I always learn more stuff than I was expecting. I wasn’t familiar with Marvin Gaye’s divorce story. I need to get a hold of Here, My Dear. Here’s looking forward to whatever comes next.
It really did feel like the end of everything at the time. But of course it was really just the beginning of an exciting new chapter, as you say. I believe ‘Here My Dear’ was considered a bit of a failure upon release but has become something of a classic in retrospect. There is a sprawling track called ‘Is That Enough?’ where he really lets off some steam, no holding back. Cheers Memo.
Another great ‘chapter’ in your life story Leighton, at least for the reader, not at all for you. The poor kitties look so sad in your picture, that might have been the saddest part. I didn’t know the Marvin Gaye story, but now knowing that, the songs make sense. And it seems like the perfect break-up album. After you wrote about leaving Beijing, I’m surprised to learn that you moved back! Maggie
Thanks so much for your readership throughout this series Maggie. Deciding to chuck the job in to go back to China to work for Trudy might come across as an insane decision. Looking back, it probably was in some ways but not at all in other ways. At the end of the day I definitely needed a fresh start and some time and distance from Amsterdam. Absolutely no regrets I’d say. I hope to start work on that short story series later in the year.
Aww that was a fabulous read Leighton, I loved it. Sad of course but you wrote it so well. Hope you’re doing well now. Breakups are so hard, it’s because there’s someone else waiting.
Thanks so much Alison for reading and for your kind comment. I’m now happily married again and as sure as anyone can be that I am with ‘the one’.
What a great concluding chapter to this series Leighton. I agree with Memo this story could easily have been titled The End Of Everything & The Start Of Everything Else. I have been jealous throughout these stories about the peeps you interviewed tho you’ve really gone and done it now with Steve Carel! I can only imagine people’s reactions when you told them you were leaving the job to go and teach in China again. But I think you knew what you needed at the time and look where it led you in the long run. Your descriptions and impressions of JP Jeunet were exactly what I expected from the man!
Hey James, meeting Steve Carell was a dream of mine, such a brilliant actor and down-to-earth guy. Jeunet on the other hand… ugh. Some friends openly told me not to walk away from the job so hastily but in truth I made my mind up pretty quickly and couldn’t wait to get going. Appreciate your support of this series James, it’s been great to have you on board.
Oh my Leighton, what a painful, difficult and gut-wrenching time for you. The divorce and giving up those sweet kitties was all so plainly painful. Your raw openness and sharing this deeply painful time in your life is clearly felt through your words. Your story reminds me of my own failed first marriage many years ago. I came home from an extensive internship to find another woman’s clothes in my closet, and mine pushed to the back; bloody hell. So painful at the time, but after 37 years with Terry – it’s all history. I am hoping to hear that your return to China and working with Trudy was much better than the first go-around. But it seems like the fresh start and meeting Sladja was the best remedy. Thanks again Leighton for sharing.
Bloody hell indeed! Reading this brief overview of your own story makes me realise how fortunate I was in comparison. The things people do to each other. I really appreciate your kind words Tricia and for always reading and commenting as conscientiously as you do. Going back to China had plenty of pros and cons as it turned out but yes, it set me off on the (admittedly long) path to Sladja. Amen.
We survived and found better life partners in the process; but getting there was tough. Amen indeed!
To every end a new beginning! And thanks to your writings we are able to join you on your journey. I have such fond memories of meeting up with you in Armenia!
Life is a series of beginnings and ends, meetings and partings, that is the way of it. Cheers Geoff, can you believe that it’s been almost a year since we met up!?! This really beggars belief.
Often photos say everything that’s unsaid—from both of yours the pain in your expressions is clear, even in the one with a smile, it appears forced. Even though you left an exciting job, once there’s no challenge, boredom can set in and perhaps you left just at the right time as well as being a wise move to leave Amsterdam for personal reasons. A very moving peace—your emotions have clearly touched my heart.
And in turn your comment has touched me Mallee, thanks so much. I think you’re right that I had to put on a forced cheeriness for that last press junket. Not easy but better than sitting around moping at home I guess. Thanks for coming along for this series, I’ll be taking a short break now before returning for a fresh series of travel articles.
It doesn’t surprise me that you had the courage to walk away from that job and a settled life in Amsterdam – under the circumstances and knowing your wanderlust, a move away must have made a lot of sense. But I am surprised you went back to work for Trudy again! I’m curious to learn how that went – no doubt you’ll tell us one day. Breaking up is tough but you both seem to have handled it as well as is possible. Such a shame about the cats however, it would have been better if S would have kept them!
Ha yes, the return to Trudy. Madness eh? In some respects I got what I deserved but that second Beijing year really helped me to recover financially and deepen my appreciation of a city, country, culture that I have always had a love-hate relationship with. That series isn’t actually written yet but I do hope to start work on it later in the year. Oh the cats… I still sometimes think about them and hope they went on to find a loving forever family.
