Saving Cee Cee Honeycutt

Just finished reading a fun book called Saving Cee Cee Honeycutt for my book club. This was a sweet book about a girl whose mentally ill mother dies and she goes to live with her great aunt in Savannah. She meets several women who help her find peace and happiness. I loved how Mrs. Odell talked about each person having a Life Book. She compared changes in life to beginning a new chapter and said that throughout life many people will write in your Life Book. It seems like such a nice way of viewing changes and seems like it would also help to have a positive outlook when challenges arise.

This book is filled with great quotes and pearls of wisdom. I wanted to write down just a few of my favorite to remember.

At a time when Cee Cee was scared, Oletta said, "Every time you give in to your fears, you're lettin' that man win. And every time you do that, he gets stronger while you get weaker. Givin' in to your fears will rob you blind."
CeeCee's mom told her, "It's how we survive the hurts in life that brings us strength and gives us our beauty."

Oletta said, "People is wise 'cause they get out in the world and live. Wisdom comes from experience--from knowin' each day is a gift and accepting it with gladness."

Oletta also said, "Don't go wastin' all them bright tomorrows you ain't even seen by hangin' on to what happened yesterday. Let go, child. Just breathe out and let go."


Aunt Tootie told Cee Cee that everything would be fine if she made it fine. She said, "It's what we believe about ourselves that determines how others see us." While there are so many good quotes in this book, so many words to live by, I think this one is so important to internalize.... how we perceive ourselves plays such a big role in how others perceive us. If we are confident and self-assured, if we are positive and happy, then others will want to be near us. This, for me, for most women, I think, isn't always easy to do... we tend to be our own worst critics. I think those who know us best, of course, see a lot more than this...but especially at first meeting, I think this is true.

"'Look,' she (Oletta) said, smiling out at the trees, the sky, and the birds flying by. 'That's life out there. See how it's movin'? Even the leaves on the trees is movin'. Life don't wait for nobody, and even as special as you are, it ain't gonna wait for you, neither. So it's time to make up your mind that you're gonna join it.'"

Aunt Tootie said, "It's our hearts that tell us the truth of things, honey."

Miz Goodpepper said, "Don't grow up too fast, darling. Age is inevitable, but if you nurture a childlike heart, you'll never, ever grow old."

Cee Cee watched Sapphire and Miz Obee's friendship and realized, "that's what friends should do: cherish the good and pretend not to notice the harmless rest."