THERE'S ALWAYS TIME FOR JANE AUSTEN!

FINDING TIME FOR JANE AUSTEN
By L.J. Kluchin

It is without a doubt an unequivocal fact, that ladies of a certain age are drawn to the writings of Jane Austen. Be it her witty, bold, and dynamic characters; her sharp characterization of Edwardian society, or her ability to allow intellect as well as grace to permeate the female of the species in literature, Jane Austen has become a Haven, a place for women of a "delicate" age to at last come home.
As we ladies approach a time in our lives where society casts us out, and dwells on unpretentious youth...Jane renews our possibilities, allows us to imagine, hope, and to dream. With each vivid character she takes us back to a more amiable period in history, a time filled with light hearted parties, dancing, gentlemen and happy endings. And let us not forget that without Jane, there would not exist the delicious and delectable Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy. And for that accomplishment alone, Jane Austen should be immortalized as a literary hero and genius.
I will never forget being told to read Pride and Prejudice on the advisement of my older brother who stated matter of factly that I would simply love it. I was informed that the characters included silly frivolous teenage girls such as myself, but also in the midst of that,a deep thinker whom I could also relate. There was wisdom and wit in his comments which I failed to notice at the tender age of sixteen. He had found the book delightful and wanted immediately to share his passion for Austen with me. Unfortunately, due to my lack of maturity, I was not yet ready to partake in that joy. I knew that at some point in the near future I would be obligated to read the book in school, and the young and fickle girl that I was thought it ridiculous to initiate that fate before requirements forced my hand. Somehow, however, fate intervened, and sadly, the advanced English teachers chose for the senior class to read Paradise Lost instead of P & P. Thus, I found myself emerged in John Milton's brilliant depiction of Heaven and Hell rather then submersing myself in the likes of Jane Austen. To this day that is an educational decision I deeply regret. While I thoroughly enjoyed Milton,not ever having the advantage of being educated on the life and works of Jane Austen is a remorseful situation that I cannot remedy.
It was not until a few years later that I had an opportunity to get my first Austen experience. On an airplane ride to California I finally had the privilege to acquaint myself with the Bennett family. I avidly read my brother's tattered copy of P & P and admit that I instantly connected with Elizabeth Bennett. I was barely a few pages along before I was laughing out loud and enjoying myself. I read the majority of the novel on the long flight across country and to this day am still amazed at how astute and insightful my brother had been knowing that I would at once identify with the infamous Lizzy. I adored the era in which the story took place, and was quite amused by the rude, hypochondriac Mrs. Bennett, drawing many similarities to my own life and family experiences in the mother department! The dialogue was written in such an engaging manner that I felt as if I too were right in the room with the Bennetts. I knew then that I was reading something very special. Ms. Austen revealed to me a literary talent that few authors since her demise have been able to duplicate. My dearest Jane seems to have mastered her unique ability to achieve sheer perfection. In the character department I also adored Mr. Bennett, and since my own father was not nearly as witty or carefree as he ,I took great pleasure in reading his clever retorts to his children and his demanding wife. Due to the fact that my father's nature was always serious and practical, I often wondered if it was his influence that pushed my brother to study law or was it because of his authoritative role in my life that I pursued teaching rather than running off and performing on the Broadway stage. In any event,I understood that reading Jane had allowed my dear elder brother an opportunity to escape from his tedious and difficult, (if not somewhat boring) law classes to hide away in the wonderful society created by Ms. Austen and submerse himself in her bewitching characters whenever he needed a shot of wit and pleasure. She provided the same entertainment and escape for me.Unfortunately, It was shortly after reading P & P that I had to put Jane on hold. (I shudder now at the disservice this was to myself .) But, the world was a chaotic place back in my youth and I was too busy trying to make a difference in the society of the turbulent 1960's, so I totally left Jane and her "children" far behind. After all, there were protest meetings to attend, anti war rallies that needed banners and bra burnings that seemed much more relevant to me then Lizzy Bennett's simple problems and Jane's frivolous characters finding the perfect husbands. And of course,that annoying and prideful Mr. Darcy was just too much! What a foolish girl I was! Had I taken the time to really read and digest her novels, I would have seen so much more. I suppose I just wasn't ready to let Jane into my life during my younger days. Unfortunately, in one's youth we often miss the obvious in the whirlwind of its forcefulness and excitement. The beauty of youth of course, is that it simply overpowers you. It is fast, turbulent and dynamic. Because life is meant to be lived to the fullest when you are young. There is so much to do and never enough time to read...
