Sing a song of forgetting again

I realize that I have talked (written) about the Betsy books here before. I regularly re-read the series, though, so it makes sense that it keeps cropping up here. And yes, I do realize that I shouldn't re-read books till I finish this project. Such is life.

What I love about the Betsy books is that they fit that very, very rare category of books with which you get something new out of each time you read. The early Betsy books where just pure enjoyment when I was a child; my favorite part was the friendships. Now when I re-read them, I see the role of the adults and love the Rays as a couple and as seriously amazing parents. When I first started college, I adored Carney's House Party; before or after a trip to Europe I always re-read Betsy and the Great World. Betsy and the Great World spoke to me for very different reasons when I first moved to DC.

Most recently I re-read Betsy and Joe, Betsy and the Great World, and Betsy's Wedding. In reverse chronological order, of course, because I make sense like that. To be fair, I actually skimmed Betsy and the Great World. This time, I was focused on the relationship between Betsy and Joe.

Which, I just simply love. They are such a sweet, supportive couple. There are some antiquated aspects of their division of labor as newlyweds, but by and large they are a great relationship role models. They are partners in the life they are building together and in their creative work together (Betsy and Joe, like Maude and Delos, collaborated on many works).

This time, I was most struck by Betsy's role in the relationship. Betsy's crush on Joe is established when they are freshman; it takes Joe a lot longer to come around (though one could argue that he does like her long before he makes a move). Betsy is open about her (seemingly-one-sided) interest, and she often is the more proactive one. Eventually Joe (of course) falls hard for Betsy, but their dynamic is really amazingly progressive. If you look at modern romantic comedies, it's irritating to see how far we've slipped back in so many ways. Of course, part of why I simply adore Betsy is because she wants. She has dreams, ambitions, aspirations; she's not afraid to admit to striving, to sometimes failing, to wanting and maybe not getting and then trying again.

So, yes, definitely a Betsy and Joe shipper. I tend to be a canon shipper generally, but with Betsy, I was totally shocked to learn that there are Tony and Betsy shippers. Seriously? Don't get me wrong, I love Tony, but how can anyone not want Betsy and Joe together?