My love for Anne of Green Gables is more than just affection for the text; it is a generational connection that ties me to Anne's character as though I am reflecting on my childhood. Anne’s free spirit and vivid imagination mirror my experiences, recalling memories of wandering through the woods, crafting stories, and feeling a profound bond with the animals around me.
This connection began with my parents in a small town in Muskoka around 1990. My dad was working at a video store when my mom walked in, asking to rent the 1985 series of Anne of Green Gables. Smitten by her, my dad told a small white lie, claiming he would order the series so she would have to return. After several return visits, she finally got her Anne series and a coffee date with the guy from the video store. Without Miss Anne Shirley, I might not even be here.
Matthew Cuthbert, the quiet and hard-to-read character, holds a special place in my heart. During my daily commutes, I listened to the audiobook of Anne of Green Gables, beautifully read by my queen, Rachel McAdams. I was overwhelmed with emotion as Matthew’s calm and gentle nature reminded me of my late Papa. Our bond was difficult to articulate because it existed largely in silence, yet in those silent moments, I felt his unconditional love. These are the memories I will treasure forever.
Today, I am writing this ode to Anne because I got a tattoo as a tribute to these cherished tales. The tattoo depicts the rowboat from the chapter “An Unfortunate Lily Maid.” In this scene, Anne lies down in the rowboat, her friends draping it in black. A yellow scarf covers her still form, and she holds an iris instead of a lily. Quoting from the poem, the girls give Anne her send-off and then run to the lower headland, imagining themselves as King Arthur and his companions in Camelot as the boat drifts. Anne, eyes closed, suddenly realizes the ship has sprung a bad leak. This scene is a prime example of Anne’s ability to romanticize her life—a lesson I now carry with me, permanently etched in black ink
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