July 3, 2002
-
To Scott and anyone else who is “not convinced it’s true,” I didn’t write that memoir of my daughter’s conception, birth and surrender for adoption to convince anyone of anything. I did it here now to finish something I’d started months ago and been unable to complete. My daughter wanted to know about her early life, but at first I didn’t manage to get all the way through to the end of the time that she was with me. Any factual inaccuracy is the result of a failure of memory. I put my heart and soul into the telling of that story.
For Kris, Karen, Sarah, and everyone else who was or might be moved to painful emotions and/or tears by my 40-years-ago memoir:
Remember, dears, this happened forty years ago. It didn’t kill me. It strengthened me. It helped me wise up. I would not be me had I not been her, that pathetic, innocent, ignorant, precocious, ingenious idiot. Not only did I survive, but Carol survived, found me again, and has given me a small flock of red-haired grandkids.
Sarah, you know her. That story was essentially the tale of how that wonderful, loving, courageous, spiritual and funny woman came to be. No tragedy there, but her life is as much an epic saga as mine or yours.
Marie, who is no longer with us, had her own rough road and tragic end, but she survived long enough to produce three children, and one of them has made me a great-grandma… a contented, often joyous, sometimes wise, still ingenious and not quite so often idiotic great grandmother.
So dry those tears, take a deep breath, and get on with life. Now I need to decide what to write about next.
Comments (11)
My tears were for the girl you were…I know each experience of our lives makes us who we are, you would not be YOU without having been there. But I am sorry for the pain the young you suffered, and I am so glad to know that Carol found you again.
thats my voice.
I love your stories. It helps me believe in myself a little, knowing that others have gone through much more than I ever will. And still you treat it just like little bumps in the road. I admire you, hon. You’re an inspiration.
I love your stories. It helps me believe in myself a little, knowing that others have gone through much more than I ever will. And still you treat it just like little bumps in the road. I admire you, hon. You’re an inspiration.
I’m sure you realize how rare it is in this day and age to run across someone with a story like that who concludes: I learned from it and moved on. It made me a better person.
BRAVO.
And excellent writing. Sometimes I forget how much things have changed just in my lifetime. A time before computers to verify checks, before security cameras all around us, before ID was necessary to live at all. I know that every generation talks about their youth when things were “simpler”. But honestly, in the early 70′s, weren’t things really a lot simpler?
i’m almost afraid to comment — i’ve always enjoyed your entries, but didn’t want to “insult your intelligence” with my petty nonsense. i’m hoping that some of your good sense will rub off on me — xoxo, c
I can cry if I want to … and you cain’t stop me!
WAHHHHH!
Kay. Now I feel better …
I’d like to echo krisinluck however …
Echo Echo Echo …
When I write, it comes to me in spurts. Inspiration can’t be forced.
I don’t think any ending could have been more complete than the one in this blog. Thank you for sharing. -Kristy
I loved the story and I’ll add my **third** to Kris and Sarah….just in from the cottage for a bit to do laundry and thought I’d stop by…
sometimes I know I dont say the right thing or make a comment at all, but your writting is always so facinating and meaningful. Thanks for it.
I hope you have a great 4th of July