One of my faves of yours so far. Your use of language just totally painted the picture. Slap fights and howling fuck noises… love it. My childhood was not like this at all but I lived in a small town where this was the norm for a fair few kids.
Today I had a thought I'd write about practicing H.A.L.T. and how that's what helps me the most. Loneliness doesn't hit me very often but when it does I can get depressed and think about a drink. But these days I know how to think it through and know I'm not going back. I'm coming up on 7 end of this month. It didn't just happen all in seven years either; I started the journey back in '87. Worked a good honest program, did some H and I and meet lots of new friends. Then back out after four years, very functional but slowly killing my self. Anyhow, HALT works for me and trying to be a better parent and grandpa.
I enjoyed your story, I hadn't thought about one of my earlier sponsors and how I'd met him on a job site in Fairbanks. He turned me onto a daily affirmation book that was really helpful.
I’m trying. The subscriber base on this platform has dwindled. I can’t do it forever at below poverty level. John Cheever and JD Salinger would say the same thing
Yep. It was floating in the marketplace, got a few nibbles. I should actively try to launch it again. I’ve had a few shorts I wrote produced. Might release one shortly. It comes with a meandering backstory, but that’s true of many films that get completed.
“Billy didn’t learn that in school.” I didn’t want to laugh. I swear. I’m glad he made it through that, though, because I squirmed just reading about it.
You write like you want your work to be in newspaper columns what with all the paragraph breaks. I'm not saying there's anything wrong with that. It's an effective technique for sure.
Your prose is really tight, otherwise. You have a nice balance with it. Terse but not too terse. Information but not too much too fast.
It's accessible and it looks real. 9/10 would actually sit down and read this to see if the author had a story to tell that you felt you needed to hear, and not just submit a snarky comment based on a thirty-second skimover.
I always shoot for authenticity. Occasionally/Rarely I’ll go a little absurdist for a laugh and to change it up for me and regular readers. I have over 100 who have been with me for over 3 years
You wrote an entire life right here, didn’t you J?
That just sort of happened. I’m glad it happened but it wasn’t the intent when I typed the first word.
almost as if there are souls taking turns whispering in your ear…
I ❤️this one a lot.
Thanks. It felt like it might be something. I’m never sure what the reaction will be.
One of my faves of yours so far. Your use of language just totally painted the picture. Slap fights and howling fuck noises… love it. My childhood was not like this at all but I lived in a small town where this was the norm for a fair few kids.
I try to make them authentic experiences whether it’s stuff I did, witnessed or reliably heard about.
Nice.
Truly enjoyed that. I think I went to school With all those kids. My banana seat bike was purple. Loved it.
I loved those bikes. Mine was stolen. It was a bitch to keep a bike in Detroit when I was growing up
Today I had a thought I'd write about practicing H.A.L.T. and how that's what helps me the most. Loneliness doesn't hit me very often but when it does I can get depressed and think about a drink. But these days I know how to think it through and know I'm not going back. I'm coming up on 7 end of this month. It didn't just happen all in seven years either; I started the journey back in '87. Worked a good honest program, did some H and I and meet lots of new friends. Then back out after four years, very functional but slowly killing my self. Anyhow, HALT works for me and trying to be a better parent and grandpa.
Whatever works for anyone to keep them sober and alive is fine by me
I enjoyed your story, I hadn't thought about one of my earlier sponsors and how I'd met him on a job site in Fairbanks. He turned me onto a daily affirmation book that was really helpful.
Dry by Augusten Burroughs really helped me.
Ty, I'll check it out!
It’s funny as well as being helpful
The horror of childhood that makes us what we are.
There are some very strange and often frightening building blocks that make an adult human
Keep writing Jimmy
I’m trying. The subscriber base on this platform has dwindled. I can’t do it forever at below poverty level. John Cheever and JD Salinger would say the same thing
I never made a dime writing but I trust in God. Ever try writing a screenplay?
Yep. It was floating in the marketplace, got a few nibbles. I should actively try to launch it again. I’ve had a few shorts I wrote produced. Might release one shortly. It comes with a meandering backstory, but that’s true of many films that get completed.
Get it done. See what happens.
“Billy didn’t learn that in school.” I didn’t want to laugh. I swear. I’m glad he made it through that, though, because I squirmed just reading about it.
Squirming is a reaction that will make a writer happy
I hold the worlds record in small town Iowa for the longest jump with out removing my balls with that seat. Good times.
Jumping bikes over stuff was big in Michigan too. I have no records but a lot of hazy memories and bent forks
Life.
You nailed it.
Wow.
Thank God for Billy Chambliss.
Thanks for the wow, J/S. I needed a wow.
Awesome story! You inspired me -- not into recovery from substances -- but recovery from procrastinating. Great job.
That thrills me. Tag me next time you publish so I can read it
There are 1630 more in the archive if you have 33 cents a day sitting around
FUCKING BRILLIANT, jimmy!
i love everything about this, and not just because boozers, retired boozers, and boozers with nine lives are my favorite fucking people, PERIOD.
I love that you love it because this is one I had to get out there. I hoped people loved it as much as I do, but I never know
all i know is it *slapped* [as the youth say ;-)]
Friends I’ve shared this with agree: truly a great one.
Thanks for sharing it with them. I feel like I’ve been writing good stuff lately
This is my #1 of 1162. Bravo Jimmy.
It vaulted to the top??? Wow. Thanks. I like this one too
You write like you want your work to be in newspaper columns what with all the paragraph breaks. I'm not saying there's anything wrong with that. It's an effective technique for sure.
Your prose is really tight, otherwise. You have a nice balance with it. Terse but not too terse. Information but not too much too fast.
It's accessible and it looks real. 9/10 would actually sit down and read this to see if the author had a story to tell that you felt you needed to hear, and not just submit a snarky comment based on a thirty-second skimover.
I always shoot for authenticity. Occasionally/Rarely I’ll go a little absurdist for a laugh and to change it up for me and regular readers. I have over 100 who have been with me for over 3 years
Yeah, Jimmy. You brought the sauce.
Thanks Luke. I love this one. I see some of the flaws in it now, but I still love it.
Really loved this one. The humanity in it is so unexpected, yet so real and true to life.
I really strive for authenticity
Definitely one of my favorite qualities that draws me to your work.