Finding Mr. Right in a Wrong Environment

Every little girl dreams that one day she'll find the man of her dreams and grow up healthy, happy, and in love with her perfect person. And he'll he relatively tall, tan, with greyish blue eyes, raven hair, a masculine physique, a deep yet tender voice, and of course he'll be the heir to a multi-billion dollar conglomerate pharmaceutical corporation , yada yada yada... But what if that lovely perfect person does not show himself to that lonely little girl? Eventually that little girl grows up. Hoping that the next passerby be that Mr. Wonderful knight-on-shining armor who carries her off her feet and whisks her away to his Paradise in the Pacific and makes earth shattering, wind roaring, avatar elemental bending passionate love to her!

Now, experience tells us-- or me, for that matter -- to be exacting. Men are truly a dubious creature. They fly just as swiftly as they swoop in for the kill as soon as a woman claims to wanna settle. Moreover, it's the truly fortunate female who can snare her beloved whilst still managing to accomplish her life's passion. I am on that journey. A sojourner on the path of life's rocky road of tears, heartache, and hell. I am the heroine of my own dramatic comedy. And that is why today marks the day I have chosen to log my path on this romantic misadventure of mine. A sleeping Cinderella who continues to dream of her Mr. Right.

My anime love lesson for the day is Kemono no Souja Erin. A Japanese anime about a beastplayer/healer named Erin who was raised in a village which trained toudas (dragons) for the mighty duke. Her mother came from a tribe called the Mist People. A society that leads a nomadic life with strict laws that once broken, death would be the only penalty. They are a mysterious people with piercing sea green eyes with a talent for the occult.

One day, while making rounds as a scout, her mother finds a wounded hunter and eventually falls in love with him. She says his courage, warmth, and kindness led her to forsake her people and follow him. He was the village chieftain's son. The anime doesn't mention it, but Erin's father(Assan) dies. And Erin's mother choses to remain in the village despite Assan's death. Even though they are both treated like second class citizens in the village because of Erin's mother's heritage, Erin's mother-- a talented beastinarian -- becomes assigned to take care of the duke's prized Kiba (retired dragons). One day, all the Kiba in the villlage die and Erin's mother becomes the scapegoat. She is ordered to be executed by touda trial (i.e. being eating alive by wild touda). Erin tries to rescue her mother by swimming in a wild touda infested sea to save her and by cutting the binds off from her hands and feet. But it is useless, for the executioners have already driven a sword into her. [I love this scene in the anime. I cried watching the young Erin yell out to her mother, "Okasan! Okasan!!!" As she desperately tries to save her]. Erin's mom is mortally wounded and with her dying breath, she summons up the strength to make a whistle with her fingers that halt the wild toudas from attacking them both. She tells Erin that she is committing a crime not to be repeated, and then calls a wild touda to take Erin to safety. [Tears].

It's safe to say the tears will come flooding again, but I've only watched up to that scene. Yet what I remember most about Erin's mother was the scene wherein Erin snuggles into her bed and asks, "Mom, what do I smell like?" Her mother lovingly replies, " You smell like the sun." Erin reminded her mother of Assan (Erin's father) who looked like the sun.

Kemono no Souja Erin has taught me this, thus far:
1) To love is to sacrifice.
2) Find your happiness.
3) You see the sun in the one you love.

I strive to learn more, and so will continue my Mr. Wonderful 101 quest!