Who's Laughing?
150 word synopsis of my life22 total reviews
Comment from amada
Congratulations in winning the contest! Very well deserved, original, funny and with a touch of truth here and there. "Sink or swim..." My fave.
reply by the author on 21-Apr-2014
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Congratulations in winning the contest! Very well deserved, original, funny and with a touch of truth here and there. "Sink or swim..." My fave.
Comment Written 21-Apr-2014
reply by the author on 21-Apr-2014
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Thanks, more truth than creativity.
Comment from Cumbrianlass
Well, I'm glad this one won! Very funny, in a subdued harsh kind of way. So, you were hurled out of heaven. A falling star. ;)
Bravo.
Av
reply by the author on 21-Apr-2014
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Well, I'm glad this one won! Very funny, in a subdued harsh kind of way. So, you were hurled out of heaven. A falling star. ;)
Bravo.
Av
Comment Written 21-Apr-2014
reply by the author on 21-Apr-2014
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Shared the win with Erik...his sordid life, in 150 words, and thought that two stories seemed to spring from equal origins.
Yes, of course I was tossed, wasn't it obvious by my rusted halo?
Comment from Donald O. Cassidy
I think your story deserved to win the contest.
However, if it's close t oliteral or closer to nnonfiction than fiction, I think you paid a tremendous price to recall this and use it to win a prize.
I think the philosophy of "sink or swim" is lousy fatherhood. It's too much like military rergimentation that's supposed to make men out of softies.
Don't get me wrong; children, especially boys, need discipline that prevents being sissies and spoiled with pampering.
But many a former soldier earning hnors and medals resumed a civilian life of brutality. Where's the manhood in that?
reply by the author on 21-Apr-2014
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I think your story deserved to win the contest.
However, if it's close t oliteral or closer to nnonfiction than fiction, I think you paid a tremendous price to recall this and use it to win a prize.
I think the philosophy of "sink or swim" is lousy fatherhood. It's too much like military rergimentation that's supposed to make men out of softies.
Don't get me wrong; children, especially boys, need discipline that prevents being sissies and spoiled with pampering.
But many a former soldier earning hnors and medals resumed a civilian life of brutality. Where's the manhood in that?
Comment Written 20-Apr-2014
reply by the author on 21-Apr-2014
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In some categories of literature, they'd call this creative non-fiction. The words and emotional summary in 150 words fell out the way I lived my life, but I didn't use them to 'win' a contest. My life was definitely a swamp at times, and it all came down to the psychic message--only I could walk out that quagmire, even God wasn't going to save me.
Comment from DALLAS01
Ingrid, so sorry I do not have a six left. You have packed a lifetime of questioning ad into this short prompt. What a great metaphor:
When I remembered that intimate moment before birth, I'd shake my fist at the sky and rage against My Father, who equated my life with a swimming lesson.
"This isn't fair," I'd say and continue to mumble as I served my time.
(I've always wondered if we aren't in purgatory?)
reply by the author on 19-Apr-2014
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Ingrid, so sorry I do not have a six left. You have packed a lifetime of questioning ad into this short prompt. What a great metaphor:
When I remembered that intimate moment before birth, I'd shake my fist at the sky and rage against My Father, who equated my life with a swimming lesson.
"This isn't fair," I'd say and continue to mumble as I served my time.
(I've always wondered if we aren't in purgatory?)
Comment Written 19-Apr-2014
reply by the author on 19-Apr-2014
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You know, there is actually a town named Purgatory, but I've forgotten where it's at. Thanks so much.
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I think it might be in Maine.
Comment from ExperiencingLiphe
I can't imagine what a child or any person might think if this happened to them before birth. I'm just glad I don't remember any of that stuff. Great job friend
reply by the author on 19-Apr-2014
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I can't imagine what a child or any person might think if this happened to them before birth. I'm just glad I don't remember any of that stuff. Great job friend
Comment Written 19-Apr-2014
reply by the author on 19-Apr-2014
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Are you sure you don't have a psychic memory? People are slowly trained not to trust their instincts and poo poo their thoughts.
