“I have been to the world's end and back and now I know what I would put in my bottom drawer. I would put my sisters.”
In this quote, Kate Atkinson expresses the deep bond and value she places on her sisters. The metaphor of the "bottom drawer" suggests a place of utmost importance and security, as it is typically used to store cherished possessions. By stating that her sisters are what she would put in her bottom drawer, Atkinson conveys the profound impact that her sisters have had on her life and the immense love and significance she attributes to them. This quote emphasizes the importance of familial relationships and the irreplaceable role that siblings can play in one's life.
In today's fast-paced world, the idea of cherishing and prioritizing family relationships may seem old-fashioned. However, the words of Kate Atkinson remind us of the enduring significance of family bonds. Just as Atkinson values her sisters above all else, we should take the time to appreciate and nurture the relationships with our own family members. In times of hardship or uncertainty, it is often our family who provide us with the support and love that we need. By keeping our family close, we can create a sense of belonging and comfort that is invaluable in our modern lives.
"I have been to the world's end and back and now I know what I would put in my bottom drawer. I would put my sisters.” - Kate Atkinson
Reflecting on the quote by Kate Atkinson, "I have been to the world's end and back and now I know what I would put in my bottom drawer. I would put my sisters," consider the following questions:
“Sometimes I would like to cry. I close my eyes. Why weren't we designed so that we can close our ears as well? (Perhaps because we would never open them.) Is there some way that I could accelerate my evolution and develop earlids?”
“I suppose a better sister would have set about weaving him a shirt from nettles and throwing it over his furred-over body so that he could be released from his enchantment and resume his human form. I give him some cat food instead.”
“She had had affairs over the years ... but she had never been pregnant, never been a mother or a wife and it was only when she realized that it was too late, that it could never be, that she understood what it was that she had lost. Pamela's life would go on after she was dead, her descendants spreading through the world like the waters of a delta, but when Ursula died she would simply end. A stream that ran dry.”
“I was on the verge of something numinous and profound and in one more second the universe was going to crack open and arcana would rain down on my head like grace and all the cosmic mysteries were going to be revealed.”
“In the end, it is my belief, words are the only things that can construct a world that makes sense.”
“Patricia embraces me on the station platform. 'The past is what you leave behind in life, Ruby,' she says with the smile of a reincarnated lama. 'Nonsense, Patricia,' I tell her as I climb on board my train. 'The past's what you take with you.”