i'm so glad you're happy... and i will indeed pass the wine/oreos/yarn/wine/wine as i see fit.

just as soon as i'm done with them...

so, um, don't hold your breath.

I love Lorelai Gilmore too. She just keeps on moving on.

You have comeso far this past year. Thanks for sharing the journey with us. You made me laugh and cry and know that I wasn't the only person in the world going through something like this.

You did it with grace (yes, grace, despite drunken dialing) and panache and I am so happy for you.

Yay for Aunt Purl!

Wow! Congratulations on your new feelings and your "one-ness" with yourself.
After 23 years of marriage (grandfathered 'cause I married the guy twice dontcha know), I found myself divorced (from him) again. Both times it was my choice, not his, but it didn't make things any easier, or the emotions any less. Year 1 of said divorce, the last of the 2 children (now grown-ups) left home to be a Marine. I was all alone for the first time EVER! I realized that I had spent my entire life taking care of someone, which includes my mother when I was a child. I had no one to answer to, no one to pick up after, no one to be responsible for except me!
It took me about 1.5 years to stop buying groceries enough for an army!
Now, 5 years later I realize a couple of things. #1 - I am ok on my own and #2 - I still miss my marriage once in a while.
All of that being said........it took me a long time to get to the point I am now....content, at peace, wiser (and older) and happy!
Hang in there; life is good!

Yay! *Does the Happy Dance (watch for flying needles!)* Good for you!

Oh yeah.. I kept buying married groceries for the first three months. Now I'm all about the single groceries LOL. Weird how that happens!

Do married groceries come in pairs? If they split up, who gets the calories?

And does that make a six-pack polygamy?

Congratulations, Laurie!!! Whoo hoo!

Your post reminds me of my new favorite joke ... (in a non man-hater kinda way of course. Really!)

A woman gets home, screeches her car into the driveway, runs into the house, slams the door and shouts at the top of her lungs, "John, pack your bags. I won the lottery!"

The husband says, "Oh my God! What should I pack, beach stuff or mountain stuff?"

"Doesn't matter," she says. "Just get the hell out."

tee hee.

Kuddos to you, girlie! I've been divorced ten years and I can tell you that the whole I'm-content-with-myself-and-don't-need-a-man-to-take-care-of-me feelings only grow stronger over time. However, that WANTING a man in your life never quite goes away. After all, they are good for a few things. And no, I don't mean just the sex. Mostly. Although that aspect of a man-in-my-life thing doesn't suck. Anywho...

Oh, Laurie, you break my heart. What a strong girl you have become. LG would be proud. Me, too.

It's good to see that you are moving on at a healthy pace. One year to get where are you is pretty good. I was 9 years between husbands--and wasn't looking for Mr. Right. He just kind of fell into my lap.

Best advice I ever got post-divorce was to get happy being "me."

"Your living is determined not so much by what life brings to you as by the attitude you bring to life; not so much by what happens to you as by the way your mind looks at what happens." (John Horner Miller)

I do love the way you look at life.

LOL! Kat made a funny. Hadn’t heard that one yet.

You are so strong and amazing and persevering and stuff Aunt Purl. And a kick-ass hat knitter to boot! I want to grow up to be just like you. Here’s to happiness and empowered women and yarn and wine and cheetos. *Cheers*

"I can be 100% totally myself without worrying if he'll still like me, or think I'm pretty. "

Because you are 100% yourself - I love you and think you're very pretty.

Congrats on being happy! And well Lorelai was single for a long time, so I'm sure she'd be trilled for you that you have found happiness in your singleness. Although I'm worried that her and Luke won't make it to the wedding, and then that whole thing will be ruined, and he's well such a man, and she could hurt him, and Rory what's up with her, and how can she do these stupid things, and Logan, he's cute, but is there more? Well he's intelligent to, and rich, and well cute, but will he hurt her. Oh so many answers to find.

You and Lorelai look like you're having a blast. I was just the opposite of you - never allowed to date (still not, as far as I know), serial monogomist in college and after, was desparate for commitment/stability. Finally, at 34, I got married. URGH!!!! What the F**K was I thinking?! I would give it all up in a heartbeat (except for my DD) to not have to wash someone else's clothes. I guess the grass is always greener and all that rot. But you have definitely hit the proverbial nail - be happy with yourself. And you should be, b/c you're a very special person, as anyone who reads your blog knows.

