Dear John, the letter started, as most letters that end a chapter begin.

The phrase was believed to be coined during World War II when wives and girlfriends in the United States met another partner and would end their relationship with their old boyfriend or husband who was stationed overseas or in another part of the country.

A friend of mine, Jen, told me about Nicholas Sparks’ novel Dear John. That was before the holidays. I decided I’d read it. I read A Walk To Remember, The Choice, At First Sight, The Notebook and Nights in Rodanthe. I was somewhat of a fan of Sparks’ work. Yes, it is chick lit at its finest, but when you need a skewer of hope to last a few days you pick up a Sparks’ novel and immerse yourself in the plot. PLus, at that point I could use a good, sappy book.

When I got done reading the novel I had mixed feelings. Normally I ultimately decide in the final sentence if I really liked it or not, but Dear John was different. It left me thinking. A few days later I came to the conclusion that I loved the book.

It is about time not being on each of the lover’s side and hope slowly fading for his and her return to their arm.

Sometimes if the stars are not aligned it’s just time to say goodbye. It’s time to end something that could never really be anything. To keep hope in your heart for something that does not exist or will not exist as it would have already happened if it should happen is torturous to one’s soul. Let things go. Move on to bigger and better things. If the commitment’s not there, it won’t ever be.

Yesterday, Friday, February 5, Dear John, the movie, opened in area theatres. Of course I had to see it.

During the movie I was a little disappointed I will admit. The movie, although I knew was inevitable, was nothing like the book. I thought minor changes would be done, but not complete story changes. The meat and potatoes of the plot was still there, but the structures and how the outcomes were attained were not like the novel.

As separate entities they are extraordinary stories. If you go see the movie, comparing it to the novel, you’ll be disappointed. See it with an open mind.

Dear John really explores the dynamics of a long distance relationship and the fact that one allegiance can be broken because of another.
Sometimes life doesn’t let you choose what you want to do, but what you need to do to survive, which is not always a bad thing. One must decide though if either you can live with your choice. Can you pick between love and duty, or surviving or taking a leap of faith? Which would you choose? Could you let someone you loved go so that they could move on with their lives while you stayed in the state that was most comfortable to you?

Letting go is the ultimate test of love.

Dear John, both the novel and movie, I give two thumbs up.