When I was 8, I asked God to help my dad find a wife. Dad did find a wife. And she proceeded to turn our lives upside down with her madness and cruelty. When I was in high school, I tried to make this deal with God, "I don't care if I can't get a …
Category: memory
Curtains and Mind Tricks
Memory is a trickster. Your memory is likely not what you think. Mine doesn't half tell me what I want to know, and sometimes it holds my present mind hostage. You may know that old post of mine about the man at my window. Like with many life stories I've posted here, I did not …
The New Year and the Old Years Long Ago
New Year's Eve I finished reading Girls of a Tender Age, a compelling and disturbing memoir. Mary-Ann Tirone-Smith writes about her childhood and the murder of a childhood friend. The story would've caught me even if a classmate of mine* hadn't been murdered back when I was in the eighth grade. She was not my …
undercover
Today, I got see a few of my Saudi students without their veils. The women had a private party--no men allowed. Windows were covered, doors blocked off, signs of no admittance posted. They wore pretty dresses, make-up, jewelry, and they prepared special food and they danced. I missed the dancing, but I got to see …
Everyone’s Past
I have finished my rough draft of this year's NaNoWriMo novel, and I started with the first three chapters and notes my mother wrote before she died. The story is about a relationship she had. A couple years ago I made contact with this man from her past and he wrote me a letter about …
A Letter from the Death Man
A lot of time here has been spent on letters from my mother. Well, here is a portion of a letter to her from her ex-boyfriend, the fellow her novel, The Death Man, is based on (and the novel I am trying to finish). I wish I could have been around for your graduation. I …
Is it only time travel if you go with your body?
So, I'm participating in NaNoWriMo again--to write a novel and to see writing friends. But mostly to write a novel. And this novel is the one my mother started before she passed away. The novel is autobiographical, and to continue the story, I've read her letters and spent time thinking about a particular time in …
Continue reading Is it only time travel if you go with your body?
Dippy is as dippy does.
On May 6, 1988, my mother wrote this. [My professor] gave me an A, but he said although I was sometimes brilliant, and never bad, I was often dippy. But he gave me the A for my brilliance. It is hard for me to imagine my mother ever being dippy. She was silly from time …
Mind Your Manners
When I was 15, my mother wrote me this. You're approaching adulthood. Neither boys nor girls automatically know how to behave. Manners will get you through. That's what social manners are for. The other night a young woman sharing a table with me burped loudly. She didn't say excuse me or look around as if …
dress the part
I was in high school in the 80s when my mother wrote this. This money order is not just a Christmas present. People your age need to dress appropriately. As your mother, I'm going to add some advice about spending this money--you're probably going to get a lot of advice. Ignore everybody. Make yourself happy. …
Marta Bacon 