Deborah, I love your writing. No filters, only honesty with a dose of humor. Now that my debut memoir is out I’ve thought of writing my next book in alternating essays and micro memoir, teeny tiny snippets of life now (I turned 70 last year too) and how to live with so much grief while still holding space for joy. You’ve inspired me. Thank you!
Ooh, yes, what a great idea. I will read! I'm a fan of your writing! Playing with the form was profoundly challenging (the 70-word thing especially) but I love compression, concision, precision, all that good stuff. Keep us posted!
This one struck a chord in me. Even though I'm married, a lot of what Deborah said resonated due to my situation. Life is not for the faint hearted. Make the best of it and keep showing up.
Thanks! I wish I'd had the words to explain that there's a covering, one of those pillowtop-type things that goes over the actual air mattress, but it still didn't help with the sinkage... :)
Love this! You captured so much in each memoir! This line especially rang true: "Apparently delusional, I’d envisioned my sixties as carefree, creative." 😬 Brava!
Oh, thanks so much! I have to say I loved writing that line. Who knew my mother would just keep going and going until age 99?! Surrendering to the things we can't control, eh? Hang in there if that's your situation.
I know what you mean...my dad made it to 90--even with a pandemic! We lost him a year after that. But the time spent devoting time to caregiving was like an abyss...I sometimes think I'm younger than I am because somehow those years disappeared! ;)
Funny and heart-piercing. Let’s do this again sometime!
Thank you so much. Yeah, that line! Truth.
Touching and so relatable. Love the blunt delivery of this clear- eyed storytelling and want to read more.
Thank you so much! Your comment (and the others so far) mean so much!
Raw and so unbearably accurate. Extraordinary writing.
(And say Sari, when can we talk more about aging and omnipresent *fear* ...?)
Just making conversation, lol.
Thank you so much. That means a lot.
You are an amazing writer!
Oops, I missed this, Sue. THANK YOU so much!
Deborah, I love your writing. No filters, only honesty with a dose of humor. Now that my debut memoir is out I’ve thought of writing my next book in alternating essays and micro memoir, teeny tiny snippets of life now (I turned 70 last year too) and how to live with so much grief while still holding space for joy. You’ve inspired me. Thank you!
Ooh, yes, what a great idea. I will read! I'm a fan of your writing! Playing with the form was profoundly challenging (the 70-word thing especially) but I love compression, concision, precision, all that good stuff. Keep us posted!
I love that too—you probably know about our newish lit mag on substack—In a Flash—flash CNF 500 words or less. Longer than 70, but check it out!
Yes! I know it and have shared your info with fellow flash writers. Exciting!
This one struck a chord in me. Even though I'm married, a lot of what Deborah said resonated due to my situation. Life is not for the faint hearted. Make the best of it and keep showing up.
Yes, we need to keep showing up...and know we're not alone.
Love! Really beautiful and moving. Love the format and the whole approach. Never going to forget the center trench!
Thanks! I wish I'd had the words to explain that there's a covering, one of those pillowtop-type things that goes over the actual air mattress, but it still didn't help with the sinkage... :)
And how was MY day Mrs Lincoln? You said it for all of us. Thank you.
Finally, a non-triumphalist entry starting with a trifecta of online dating awfulness.
Myself, I thought I hit the online jackpot. The only hitch—she didn’t like herself for liking me. A heartbreak upon a heartbreak.
To thyself be true. That won’t disappoint. Botox won’t do it.
Yes! You get it. Sorry about your heartbreak. It's not easy, all of this. Thank you for commenting.
Each excerpt is succinct, precise, and a delight to read. Loved them all.
Thank you!
Beautiful writing. Sharp, clear, and so damn relatable.
Thank you so much!
This was so good. I don’t know what else to say. :)
Thank you! Wow.
love your writing style
Thank you! It was a challenge to do exactly 70 words each. Torture and fun at the same time.
Gorgeous. Funny. Poignant.
Love it! Everything. All of it!
Thank you so much!
Love this. All of it. Relatable. And the writing sparkles!
Thank you! I'm so glad it's relatable.
Love this! You captured so much in each memoir! This line especially rang true: "Apparently delusional, I’d envisioned my sixties as carefree, creative." 😬 Brava!
Oh, thanks so much! I have to say I loved writing that line. Who knew my mother would just keep going and going until age 99?! Surrendering to the things we can't control, eh? Hang in there if that's your situation.
I know what you mean...my dad made it to 90--even with a pandemic! We lost him a year after that. But the time spent devoting time to caregiving was like an abyss...I sometimes think I'm younger than I am because somehow those years disappeared! ;)
Yes! That says it perfectly. So interesting.
Asks no questions. Sigh.
LOL. A four-word poem about late-life dating!
So well crafted and spot-on!
Thank you so much!