Wednesday, October 05, 2005

Light a Candle

Thank you to reader Steve (Lunchmoney) for posting this site on Mom's Recovery. It's a lovely I'm sure many of us can use for years to come. Gratefulness.org

What Mom really wanted was to be a writer. She wrote an autobiography while I was in junior high, then put it away after too much discouraging editing "help" from a local J.C. instructor. I really wanted to self-publish it for her when she first was diagnosed, but she didn't become interested until this summer. So I'm committed to getting that done, and Brian is going to draw the cover from the best picture we have of Great Grandpa and Mom on his lap.

I think it's an amazing story. At the age of six, she was diagnosed with TB and sent away to a sanitarium, where her older brother and Grandpa were. But because of the quarantine rules of that era, she was alone in the hospital for a year...the only contact she had with them was waving through a window.

Anyway, I think she's a beautiful writer and really captures a distinct viewpoint and amazing details of her era. It's of some small relief that I have something active to do that feels important in her memory.

Here are some of her blog entries at Mom's Recovery:
Can You Believe it?
Spittin' Tacks Mad
Walkers are Cool!
Remember Nod
If a Tree Falls
Oh my god this was a terrible idea. Why did I start listing blog entries? You can actually follow the progression on her blog of how small her life became...how she had to keep adjusting her goals and dreams to reachable sizes, until she was squished into this tiny little heartbeat of hope. I'm filled with such sadness and regret now. Urgh. But...if you get a chance, she was (is?) a wonderful writer who really wanted to be read. I have to go now.

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

Elizabeth,

Posting excerpts of Mom's blog history was definately NOT a bad idea. Quite the opposite. Some of them should be included within a book. Yes, her decline was evident, but she showed incredible strength and determination despite it all. Don't belittle yourself for the effort you've put forward in memorializing your mother. You deserve so much better.

Fun Joel said...

Just wanted to drop a brief note to say even though we've never met in person, and only recently became acquainted in the blogosphere, I send you my deepest wishes in this time of loss. My thoughts are with you and your family, and am happy that you seem to be doing as well as possible, finding the heartwarming signs where possible. All my warmest thoughts!

(figured I'd post here instead of emailing, since those seem to get lost a lot!)

Christina said...

Hey Hon,
Check out your sbc account inbox. You need to submit for this screenplay contest...It's $50,000 and perfect for one of your ideas!

Love you,
Christina

Modigliani said...

LOVED the Candle site. That is very cool! Actually gave me the chills! I've always loved lighting candles in churches since I was a little girl. And now I love doing it at home, too. It really is a powerful gesture. Now there are candles burning for you and your family!

I also agree that is a great tribute to share your mom's writing. I don't think you should feel bad about that - just proud for having such an amazing mom!

Kidsis said...

Ohhhh thanks you guys. It was just a bad idea for me to be in a good space and then get myself upset like that. It's so sad to watch a person with big dreams settle for nothing in the end and be okay with it without complaining. She was positivity and light to the end. She deserved better.