My daughter paid me the greatest compliment over the weekend. She said, “Mommy, you’re just like Anne Shirley.”

Be still my beating heart. I really did have a moment of feeling so overjoyed that my heart was fluttering. For those who don’t know Anne Shirley with an “e,” I am sorry for your deprived childhood. Anne Shirley is otherwise known as Anne of Green Gables and has been a beloved heroine of mine since I was 7. I only wish I were as eloquent as she is. Then I would be able to capture the essence of who she is in a sentence or two; but I’m not… so I can’t.

I asked Lexi what characteristics I had in common with Anne. Hopefully, it was Anne Shirley’s imagination. As a child, I would read and reread Lucy Maud Montgomery’s books because each time, I felt a bit closer to seeing, feeling and tasting the glorious beauty that was Green Gables and the Lake of Shining Waters. I could imagine the horrors of being a red-head and longing for the day that my hair would turn a deep, rich auburn. I found myself disappointed as a child because I couldn’t conjure up an imaginary friend, whereas, Anne seemed to find them in every window.
I hoped Lexi might say that I was eloquent in speech like Anne. I love how everything she utters has such dramatic flare to it that it compels the listener to lean in just to hear what she’s going to say next. For example, Anne longs to find individuals she deems to be “kindred spririts” and bosom buddies. We commoners might refer to finding a good friend who is loyal, kind-someone who “gets” us, but ever since I was 7, I privately refer to these individuals in my life as kindred spirits. Upon meeting her new teacher, Anne states, “I knew you were sympathetic to the human plight the minute we met.” I will rewind and listen to that line a hundred times and smile every time. When I’m having a bad day and someone suggests eating chocolate as the cure, I imagine saying out loud, “Plum puffs won’t minister to a mind diseased in a world that’s crumbled into pieces,” or I can’t eat when I’m in the “depths of despair.”

Really. It’s all too much for me to process. I adore Anne Shirley so having my daughter liken me to this darling girl caused such elation in me that I couldn’t quite contain my joy. So, Lexi, in what way am I like Anne Shirley???

“Mommy, you do silly things like Anne Shirley.” (My smile slightly fades…)

“Like when Anne Shirley broke her chalkboard over Gilbert’s head at school. Sometimes you get frustrated like that. And like when Anne Shirley is daydreaming and forgets to cover the pudding and the mouse gets in it. Mommy, sometimes, you’re daydreaming and you do silly things like leave your purse at work or lose your cell phone. And like when Anne Shirley gets in trouble at school for reading a book when she’s supposed to be doing math. You read a lot like that when I want you to play with me.”

Utter depths of despair… That’s how I felt about being likened to all of the negatives associated with Anne Shirley’s expressive nature and wild imagination. Oh, I see how I’m like Anne in those regards.

“But mommy, I love Anne Shirley. I like that she does silly things. I like that she laughs so much and that she likes to pretend. I think you really are like Anne Shirley.”

Kindred spirits, I tell you. God gave me a kindred spirit when he blessed me with this child.