Sorry to read on S and you, China sound exotic I enjoyed my trips there and still in touch with friends in Quindao. Best of luck, cheers
Thank you Pedro, I also have very happy memories from Qingdao.
A break up and losing 75% of your life savings. 2013 was certainly a tough year for you, but you experienced so much, and a new chapter in your life opened. It is a good story.
Cheers Thomas, I always appreciate your feedback on these comment threads. You’re right, 2013 was a stinker of a year but luckily 2014 and 2015 were much much better. Years of healing, travel, saving and romantic (mis) adventures.
The kittens… omg! That would have been so hard to leave them! Great storytelling as always Leighton!
Thanks Anna. I think there were points in that period where the whole kitten saga almost sent me over the edge. You know, just an extra level of shitness that I could have done without ha ha.
A tough time indeed, but life goes on and things get better! I think if there was a moral to your story is that even in the depths of darkness there is light at the end of the tunnel! Just gotta retain a positive spirit during the tough moments x
Well written sir. I assume that telling the tale was a bit cathartic. So sad when relationships end for no hard reason, but so great when new opportunities come along. The new job was the only way to make a clean break. We had an English friend who after seeing the way Pat & I were together decided to leave his wife of 25 years. We were mortified. When we asked him about it, he said when he looked at us in person and in photos, we were always smiling. When he looked his photos with A, they were never smiling. None of us who are not in the relationship should have any comments or questions on why it ends. Sometimes, things just happen. Thanks for sharing. Allan
Oh wow, what an awkward thing for you and Pat to be told! I mean on the one hand it’s a compliment and serves as a reminder of what you have compared to so many people out there. On the other hand…. Well, I have reached the end of my 6th short story collection. I do not have another one written, so that will be something I’ll start thinking about towards the end of the year. Cheers for your readership and contributions to the comment threads as always, I always enjoy reading your thoughts.
a thoroughly moving closing chapter leighton. as others have already said i think you have been rather brave to tell these stories as honestly as you do and to avoid any air of self pity. that would have been an easy tone to slip into. so back to china? i am very much looking to those stories when they reach these pages.
I am humbled by kind comments such as yours Stan. Thanks for wading through another series, this one has obviously been a deeply personal one to put out there. Reckon I’ve earned a short blogging break now, ha!
Really sad especially packing up the cats. Also sad is that I have no idea who you interviewed, love films and music but don’t ask me who’s in what.
Yes the cat situation was a rough addition to an already crap situation. Not knowing the ins and outs of music and film stuff is hardly essential, but I’ve always been a bit nerdy about all that. My brain seems suited to effortlessly storing up such knowledge but I still struggle with basic math equations.
what an end to such an important chapter in your life. Even with it being an amiable breakup, it is still so hard to see it come to an end. We all find something to fill that void while we get our bearings again, and I think Marvin Gaye is a pretty great choice for that. Mine was binge watching ‘Person of Interest’ while eating copious amounts of cookies. And even though Anchorman 2 was not a great movie- how cool to add Paul Rudd, Will Ferrell, and Steve Carrel to your celebrity list. I’m so glad that if you had to give up the cats, that at least you went to the effort to making sure they went to a good home. And now back to China to start the next chapter…
Thanks for your warm comment Meg. I have never seen ‘Person of Interest’ but totally relate to the comfort of zoning out to good TV and junk food. Eases the pain. Will be taking. a short blogging break now, I do hope you guys are having a good start to the summer.
I hope you enjoy your blogging break and that it includes fun things and time to rest and regroup 🙂 Summer just started but already feels like it’s mostly gone. But we’re heading to Virginia in July which will be a nice break from the busy.
Another great chapter in your life Leighton albeit incredibly sad but onwards and upwards as they say and I look forward to your first excerpt from China. By the way, I’m off on a press trip to Kent this weekend and on the Saturday night the tourist board have coincidentally arranged tickets for the ‘Marvin Kaye Songbook’ ! M.
Thanks for your comment Marion. I assume that this is some kind of roaming theatre tribute to the work of Marvin Gaye rather than a musical based on the life of the American science fiction and horror author Marvin Kaye. That would actually be quite an amusing concept. Have a great time in Kent!
Sorry, using my phone without my glasses on, I typed Kaye instead of Gaye! Yes. It’s a tribute night going round the country.!
A brilliant recounting of such a sad time. You convey the sorrow so well. Time has been a healer though, and in the end, you have to believe that all these things happen for a reason. If it hadn’t unfolded and unravelled the way it did, you wouldn’t be where you are now.
Pretty much. The subsequent journey led me through 10 countries and a handful of jobs on the path to Sladja.
All I can think of when I think of break up albums is Taylor Swift haha. She sure knows how to write a song. That is tough to have to split everything, but glad it was as amicable an ending as could be. The interview was a great way to end your time in Amsterdam, it’s amazing how Paul Rudd never ages.
Paul Rudd is a handsome devil isn’t he and still has those core boy-next-door good looks today at (checks Wikipedia) 55 years of age. Thanks for your comment Lyssy.
