I am rearranging the furniture - and I cried. I miss that bed. But they say this is grief -- I need to feel it. I am grateful for the many guides that are walking me through this valley. They even come from out of province, take me out for fish and chips and cry with me. Just an example of so many who know when to show up, say the right thing, impart the perfect wisdom and shine light on this dreary season.... of grief. Thank you!
Smiley
Why are cats bad storytellers?
Because they only have one tale.
And the story continues
*******************
And then I became a writer. Who would have ever thought, I would still be learning something so totally new at this age.
I knew I was an entertainer – and that’s part of being a story teller - but a writer of a book?
COVID had a way of changing agendas. Wilma who had been teaching at Bronx Community Center found her classes cut.
So even though the possibility of meeting was fraught with angst the desire to write had not diminished in her students, so she thought she might start teaching on line - for that she needed administrative help and looked to me.
I didn’t expect much at first except to be available and help out. But then as I listened to her and heard the questions, I quite liked it. I even took the course twice – willingly - both the introductory and the master’s class.
First of all, it was just good to learn the importance of our story and then to be given the permission to write it out in a non-judgement zone. That was a relief.
And then to have deadlines to help us get motivated to gather the basic information and putting it “on the record” so to speak. Just the discipline of writing was a new creative form of expression.
Secondly it was also an affirming experience. I felt better about my life as I went along. To be forced to look at my life from a different perspective – and to see it more objectively was enlightening. It was fascinating to discover some of my own family background records. It was rich.
Having someone impose a new way of organizing my story also gave me a broader understanding of the different influences on my life. For example - one assignment was to research the state of the world I was born into. I was truly surprised. I thought my life began with birth – apparently there was life before I was born. Amazing how much it informed my story of origin.
Then as I described my childhood, I was fascinated with the extent of change in the world during my life span, no electricity to the age of computers! I believe there would be some merit to sharing a life with that amount of change.
It was also interesting that the more I wrote the more I remembered.
Thirdly I appreciated the exercise of examining my life and myself by using the four parts of our personhood. That was revealing and instructional for me.
It’s one thing to live life, it’s another thing to start putting the pieces together – like a puzzle and see how it all fits together. I saw links and parallels, influences and coincidence like I have never seen before. I felt less fragmented – more whole.
It was also interesting to look back and ask the “what if” questions… like when I was writing my “near death” experience story which happened at Pauingassi, it revealed how important surviving the threat had been.
If I’d died, we would not have had Odia or Syras as our kids, and so also our three grandkids would not have existed. They are now such blessings not only to us but the world. Oh, the mysteries of life… the invisible hand of destiny.
Fourthly it satisfied my longing to leave a complete and good legacy. As I was writing, it was good to know that I was passing on my personal story to my family, and, to the world! It didn’t mean that they would necessarily need to read it – but it was there. I had done my part.
If they were interested, I wanted my family to know me – and see me for what I really was - not one dimensional but multi-faceted. I am artist, writer, preacher, businessman, photographer, husband, grandfather etc. who has actually lived a rather curious and interesting life! I am not just as an old man in the chair.
Fifthly, I wanted others to learn from my life. They would undoubtedly learn from reading other people’s biographies – I wanted them to learn from me.
In fact, as I started to write – I felt my life had much to teach. I had more to teach then I thought initially. In fact, I wanted to create a sermon out of my life –not one of judgement and high expectations, but one of love and grace.
At this age, I’ve uncovered a few secrets that I wish I had known when I was young.
Suddenly I wanted to preach it….
Smiley
Why are cats bad storytellers?
Because they only have one tale.
And the story continues
*******************
And then I became a writer. Who would have ever thought, I would still be learning something so totally new at this age.
I knew I was an entertainer – and that’s part of being a story teller - but a writer of a book?
COVID had a way of changing agendas. Wilma who had been teaching at Bronx Community Center found her classes cut.
So even though the possibility of meeting was fraught with angst the desire to write had not diminished in her students, so she thought she might start teaching on line - for that she needed administrative help and looked to me.
I didn’t expect much at first except to be available and help out. But then as I listened to her and heard the questions, I quite liked it. I even took the course twice – willingly - both the introductory and the master’s class.
First of all, it was just good to learn the importance of our story and then to be given the permission to write it out in a non-judgement zone. That was a relief.
And then to have deadlines to help us get motivated to gather the basic information and putting it “on the record” so to speak. Just the discipline of writing was a new creative form of expression.
Secondly it was also an affirming experience. I felt better about my life as I went along. To be forced to look at my life from a different perspective – and to see it more objectively was enlightening. It was fascinating to discover some of my own family background records. It was rich.
Having someone impose a new way of organizing my story also gave me a broader understanding of the different influences on my life. For example - one assignment was to research the state of the world I was born into. I was truly surprised. I thought my life began with birth – apparently there was life before I was born. Amazing how much it informed my story of origin.
Then as I described my childhood, I was fascinated with the extent of change in the world during my life span, no electricity to the age of computers! I believe there would be some merit to sharing a life with that amount of change.
It was also interesting that the more I wrote the more I remembered.
Thirdly I appreciated the exercise of examining my life and myself by using the four parts of our personhood. That was revealing and instructional for me.
It’s one thing to live life, it’s another thing to start putting the pieces together – like a puzzle and see how it all fits together. I saw links and parallels, influences and coincidence like I have never seen before. I felt less fragmented – more whole.
It was also interesting to look back and ask the “what if” questions… like when I was writing my “near death” experience story which happened at Pauingassi, it revealed how important surviving the threat had been.
If I’d died, we would not have had Odia or Syras as our kids, and so also our three grandkids would not have existed. They are now such blessings not only to us but the world. Oh, the mysteries of life… the invisible hand of destiny.
Fourthly it satisfied my longing to leave a complete and good legacy. As I was writing, it was good to know that I was passing on my personal story to my family, and, to the world! It didn’t mean that they would necessarily need to read it – but it was there. I had done my part.
If they were interested, I wanted my family to know me – and see me for what I really was - not one dimensional but multi-faceted. I am artist, writer, preacher, businessman, photographer, husband, grandfather etc. who has actually lived a rather curious and interesting life! I am not just as an old man in the chair.
Fifthly, I wanted others to learn from my life. They would undoubtedly learn from reading other people’s biographies – I wanted them to learn from me.
In fact, as I started to write – I felt my life had much to teach. I had more to teach then I thought initially. In fact, I wanted to create a sermon out of my life –not one of judgement and high expectations, but one of love and grace.
At this age, I’ve uncovered a few secrets that I wish I had known when I was young.
Suddenly I wanted to preach it….
“If something inside of you is real,
we will probably find it interesting,
and it will probably be universal.
So you must risk placing real emotion at the center of your work. Write straight into the emotional center of things.
Write toward vulnerability.
Risk being unliked.
Tell the truth as you understand it.
If you’re a writer you have a moral obligation to do this.
And it is a revolutionary act—truth is always subversive.”
― Anne Lamott
we will probably find it interesting,
and it will probably be universal.
So you must risk placing real emotion at the center of your work. Write straight into the emotional center of things.
Write toward vulnerability.
Risk being unliked.
Tell the truth as you understand it.
If you’re a writer you have a moral obligation to do this.
And it is a revolutionary act—truth is always subversive.”
― Anne Lamott
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