LuAnn's Lessons Learned

Hello my friends! For the past five years I’ve enjoyed sharing my life with you and I thank you for your support. So much has changed since I began this televised journey, as you know. My children have grown up and I’m very proud of them, I divorced and found love again and along the way I’ve made new friends and frenemies. I’ve traveled, partied, fought and made up, and most importantly, I’ve learned a lot about relationships.

I’m disappointed that Carole and I couldn’t make our friendship work. Maybe it’s because she considered herself more of a journalist than a Housewife? I do know that she never passed up a chance to criticize me and that she uses humor as a defensive mechanism rather than saying what she thinks to my face. I do respect her talent as a writer and I hope in the future she uses her considerable abilities to pull people up rather than bring them down.

Heather is a complicated girlfriend. During this season, I’ve felt that she’s had my back and in the end she didn’t. I do know that she’s very talented and a very good businesswoman. She did her best for Sonja and deserves more praise for her contribution to Sonja’s toaster oven launch than she received. I admire how she restrained herself when Sonja whipped out the logo sent in by a fan that she’s decided to use instead of what Heather and her team developed. Heather’s tough, smart and I’m glad we became friends.

Aviva is stunning, smart and she’s a great mom. She managed to juggle her family and she show with grace and dignity. I know she struggles with phobias related to her childhood accident, but I saw her face her fears and grow this season. Aviva loves her father in spite of his inappropriate behavior at times and he obviously loves her very much. I thought one of the best moments this season was when Aviva presented the little boy with his prosthetic leg. I hope that next season Aviva can resolve her issues with Sonja and Ramona and I look forward to spending more time with her.

Sonja and I remain very good friends and while she continues to face challenges with her divorce and her finances, she has a smile on her face and a glass of champagne in her hand. I think her close relationships with her interns shows that she is a very nurturing woman who loves her family and friends. I love spending time with Sonja and I think I’ve made a friend for life.

Ramona and I have had our issues over the years but we have a respect for each other that transcends our conflicts. The trait I admire most in Ramona is that she says what is on her mind to me rather than gossiping behind my back. I might not always like what she has to say but I like her honesty. She can be very fun to be around and I consider her to be my friend regardless of how much we agree to disagree.

As for me, I’ve learned some very important lessons this season about honesty and friendship. I realize now more than ever that to be a good girlfriend, I have to be forthright yet kind in what I say and do. I’ve learned that tequila clouds my judgment and that it’s better to take a car home than a ride from a pirate. I’ve also learned that Jacques loves me for who I am and that he trusts me regardless of how things looked on the show. Lastly, I realize how grateful I am to be able to share my life with you and I thank you from the bottom of my heart.

And lastly, check out my new site ShopLuann.com to see my new jewelry line.

Bisous!