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I'm good with trusting my instinct but not okay with remembering everything. LOL
Comment from Lylise
"...equated my life to a swimming lesson..." Excellent. You are so talented and I always fall right into your work never knowing what's coming. You do not disappoint. This is such a visual cornucopia packed into a match box and I loved this. Good luck in yet another goofy contest. :) Lynda
reply by the author on 19-Apr-2014
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"...equated my life to a swimming lesson..." Excellent. You are so talented and I always fall right into your work never knowing what's coming. You do not disappoint. This is such a visual cornucopia packed into a match box and I loved this. Good luck in yet another goofy contest. :) Lynda
Comment Written 19-Apr-2014
reply by the author on 19-Apr-2014
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You really do flatter me and regale me with beautiful stars. thank you.
Comment from catch22
This is a very well written short biography that works on a few levels. The spiritual Father giving his child a harsh lesson under the guise of tough love is very applicable to a lot of parts of life.
My own father never allowed me to believe in Santa Clause (because we were Jewish) or anything else magical or immeasurable. Sometimes, this tough love concept gets thrown too far IMO. I feel like if we succeed in life, our parents look at us and attribute it to themselves. The truth is we often succeed in spite of (not because of) such treatment. For every success story, there's also someone who did not succeed--they broke down in the process. I think I became tough from the tough love, but that's not always a good thing. It also darkened my worldview and made me more cautious and less trusting than others. That's definitely a big con to the tough love practice when applied in an extreme situation.
reply by the author on 19-Apr-2014
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This is a very well written short biography that works on a few levels. The spiritual Father giving his child a harsh lesson under the guise of tough love is very applicable to a lot of parts of life.
My own father never allowed me to believe in Santa Clause (because we were Jewish) or anything else magical or immeasurable. Sometimes, this tough love concept gets thrown too far IMO. I feel like if we succeed in life, our parents look at us and attribute it to themselves. The truth is we often succeed in spite of (not because of) such treatment. For every success story, there's also someone who did not succeed--they broke down in the process. I think I became tough from the tough love, but that's not always a good thing. It also darkened my worldview and made me more cautious and less trusting than others. That's definitely a big con to the tough love practice when applied in an extreme situation.
Comment Written 19-Apr-2014
reply by the author on 19-Apr-2014
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I'm going to think about what you've said and respond later when I can digest, filter and absorb the sincerity of this response.
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Of course. This was a very thought provoking story to read (for myself at least). Take care and I wish you the best in the contest.
Comment from adewpearl
my Father, who equated - add comma
I like your approach to this contest. Let's face it, 150 words isn't enough to actually fit in the events of your life, so this look at the overall journey is most thought-provoking. Brooke
reply by the author on 19-Apr-2014
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my Father, who equated - add comma
I like your approach to this contest. Let's face it, 150 words isn't enough to actually fit in the events of your life, so this look at the overall journey is most thought-provoking. Brooke
Comment Written 19-Apr-2014
reply by the author on 19-Apr-2014
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And how could I edit your influence on me--though I'm still struggling with those bloody commas.
Comment from nelliesellie
I love the picture. I love the poem. I can get a little mad at God too. I hate his sink or swim attitude. Come on, he can give us a break once and while. There are a few tough things I could use some help with. Great work.
reply by the author on 19-Apr-2014
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I love the picture. I love the poem. I can get a little mad at God too. I hate his sink or swim attitude. Come on, he can give us a break once and while. There are a few tough things I could use some help with. Great work.
Comment Written 19-Apr-2014
reply by the author on 19-Apr-2014
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You'd think, wouldn't you? All that tax-free real-estate and a monopoly on prayer--you'd think he'd be generous, but not God. He seems to have His own agenda.
Comment from rod007
I loved this story, a very original and strong entry for the contest. I wish you the best of luck. Sink or swim, you got it. We all have to ditch our sadness and grab life by the horns.
reply by the author on 19-Apr-2014
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I loved this story, a very original and strong entry for the contest. I wish you the best of luck. Sink or swim, you got it. We all have to ditch our sadness and grab life by the horns.
Comment Written 19-Apr-2014
reply by the author on 19-Apr-2014
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You see, you got it right--it's the damn horns, not the bloody tail that I was clutching. Should have advised me sooner!