Diane’s opening lines in Part 1 are loaded: “I am dying. Sooner rather than later.” Her entire piece is available here. The following letter is my response to her.
Dear Diane,
Your question and opening lines get right to the point.
I’ve been thinking about our family of origin and your immediate family. From my perspective, they’re light-years apart when it comes to talking in general.
For example, I can’t imagine us as children sitting around the kitchen or dinner table, chomping down food, elbows on the table, Read the rest of this entry »
Could this be Deep South white shame?
The shame of being almost
but not quite this
or that?
Rich – Poor
Privileged – Underprivileged
Proud – Ashamed
Grateful – Embarrassed
Living one life – Living two lives
Consider the evidence: Read the rest of this entry »
Here’s a timely piece from Oswald Chambers (OC). It’s the daily reading for today, November 26, from Daily Thoughts for Disciples. During his life, OC commented more than once about long-faced, dour Christians. He found them unattractive. Sadly, when OC was traveling in the USA, he saw a considerable number of Read the rest of this entry »
September 2009. I’m still working on Week 1 in The Artist’s Way by Julie Cameron. The writing exercise asks me to name the voices of my Allies and Enemies. Not imaginary voices, but voices of real people who in one way or another encouraged or discouraged my creative self-worth.
My top three Enemy voices
When I was young I never told anyone I wanted to be a writer or an artist. Read the rest of this entry »
It’s September 2009. I’m beginning a long-overdue sabbatical, and am determined to get back to personal writing. I’m excited about using The Artist’s Way as my guide. Twelve weeks of structured exercises every day. I love it!
Well, maybe not all of it. Read the rest of this entry »
Each fall I think about what might have been. Hopes, dreams, plans. One by one, the leaves drop to the ground. Dead? Maybe. Read the rest of this entry »
Houston, March 1999. A small family gathering in memory of Mother’s death in February. Several next-generation cousins are there. We watch a video of the memorial service for Mother. Death is in the air and on my mind. Not simply Mother’s death, but Diane’s and mine. Did Diane’s ALS break Mother’s heart? Read the rest of this entry »
It’s been an age since I first met you—
You there, looking back at me
Three score years plus eleven to be exact
You haven’t changed a bit, they say
You and I know better Read the rest of this entry »
gnarled scarred misshapen
trunk stands tall serene exposed
mirror of a soul
* * *
© Elouise Renich Fraser, 19 November 2014
Photo credit: DAFraser, November 2014
Longwood Meadow Garden, Forest Edge
Telling the Truth 