-D.

wine is good. mmmm....wine.
real or not, lorelai gilmore is my hero.
for your fortitude in the face of hardship, i salute you and will dedicate the pack of oreos i brought for lunch today to you :)

There are a lot worse people you could base your advice on. and given that prior to current TeeVee events, she was living a pretty man free existence, there's something there for your current state.

Happy anniversary. And so glad you are happy-ish. Maybe you should celebrate by buying new cute jeans that you do fit into.

Right on, Laurie. I've gotten to that stage too. It's been almost a year for me as well. I didn't think I would get here, but... I did.

Thank god for cats, knitting, and friends! Especially Lorelei!

Yay! I knew you'd come through it! Good for you! Now go buy some more yarn.

HOORAY! See, it really did all start with not getting a ticket while turning in the non-existant turn lane.

But please remember, you are perfectly allowed to have down days still. And we will all still love you and think you are pretty.

I started dating Mr. CTK about 6 weeks after I declared that I was done with men for a while (in a confident non-bitter sort of way). Realizing that being single is OK was very empowering and I think that opened me up to projecting my self-love (and not in the battery operated sort of way, but that's good in its own way) to the universe.

Until then, there's always the men of LOST -- one week from tonight. mmmmmmm

I'm glad you've found a happy-ish place. You've come a long way, baby.

I want you to get a book deal. How can I get you a book deal?

Open letter to publishers everywhere: Please give Laurie a book deal. I will buy it. I promise.

Wow, yours is by far the best blog I read. You wanna pass the oreos over? I'll pass you this wine.... on wait its emtpy.

OH! Rebekah, since you brought it up...

YEAH, what is the dEAL with Rory? And I think Logan will dump her as she changes from wonderful/bookish Rory to wild party hag-wannabe Rory, don't you think? Last night, the last shot, she gets up to go drunk dance and he sits there alone. I think he liked her precisely because she was such a great sensible chick...

And I hope Luke & my BFF Lorelai make it down the altar, OH! I loved it when Michele (sp?) was waiting for Emily and his snarky little manner, I just adore him.

I could do without Babette, though.

Gilmore girls...I was so excited last night that the season premiere was on! OMG...what is Rory thinking??? Hopefully she snaps out of it soon. Lorelai is only the best mom ever, after all.

At 5:00 I'll be holding a glass of wine (and probably yarn) and toasting you for being all happyish with narry a man in sight. Congrats on 1 year sans Mr. X :)

I'm slightly obsessed with the Gilmore Girls so I often think of things in terms of WWLGD. You are not alone. What better role model could a girl ask for?

Congratulations on being happy. You know life is too short to be miserable and wallow in self-pity. Of course it is ok to do it for a short time (why else would there be wine and oreos/cheetos?) but upwards and onwards and all that good stuff.

Ok so I thought I was the only one buying "married" groceries after my ex left.....well in my case they were engagement groceries...but now I'm estatic to buy "single girl groceries"(i.e lean cuisine). There are still plenty of "off" days as it's only been about 2.5 months...but whose counting right?

Congrats on the new happiness!!! You should celebrate tonight with lots of wine & yarn!

As far as fictional best friends go, you picked a good one.

But here's what disturbed me most about last night's episode? Is Luke now wearing a rug?

Congrats, your life, your wine, your stash and your cats are all yours!

(anyone else old enough to be singing "free to be you and me"? please? anyone?)

Hm, I think you´ve come a long way. I´m really glad that you can say you´re happy and I hope this feeling holds on! And don´t worry about doing things like Lorelai does - she´s so cool!

damn! i have to learn to not read certain posts with pictures of lorelai in them until AFTER i've watched the season premiere. it's taped you know. fuck me.

in other news. i'm very happy that you are happy. i raise my imaginary glass of wine in a toast to your happiness as a wild and crazy single gal! (i can't believe i typed gal. my mother in law calls women gals. i don't. sheesh). and remember, girls rule, boys drool.

Oh, I miss that show. It was one of my favorites before moving to a land where it appears not to exist.

Wine and Cheetos are a great combo, aren't they? *sigh* I'm with Andrea. You need to write a book, girl. How 'bout this for a title: "Splits to Sticks: Embracing Crazy Aunt Purl in the Wake of the Culturally Retarded Mr. X"? Keep on being you, babe. You're beautiful!

Being happy with yourself and able to be alone is the BEST revenge ever.

