Maybe it was my own frame of mind ( probably) when I was writing, but I didn't expect this one to garner that particular " F" word. Makes me super happy that you love it.
"Families, who would have 'em?" is an expression I remember hearing. The idealized picture painted by card companies and everyone else trying to sell us something is too often far from the truth. Great story Jimmy.
I always thought it would be funny to buy one of those multiple picture frames with the sample photos of perfect families in them and just display it as is. " Who are those people, Jimmy? " " I have no idea "
That's sad. The mom of a director got teary-eyed and I'm pretty sure angry when she found out no one from my family was at a premiere. But I'm used to it and don't care.
This one elicited a “Damn, Jimmy” from me. I often have cause to think about the mother-child -grandparent relationship and it’s complexities. Often more of a dyad, tinged by the third, rather than an actual triad. This covered a lot of them. I am also left wanting to know more about Charlie’s relationship with the mom. The picture made me wonder if their’s was better than Elena’s was with their mom. Had he just turned out like mom and was too busy working to be bothered with a funeral, as mom, likely would have been? I also loved that Elena took pride in her art to go above and beyond and that gave her a certain amount of satisfaction. Puts me in mind of you. This was really an remarkable piece. I swear I’m not just projecting.
Maybe maybe maybe I'll write Charlie's POV. I did not expect the overwhelmingly positive response to this story, but I did know that people would appreciate Elena's joy for her craft.
Glad you liked the clink. That was a " reach back". I thought it, didn't type it, wrote a bit more, then reached back and said " yeah, I'm adding this"
You're welcome. If you're interested, I recently launched my own newsletter which features the serialization of my SF novel, The Book of Dreams. Check out the first chapter and let me know what you think, https://cynthiacscott.substack.com/p/the-book-of-dreams?s=w
Maybe it was my own frame of mind ( probably) when I was writing, but I didn't expect this one to garner that particular " F" word. Makes me super happy that you love it.
Artfully done, Jimmy. Reading that was fresh air on a Sunday morning.
Wasn't sure this one would garner high praise. Guess I should just write and not speculate. Very happy you like it Doug
This is what happens when you work at creating and writing every bloody day... you get awfully damn good at it.
Thanks. I hope the stories are entertaining up to the day I finally go careening off into the woods to talk to moss.
Wow. There’s a lot to unpack in that relationship.
You tell great funeral stories – always a surprise (just short of the corpse sitting up and saying hi!)
I've been to more funerals than weddings.
"Families, who would have 'em?" is an expression I remember hearing. The idealized picture painted by card companies and everyone else trying to sell us something is too often far from the truth. Great story Jimmy.
I always thought it would be funny to buy one of those multiple picture frames with the sample photos of perfect families in them and just display it as is. " Who are those people, Jimmy? " " I have no idea "
Actually, I've heard of people without families doing that on their desks at work to make themselves more appealing to clients.
That's sad. The mom of a director got teary-eyed and I'm pretty sure angry when she found out no one from my family was at a premiere. But I'm used to it and don't care.
Eventually, distancing yourself becomes necessary.
This one elicited a “Damn, Jimmy” from me. I often have cause to think about the mother-child -grandparent relationship and it’s complexities. Often more of a dyad, tinged by the third, rather than an actual triad. This covered a lot of them. I am also left wanting to know more about Charlie’s relationship with the mom. The picture made me wonder if their’s was better than Elena’s was with their mom. Had he just turned out like mom and was too busy working to be bothered with a funeral, as mom, likely would have been? I also loved that Elena took pride in her art to go above and beyond and that gave her a certain amount of satisfaction. Puts me in mind of you. This was really an remarkable piece. I swear I’m not just projecting.
Maybe maybe maybe I'll write Charlie's POV. I did not expect the overwhelmingly positive response to this story, but I did know that people would appreciate Elena's joy for her craft.
Oh, I bet the framed poems in Arlene’s cubicle set her off more than a little. Glad Elena stayed calm and quiet.
(The clinking her wine glass against Grandma’s urn was an inspired bit of writing.)
Glad you liked the clink. That was a " reach back". I thought it, didn't type it, wrote a bit more, then reached back and said " yeah, I'm adding this"
This was very well written and heartfelt in its brevity. I enjoyed reading it.
Thank you, Cynthia. I try not to let the stories overstay their welcome. Really didn't expect the high praise I got for this one.
You're welcome. If you're interested, I recently launched my own newsletter which features the serialization of my SF novel, The Book of Dreams. Check out the first chapter and let me know what you think, https://cynthiacscott.substack.com/p/the-book-of-dreams?s=w