HOW JERUSHA ABBOTT CHANGED MY LIFE

I used to say that you can’t entirely changed someone’s life. We are just a mere factor of somebody else’s decision. We are just part of the whole.

But Judy Abbott is an exception, a contradiction to this fragment of my belief. She changed my life completely.

Memories of my childhood was kind of fuzzy. The only thing I can recall so vividly is the fact that I grew up watching anime, if I was not bickering with my brother over Playstation. ~~(Yes, the one with the DualShock controllers.)~~ I remember going home from school being ecstatic because I could finally watch TV.

I was nine years old when ABS-CBN aired Judy Abbott or also widely known as Daddy Long Legs.

Here is the opening of the song just in case you’re curious:

YOU HAVE NO IDEA HOW MUCH I LOVED IT. JUST HEARING THIS NOW AGAIN MAKES ME WANT TO TEAR UP BECAUSE OF TOO MUCH NOSTALGIA. I don’t know what has drawn me to this story. Perhaps it’s Judy’s naive but funny personality. She is just so alive. Her being carefree frustrates me sometimes but she is probably the most honest persona among all the fictional characters.

As a kid, she is also my vision of hope. She grew up in an orphanage but she managed to redeemed herself through writing. I repeat, through writing. She used to write to Daddy Long Legs in a regular basis. She excelled in writing poetry and stories in her school. There and then, I knew I wanted to be like her. I wasn’t that kid who will tell you that I’ll be a doctor when I grow up so I can help, cure and take care of sick people. I wanted to be a writer. I still want to be a writer. SO. BADLY IT. HURTS.

Of course, at that time, I didn’t know it was an actual book. I forgot all about this in High School. I was busy growing up, I guess. It was just last year that I happened to watch the whole thing again. I think it was because of these throwbacks everyone is posting in social media like old games, snacks, animes of the 90s kids sort of thing.

It has 40 episodes. A good Samaritan uploaded everything on YouTube.

What I did after that was to get myself the book. It is a classic by Jean Webster. I got mine from Book Depository for $22.33 (FREE SHIPPING!!!)

BLURB FROM GOODREADS:

When Jerusha Abbott, an eighteen-year-old girl living in an orphan asylum, was told that a mysterious millionaire had agreed to pay for her education, it was like a dream come true. For the first time in her life, she had someone she could pretend was “family.” But everything was not perfect, for he chose to remain anonymous and asked that she only write him concerning her progress in school. Who was this mysterious gentleman and would Jerusha ever meet him?

I know it looks like a children’s book (IT IS LOL), but my inner kid’s heart somersaulted in delight when I got my hands on it.

It’s so enjoyable to read because we’re basically reading a diary here. JUDY ALSO LOVES TO DODDLE. SHE IS THE CUTEST!

MY FAVORITE QUOTE:

It isn’t the great big pleasures that count the most; it’s making a great deal out of the little ones—I’ve discovered the true secret of happiness, Daddy, and that is to live in the now. Not to be for ever regretting the past, or anticipating the future; but to get the most that you can out of this very instant.

Apologies for the crappy photos. It’s 4:00 in the morning, and the lighting is bad. Yes, I’m posting this real time. Most of my previous posts were scheduled. I haven’t slept yet because of my insomnia is kicking in, so I just thought I’d write this.

This is a fraction of my childhood. This is how Judy Abbott changed my life—by making me realized what I wanted to be. I’m gonna be a writer. This is what I want the most in life. I’m not sure if I’ll end up thinking and feeling this burning passion in me if it wasn’t for Judy. Perhaps I will, one way or another. Or maybe not. I don’t know. I’m just really certain now of this goal. This is my pursuit to publishing a book in this lifetime.

What’s your story? What do you want to be? I hope you’re almost there.

I’m ending this with the closing song of Daddy Long Legs because why not.