Congrats on getting to that point!

Marriage is great but so is solitude.

Lorelai is my best friend, too. I am so glad to hear you are happy-ish. I say the same -ish thing. I think if you can even get the I'm happy part out the -ish doesn't count cause how may people do you know who can say they are happy without bursting into tears or getting sweaty palms? Thanks goodness the Gilmores are back!

YEAH! Don't let go of that! You are so super fantastic I desperatly want you to adopt me as your sister! Please?

You go girl! It has been fun following you around on your blog. And it is tremendously encouraging to see how far you have come. Thanks for sharing.

That photo? Hi. Larious.

God Laurie, I was just about clapping and cheering for you! I'm SO HAPPY that you're happy now! What' funny is that I JUST had this conversation with a male friend of mine yesterday. He's in phase 1 of divorce and wants a girlfriend immediately. I'm like, NO NO NO!!! Don't do it!

I was so annoyed last night... GG lost sound for around 10 minutes... from shortly after they arrived in Dosie's market, until after the scene with Lorelai and Luke in bed. *grump*

Lorelai Gilmore would be proud, Laurie. And so would Mary Richards, patron saint of the Church of Making It On Her Own.

And can I just say how happy I am that the judge threw the book at Rory (as much as the book gets thrown at anyone at 8:PM Eastern on the WB)? Oh, sometimes I just want to smack that girl.

Oh no. I tease my friend Molly all the time about liking GG. But now, know that so many people not only like the show but give advice based on it means...I may have to watch.

And, Purl? Great post. Great great post. I wish there was a way to teach teenage girls this type of stuff.

What a great post! So lame of me to say, because who the hell am I, but I'm so proud of you! This is such, such an exciting, healthy post. *sigh* Happy happy happy.

I had the SAME epiphany recently, myself! That's fantastic! And, we can eat cheetos without any health nut vegan freak looking at us weird. AND, lick the orange crap off our fingers cuz you know why? Cuz we can. Cuz we're strong single women! HA! Pass me the circulars and the wine! Hurrah!

Brilliant! I am going to follow your lead and think about what Lorelai would do before I make a decision.

Congrats on your epiphany and isn't it nice to be happy-ish?

No shame in WWLGD. I wish I could live my life more like she does - of course she has her freak out moments (and crazy nutball parents), but she mostly seems to have her shit together. Love her.
Congrats on your one year single! I had finally given up hope of a decent man when I (like Lorelai!) started dating my best friend! Wow....maybe I am her!

P.S. I think you look a lot like Suki (btw - where was she last night? Doesn't Lorelai's best friend need to know she's engaged!) so maybe you are Lorelai's BFF!

Dude, I also LOVE Gilmore Girls and so want to be Lorelai, but the thing I noticed most last night was this: Rory? While explaining herself to Paris? Pouring out the cup of coffee and then not drinking it? Walking around and talking a mile a minute?

Looked just like Lorelai. (And yes, I KNOW they're fictional characters. Shut UP.) Even her OUTFIT looked like something her mom would choose. Her HAIR is looking more like Lorelai's every day.

If this is the direction they're trying to go with the show, can I just an amen? For trying to portray the part of every mother-daughter relationship that is inevitable?

And even if they're not going in this perfect direction, I want to be adopted by Lorelai. And if she can't, will you?

"I used to bring home the bacon,
used to fry it up in a pan".
Now I'm living single doing as little as I can, 'cause I am WOMAN!

W.O.M.A.N.

You go girl!

Bravo! Nothing wrong with some serious ODing on estrogen time. It's good for the soul after what you've been through. You go girl indeed!

Congratulations, Laurie. That really is the best news I have heard this week.

It's an amazing journey -- enjoy it!

I love you and your phases! I'm so happy that in there you found yourself and the love of a good yarn.

Faith

I'm so glad you are feeling good. Keep up the good feelings, and yarn sniffing!

It's great to know you are happy and doing well. Take as long as you like being your own person. . . if needed, "he'll" come along! Kudos!

I've never watched the Gilmore Girls because I hate the name. It sounds cheesy, 7th Heaven-ish. But if it's really that good, maybe I'll have to check it out (and purchase the obligatory wine and oreos to accompany it).

Singlehood is nice. With good friends for support and fresh batteries always on hand, there's not a whole lot to be missed.