And so for a while, rather than reading Jane Austen....I lived my life. And for that little indiscretion, I think Jane might actually have envied me. Over the years I took a detour and became a Shakespeare addict instead ... spouting poetry, acting, and then teaching students the art of writing, reading, and dramatic expression , all of which became my focus. Husbands, children, teaching and life itself took me away from Jane. And then one day, when my children started to grow up and I began to search for who I had become, I saw the 1995 version of P & P . At last, I was in love again!!!!!! This time I swore I would become hooked for life on Jane Austen. I started reading everything she wrote , anything I could get my hands on. Jane had more meaning to me suddenly. Her characters did too. Why hadn't I seen their depth in my youth? I kept reflecting on how Jane as a women, chose to stay single rather than compromise her feelings and to focus on her writing. How courageous a decision during her time in history. I am still knocked out by her utter strength of character. I envied her spirit, her focus and determination, her forthrightness, and most of all, her ability to stay true to herself. I knew after two marriages it wasn't something I had ever had the guts to do. And while Jane's offspring were her novels, mine still needed me to help get them through college and do their laundry. So , once again I put Jane on the shelf and continued on my adventure called life. And my life called out to me very loudly to get my head out of the clouds and focus my time on my little own darlings. Which meant leaving myself and Jane behind in the dust . Caring for my students, my husband, and my family filled my days. But, every now and then my heart skipped a beat and thought what a gift it would be to have the time to sit down and read a Jane Austen novel..if only I could find the time....
And then somehow miraculously life blesses us by continuing! And now as I approach a new decade in my life, along with the end of my marriage and my youngest child going off to college,I find myself for the first time in decades alone again.... questioning life and asking myself those universal questions; Who am I ? What is life about? How can I continue to enrich my life and the lives of others? Who can I turn to? Suddenly, an epiphany. Why Jane of course. She captured my heart with her stories, her amazing characters, her witty dialogue , and with her very soul. How could I have not seen all that she was before? Mr. Darcy's character, is so very sexy and vital. He is probably the most perfect man in all of literature! Oh and that handsome Mr. Knightly, how did he suddenly get so wise? How on earth did I not notice his depth and incite the first time I read Emma? And how Emma herself was not as vapid as she seems on the surface. Why didn't I understand the total fierceness and magnitude of Lizzy Bennett and why is that now I admire her so much more, often wishing I had been more like her myself and stood up to all the people in my life who said something that irritated me. I wish I could have told my mother-in-law off like Lizzy did when she put Lady Catherine De Burgh in her place. Chutzpah!!!!
And so, to nourish my mind, my heart and my soul, I have recently begun my very own Jane Austen book club, "for women of a certain age". And we meet monthly to read and discuss Jane's novels. (Her children.).....We talk of our children, our lives, Jane's life, her characters , and drink our coffee and tea and laugh. We laugh and we think! Isn't that after all what Jane wanted us to do? She wanted us to see life as it is, to look deep within ourselves and decide what is really important to us. Her words beg us to follow our dreams...and if our dreams have died or come crashing down around us, then we can follow the dreams of Elizabeth Bennett or Mary Anne Dashwood or even Emma. We can hope again, we can be young again,we can live again....and so can Jane! Thank you Ms. Austen for giving us that chance to recapture our lost youth and our strength within. You are my favorite literary heroine of all time!.