With love and gratitude (Part 6)
It’s the Thanksgiving weekend in the United States of America, and I think it’s a good time to continue this topic. As mentioned earlier in my previous posts about gratitude (for your interest, you can search for the tag “love and gratitude”) , some people argued that Candy ending her letter to Albert “with love and gratitude” indicated that she didn’t love him as a man, but still as her older ‘brother’ or even benefactor. Their main reason was that there was no gratitude in a romantic relationship, which is not necessarily valid.
For example, in the article “10 Ways to Start your Day with Love and Gratitude”, it says that “to be successful at dating or anything for that matter, you need to have a sense of gratitude… the quality of being thankful, a readiness to show appreciation for — and to return — kindness…. appreciating the one you love more will deepen your commitment and help to foster a great sense of wholeness and fulfillment.”
As a matter of fact, Albert also expressed his gratitude to Candy in his letter to her when he was in São Paulo. He said (from spoilers of Candy Candy Final Story epilogue):
… If someone in the camp hadn’t kindly sent me back to Chicago … and if I couldn’t meet you —.
Candy,
at that time, I was nothing more than a suspicious man without memory, with no identification.
But you didn’t leave me. You didn’t leave me even when you were fired from the hospital.
Your memories will surely come back, you kept my spirit up.
Just one time I have saved you, but you —.
I can never thank you enough.
I’m going to find out where your happiness lies.
I’ll certainly take a holiday and come to meet you when I’m back.
Bert
The first letter that followed was from Candy to him, and she said,
Dear Albert-san,
When will you come back from São Paulo?
When will you come to the Pony’s Home?
If you are so much thankful to me, I hope you’ll come soon….
Then apparently Albert had come to take her to Lakewood, and her letter to him in response was
I am — very grateful to my parents who have abandoned me at the Pony’s Home.
Thanks to that, I could meet you!
It is me who can never thank you enough.
Yes, Albert-san,
Herein lies my happiness; in now.
Ah, I don’t think I will be able to sleep tonight again.
But, I wish Little Bert dream the most fantastic dream.
With love and gratitude,
Candy
In short, they got many memories in their hearts about each other, both laughter and tears. These memories were bound by love, and through sharing their feelings honestly for years, they were grateful to each other. From gratitude it sparked something deeper between them, something that surpassed their already strong friendship. It was a love that lasted for a lifetime.
Ms Puddle, I must say that I have been “sailing” (I hope it is the correct word) through your haven. And I keep falling for you!
Alright, having said so, somewhere else you have said that it is a perfect circle, and indeed I agree.
When I saw Candy Candy anime for the first time in my life, I was around twelve, and during that time my first crush was obviously Anthony, because he reminded me the Prince on the Hill as well. Needless to say I was devastated when he died. Throughout the years as I grew up as well, I developed feelings for Terry too, and was indeed frustrated when they broke up in New York, and I blamed Susana, for causing such a trauma in me. Later on, I was able to understand that those characters felt something for Candy, Anthony was the innocence, pure, and awakening kind of “love” Terry was the start of the adolescence, rebel, adventurous kind of “love”. And now I find that Albert is the constant, truthful, mature, commited, longlasting LOVE. And it encircles both Anthony and Terry’s kind of love. Because he has been there for her in those times. Waiting patiently, encouraging her to be happy, to find herself in life, being whatever she wanted to be, in a time where without him backing her up, she would have been dragged to do something someone else wold have chosen for her, (as Albert himself was), sacrificing himself for her well being. Giving his own life on her behalf, (when the lion’s attack) and there is not such greater love that this, giving your own life for your friends. (according to the bible). So, how can I doubt at all about the true and real nature of this kind of love?
I’m so glad you enjoy reading my posts, SweetCandyAndley, and that’s a big encouragement to me, knowing that I’m not ‘talking to myself’… 😉
You have very good analysis too, and I can’t agree with you more. Yes, Albert is like a combination of them both. He’s sweet and gentle, but he can be rebellious at times. However, he won’t lose temper easily, and most of all, he respects Candy and puts her happiness before his.
Btw, I thought about that bible verse in “Love Never Fails” when writing that particular chapter! Great minds think alike!! 😀
Hi how about a nice fanart from you that comes from Candy Candy Final Story? I love your drawing skills of Candy and Albert. Please? 😉
Thank you for your compliment. I will draw when I’m inspired… 😛
Well point taken, my dear friend! You’re such a great analyst! Those ‘tanas’ should hire you and help them understand that the couple they dream of being together was never meant to be 😉
LOL… I don’t think this will ever happen to me. 😉
I’ve read few of their back-and-forth letters from a Greek forum, and I was so astonished of their relationship had gone deeper than the day they met in the river. I just knew Candy did stay with Albert at the end. I just can’t stop reading their letters over and over lol
Me too! Those letters really speak volumes of how their bond and friendship have got even stronger! 😀
What a beautiful way to put it!! I love the way you explain their feelings. I do want to believe that Candy stayed with such an amazing man. Sometimes reading other websites (for other candidates ;)) makes me wonder if that could be true, did they actually stay together? but when I came back to yours it is just so clear, no doubts. Thanks for your efforts and for keeping the dream alive.
I’m so glad to hear that, Mel! Yes, people are free to think otherwise, but I strongly believe that Mizuki hasn’t changed even after 30 years since the manga was finished. 😀
“I’m going to find out where your happiness lies.”… OMG… That’s SO lovely and, it sound like a promise <3
Exactly! It was like he had made her a promise… just wanted her to be happy! Awww… <3