Corrina--I spent the whole episode wondering what looked funny about Luke. It was the rug!

L--I think we should all go hang out in Stars Hollow. :D

I knew you would start to be happy-ish. You can be Lorelei if you want but you better not start talking in that clipped, horrible pretentious banter like way that she does.

You found out at 30? what it took me 65 years to learn. You are your own person and don't need a man for anything. Good for you.

And best of all???

The idiot still has a GOATEE!!!!

bwahahahahaahhaahahahhahahaa

Purl, I think you made a Freudian slip... The nadir is the lowest, most desperate time. You are now closer to the apex!

I am so honored to feel I know you. Truly, you have become your own person - single, financially aware (thanks for the budget sheet btw - it's really helping me), strong and willing to be independent. You're turning into a real role model, Laurie. Scarey, huh? But you can do it!. Blessings.

Auntie purl....the most important thing i can tell you, or any woman in your position, is ENJOY THIS TIME ON YOUR OWN. i know too many women who are strong and powerful but totally helpless when it comes to relationships. create a balance. know that you are happy alone and with your self (and cats!). (does any of this make sense...2 G&T's after work, a glass of red wine, hell, who can type?). anyway, you are learning new lessons everyday. keep us posted so women everywhere can learn from your experience.

cheers!

Auntie purl....the most important thing i can tell you, or any woman in your position, is ENJOY THIS TIME ON YOUR OWN. i know too many women who are strong and powerful but totally helpless when it comes to relationships. create a balance. know that you are happy alone and with your self (and cats!). (does any of this make sense...2 G&T's after work, a glass of red wine, hell, who can type?). anyway, you are learning new lessons everyday. keep us posted so women everywhere can learn from your experience.

cheers!

whoa scroll scroll scroll scrolll to the very very bottom of the comments. How could you be sad with some many friends!
My mommy compares herself to LAURA-LIE (I can't spell that name at all) too - if only because Daddies name is Luke (or in our case Luc) Does this mean my Mommy and Daddy should get married too?

I can't f'ing believe I missed the new GG!! I love that show. So glad you're making such progress with the whole boy thing. Enjoy your girly time :)

Gotta love this stage, huh? I've been in the happy, having fun on my own, single life for 6 years now. (times flies once the divorce lawyers leave the room). I did realize the other day that I finally found someone I could move on with. Perhaps even share the remote with. Sadly Lorelai got him. (Him being Luke. A fictional character, but let's not dwell on details).

Aunt Purl, you're sounding great! Now is the perfect time for you to pack up the felines and move up here to Canada (preferably BC) so you can still fill my world with joy -- only closer.

I feel silly commenting when you already have 60 million comments; but I have to say... You GO sista. The happiness you're feeling while alone will be something that you not only treasure; but it will help you down the road if things ever change.

My best of luck to you. And you still need to learn crochet b/c it's cooler. :)

I feel silly commenting when you already have 60 million comments; but I have to say... You GO sista. The happiness you're feeling while alone will be something that you not only treasure; but it will help you down the road if things ever change.

My best of luck to you. And you still need to learn crochet b/c it's cooler. :)

Congrats CAP on your year of discovery! If you're done with that wine, could you pass it on over? I'll be waiting. Thanks!

Hey Laurie? Best post ever. You are the bomb.

Rock on Laurie!! Pour that wine, get those knitting needles moving!! YOU are ONE STRONG WOMAN!! Lorelai would be proud! And, eh, I don't think she'll actually marry Luke. He DOES have a nice butt...

WWLGD is such a wonderful thing! I am very proud of you for making lemons out of lemonade. The best revenge is to live well and from what I've read you are doing just that!
Now please pass the wine and let's dish over Luke's hair thing, Rory losing her mind or perhaps finding herself, Lorelai's decision to disattach herself from Rory right now and HELLO walking into her parents bedroom like that!?! And let's figure out how we can move into the pool house, k?

Yes Yes, the WWLGD question will most likely permeate my new role as Mom of the Universe. Who better to model yourself after, really? So freakin cool. I can only hope to be that cool.

Yeah, Lorelai rocks, except when she makes fun of us knitters, which she does occasionally (like when she was newly single and saw a cat on her porch and made some wisecrack that went something like this: Oh my God, there's a cat on my porch! It must know I am single! Next thing you know I'll be knitting!). Congrats on your new-found happiness. There's a great deal to be said for being single. And the crazy thing is that as you get more comfortable with your single-ness, the men become increasingly attracted to you, because you don't care about them anymore and men LOVE a challenge.