Another brick on the wall, with no pun intended on the Chinese Wall.
My Pink Floyd moment. Thanks for checking in!
Tough blow, sorry you had to go through all that. I found your account real and honest, which is the best of compliments. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you ver much sir, appreciate the read and comment. 🙂
Beautifully written, Leighton and I’m sorry you had to go through all that. It seems that year dealt a great blow and all at the same time too but I’m very glad you found your happily ever after in Sladja!
Thanks Amarachi, it was very much a case of all’s well that ends well. 🙂
Isn’t it amazing how one thinks you’re never going to get through a trauma like this and when you look back years later, you’re surprised at what you’ve accomplished? I want to congratulate you for writing this part of your life so beautifully – no reproaches, but genuine sadness about what could have been. I would have felt sorry for you, but now I know that you found your partner in Sladja … so, there’s always something to be grateful for.
Thanks for your support of this series Corna. I have definitely earned a short break now, during which there’ll be plenty of good food and drink to accompany the Euro 2024 Football Championships!
I’m sure it’s so weird to look back at this time when you and S were broken up. I don’t blame you for wanting to leave Amsterdam, especially since you were still living in the same apartment. Sometimes it’s nice (and necessary) to get a fresh start. I couldn’t help but laugh at the part about how you had to buy yourself out of the contract of your apartment. Way to kick a guy when he’s already down.
And what an almighty kick that was at the time. In that respect going back to China was a really good decision to build the old bank account back up. Thanks for following along during the series.
I agree with your dad. But that doesn’t make it any less painful. Thanks for sharing.
“It’s all so strangely civil”. Still makes me chuckle after all these years. It’s lovely to hear from you John, I appreciate the back reading and liking. I hope you have some great summer travel plans lined up.
Going through separation is no easy feat. 2013 was certainly a tough time for you, but from this period, it has led you who you are today (cliché as it sounds). You’ve done a lot in your life, from teaching in China to interviewing Hollywood A-listers and back– a lot of different lives you’ve led in your 40-some years on this Earth! The Dutch couple were so damn rude…I don’t know why they would make fun of you, and honestly, screw them…I’m sure you’re doing a lot better than them, as karma’s out to get them!
That’s very sweet of you to be so angry on my behalf Rebecca. Sometimes people can be awful, I’m trying to imagine myself witnessing a similar situation unfolding and having a good laugh about it. Unbelievable. Those well-worn cliches about “character building”, “got you where you are today” and “stronger in the long-run” are indeed true. Well Rebecca, you have now followed along for all 6 of my short story collections over these past five years. Thanks for your ongoing readership, I shall have to start work on the next one soon. Perhaps in the fall.
Sad times, but you will get through stronger as a person
Thanks for your comment! 🙂
A great set of stories of your life in Amsterdam and with someone you once loved. It must have been extremely hard to resurrect your life from that time given the emotions we could feel on each written page. I can’t imagine it was easy for Slada to also read about the disintegration of your relationship with S. I hope you are much happier now in every part of your life.
Thanks for reading and for your comment Annie. These stories are not “easy” for Sladja to read no but she understands that I have a history, as we all do. She is my rock in all things these days and my editor to boot, so she tries to treat it like any other article.
Spoken by someone in love and with a great degree of understanding of her emotions, too. Treasure each other.
A great story. Thanks, Leighton.
Thanks for reading Coral. 🙂
Oh this moved me, so beautifully written. I can’t believe how amicable your break up was (I’m glad you got The Deer Hunter), but that doesn’t make it any less sad and painful. Breakups are awful, and I completely understand why you decided to head back to Beijing – looking forward to reading about your next chapter there! I always think in time lives develop a ‘before’ and ‘after’ – for me it’s ‘before I went through infertility’ and ‘after’ and I’m a different person as a result. It feels like the tram was your before and after cross over.
Thanks for leaving such a warm comment Hannah, our breakup was certainly a far more amicable affair than The Deer Hunter. I totally agree about this idea of before and after. In fact, there are several eras of my life that have had that I think. I hope that your ‘after’ is going well and that you are enjoying life as much as possible.
Sometimes it’s just time to move on. It sounds like an amicable breakup after all (as was my first marriage, so I can relate). And the job had turned stale. Enter a new opportunity, just in time! Sorry to hear that Jeunet was such an abrasive person – surprising since Amelie, one of my favorite movies, is such a joby.
Welcome to the amicable divorce club Ruth ha ha. You’re right, I have often wondered how such an unpleasant man could make such a beautiful film. Thanks for following along throughout this series. 🙂
I’m catching up here after a spell off line so late to the party. You write about it all beautifully, all the nuts and bolts of an amicable break up.
Hey Helen, it’s always lovely to see you pop up on a comment thread. I have also had a spell offline in recent months and often find it increasingly difficult to keep up with everyone’s blogs what with the demands of everyday working life. Thanks for reading and for the kind words.