A fun read

A few weeks ago I was traveling back from Los Angeles and I desperately needed a book. I already had gotten some spiritual reads and various sad books so I was in the mood for something easy and fun. I entered into the Airport Barnes and Noble and immediately saw Tori Spellings new book, Stori Telling. ( I go from 90 minutes in Heaven to this???!!....)

I said to myself, "how hard of a read could this be?" and purchased the overpriced $29.99 book.
I wasn't certain what to expect. All I knew about Tori Spellings was that she was totally rich (so I thought), was the star of 90210( a show I loved), had a bad relationship with her Mother, got little inheritance when her Father passed, and cheated on her husband with the man she is currently married to. Perfect, juicy gossip. I could definitely handle this kind of read as I was positive it would make me laugh. (it actually made me cry too!)

Surprisingly enough, I finished the entire book in exactly 3 hours. I was hooked. Couldn't put the book down. Tori Spelling really was so much more then I thought she was. Here this girl was born into one of the most wealthiest family's in LA and yet wanted a normal life like mine with true, honest, unconditional love from her parents all along. She never got it and it forced her into a marriage to a Man she didn't love only for a sense of normalcy. (His Family actually hugged her with excitement when she entered their home). Tori and her Mother had an interesting/sad relationship throughout her entire childhood and into her current adult life. She was not loving, acted very jealous and prefers communicating through her publicist now if she needs to reach Tori. She did have a good relationship with her Father, Aaron Spelling but when he passed, a man worth Billions left Tori $800,000. After taxes, it was almost half. Now trust me, that is a lot of money but not for someone that has grown up in the single largest estate in Los Angeles and who's Father is the "Aaron Spelling", I have to say I understand why she would be a little confused. But money wasn't important to her, what she honestly craved was Family. I know more then anyone that inheritance means nothing when you lose someone you love so much. Honestly, I would have been sadden if my Parents left us boat loads of money as that meant they didn't fully live their life. My Father was retired, they were comfortable and really enjoyed themselves but also knew the importance of stability and future. I don't want to give the entire book away but I found toward the end of the book and now as I watch her series on Oxygen, Tori and Dean Home Sweet Hollywood (on Tuesdays at 10pm EST), she has some of the same fears and sadness that I do. She lost her Father she adores and now has two children that she would love to share with him. Her husband Dean lost both of his parents so there is not a ton of Family around. She fears her children won't know her Dad and is so sad they won't have Grandparents (her Mother isn't exactly a Grandmother). She turns to friends and her Father's brother, Uncle Danny.

I know it may sound cheesy I am writing about Tori Spelling, who up until I read this book and watched a few episodes of her series, thought she was just another ditsy, Hollywood Blonde, but it seems to me all she ever wanted was a loving Family and a normal childhood. Through her dramatic life, she now has two beautiful children, a wonderful loving husband and a very hardworking career that she has done all on her own. And a Mother, who is still alive but is not in her life like she should be. Again, another reminder how lucky I was although it makes it even harder to know there are Mothers out there who choose to not be in their children's lives and mine who would do anything to be here today.....

So, watch her show or pick up the book and let me know what you think....... I bet you will find it a fun read. (Although I do not support her decision to cheat on her 1st husband, I found the honesty of her story very courageous).

On another note, we had a good weekend. One of my best friends who lives in AZ, came to Cincinnati on Friday for a visit. We got a chance to catch up over coffee in Hyde Park Square. We talked and cried about the past few months events and ended up having a fun dinner, ice-cream and watched one of my favorite movies (27 dresses-saw it with Mom in the Theater in February). Our good friend Josh drove all the way from Kalamazoo, MI to help Ted with a project on the house. We also had a fun dinner with him Saturday. We are once again reminded of the wonderful friends we have in our life. Friends who make the trip to be with you just when you need them the most!