final exam

Okay I'm thinking you might be One Tree Hill-ed out... but I thought I'd put in another piece to the puzzle. It seems from puberty until marriage, most of life's big stories revolve around love gained and love lost. At the end of last season, we watched (okay I watched) the kids take a final exam responding to a George Bernard Shaw quote. They all add a different element to the quote based on their high school drama (that could never repeat itself in real life) but it still makes me think. It's always easier to see the good in a loss once time has passed and we have gained some perspective, but I'm not sure you can ever forget or erase the pain it brought. We get pretty good at learning to love again, but I'm not sure I'll ever be good at losing it.

Brooke: “George Bernard Shaw once wrote ‘There are two tragedies in life: one is to lose your heart’s desire, the other is to gain it.’ Clearly, Shaw had his heart broken once or twice.”

Nathan: “As far as I’m concerned, Shaw was a punk. Cuz you know what? Tragedies happen. What’re you gonna do, give up? Quit? No. I realize now that when your heart breaks, you gotta fight like hell to make sure you’re still alive. Cuz you are, and that pain you feel: its life. The confusion and fear… that’s there to remind you that somewhere out there is something better. And that something is worth fighting for.”

Haley: “This year, I got everything I wanted and everything I wished for… but, in a way, I lost even more.”

Lucas: “Shaw was right; as we strain to grasp the things we desire… the things we think will make our lives better… money, popularity, fame… we ignore what truly matters – the simple things like friendship, family, love. The things we probably already had.”

Mouth: “So, Mr. Shaw thinks that getting your heart’s desire is a tragedy? I say he’s wrong.”

Peyton: “Yeah, losing your heart’s desire is tragic. But gaining your heart’s desire… It’s all you can hope for. This year, I wished for love. To immerse myself in someone else and to wake a heart long afraid to feel. My wish was granted. And if having that is tragic… then give me tragedy. Because I wouldn’t give it back for the world.