Embrace the estrogen!!! Glad to see you're one happy camper. And I'll take a glass of wine as long as you're pouring!

The only problem with that is that Loralai Gilmore is actually Daniel Palladino! She was much more interesting and intelligent earlier on when she was being written by Jed Seidel, Ilene Binder Weiss,etc. Yeah, it takes a power couple to destroy a teevee show with a great cast and an interesting story line.

Wow, now that you are happy-ish your photoshop head seems to have magically come in line with your photoshop body, both in proportion and skin-tone! If that's not a good sign, I don't know what is!

Oh how I love Gilmore Girls. Great premiere on Tuesday.

Congrats on happiness after your divorce. After a major breakup in college to the guy I was expecting to marry, I've loved the single life too. Well, I'm not single now, but all the times I was single after that breakup have always been enjoyable and before that they were just waiting times till the next guy. So far in my relationship I've been able to feel single even though I'm with someone, I love it, and I hope we can keep it up!

We have had the season premier date mark on the Family calendar for weeks - In n Out burger was the fare in honor for Luke's Diner. Being able to watch that show was the mighty motivation to my girls to get homework done. Thank goodness for TiVo becuase thay were a bit late getting out of the showers.

As for living your life according to the Lorilee bible, I suport that thought as she is honest and open with her daughter but I loved that she cried at the end of the episode - for she is a mother first.

Congrats on the new found you! After my "big breakup" it took me 2 years and 2 really bad boyfriends to realized I didn't need men. I am engaged now but that single life your talking about is sounding GREAT!
I also LOVE LOVE LOVE the Gilmores. That's my gauge as to how sick/hurt my step sons are, if they only make it through 1 commercial they were faking, 2 somewhat faking and if they ever make it through the entire show I will have to call 911. That may be why I love it soo much, it's just me, wine, yarn and The Girls!

Well, I'm glad that there wasn't a 'please take away this wine from me' phase. Who could live without wine? ;-)

Isn't it amazing that a blog post by a total (though knitting) stranger can make me feel so proud and happy for you. I think Lorelei needs to be more like you. Cheers! Cab Franc all around!

rock on single girlfriend!
what took me 45 years to figure out, you've figured out in your 30's!
i went out day ONE to buy single groceries (and a fountain)-and after 4 years am back to couple groceries with the same person-i like single groceries-i lost weight. dark chocolate, wine, pizza, shrimp,and salads.
time alone to pee with the bathroom door open, read a book without the tv on in every room, take a nap at 11 am on a sunday cuz i got up at 5 am cuz i love to drink organic coffee with carolyns irish creme in it and go on the internet for hours and then read the sunday paper and eat brunch for one-fruit, bacon, eggs with pico de gallo, fresh tortillias, and cheese danish, and i know i can take a nap! simple shit. enjoy!

I like to ponder..... WWRKD?
What Would Rubin Kincade Do!

Great job.

That's the sweetest thing you written I think!! I am so glad you've made it through this year and are happy-ish--cause life is what you make it when you live out loud!! And it's as good as good can be, WTHOUT GOATEES!!

I thought I was the only one who really, truly loved the Gilmore Girls. I've been obsessively trying to catch up on the series all summer. Thank God I've found you all!

Corrina, Stacy, Phyl - I agree. If not at rug, Luke at least had two nasty extensions clipped on in the front. I kept expecting Lorelai to roll over in bed and snip them off.

And the beauty of this, missy, is that now that you're happy with yourself, you'll attract a MUCH BETTER class o' man. Wait and see if I'm not right!

For the record, I am 100% all for happy singleton-ness. But I would totally give up my freedom and left ring finger if it meant that I got to sleep next to (read: with) Luke Danes every night. That Lorelei is one lucky chick. Also, I believe the character of Lorelai is technically based on Amy Palladino, whereas Rory's character is based on Daniel. Either way...

Thank you for sharing your journey!

MMMMMM...groceries....

Love the PHOTOSHOP.....

ok! at least now I know that I am not the only one to love the gilmore girls. I love luke and lorelei. very sexy shot of them in bed together and if you learn only one thing from them, think of the eighteen years that they have know and loved each other and remained seperate. I don't know but I think that this was a collossal waste of good sex. eyebrow wiggle!!