Comments on: Memories – Old Slices

By: Marita

Marita — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 20:35:32 +0000

Of all the memories you instill within me, this one is the most poignant. Our fathers must have been a lot alike. How hard is was to watch him deteriorate and wilt away. He, more than most, understood it was about the journey. But when the journey was near its end, and he was no longer an active participant, he gave up. How do we keep that from happening to us? Keeping the memories alive is an important aspect. Keep writing! I’ve always loved your words. See you soon, I hope. Marita

By: costajill

costajill — Sat, 06 Jun 2009 16:09:52 +0000

Thanks for your comments. Writing down the memories holds them and passes them on. Add yours. You’ve got some good stories.

By: Cindi Mick

Cindi Mick — Sat, 06 Jun 2009 15:31:02 +0000

You write with such feeling, I really enjoy reading your stories. It is interesting how a moment can become an important memory and in a way become part of who we are.

By: jill

jill — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 00:52:54 +0000

Your memories are so important and now I have them down. Got some from Kim/Mart too. Maybe the beginnings of a family memoir. Keep em coming. Know you’re busy. Love you.

By: Lara

Lara — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 03:41:05 +0000

I’ve got some memories, too… Like catching him keeping his pill under his tongue until it dissolved and his red smile gave him away… Or leaning in to hug him and getting a goose on the ass when he thought I was a cute nurse instead of his grand-daughter. Still spicy in those hazy minded times!
I, too, remember the softening in him — winning me over to relax my apprehension around him, who had mostly been a scary and serious specter of great intensity as I was coming up. I think I learned a lot about compassion as I experienced both Fifi and then he, succombing to aging and their struggles with the knowledge of losing keenness of mind… I have a certain fondness for the childlike regression they both arrived at by the end.
Thanks for the trip down memory lane…

By: costajill

costajill — Sun, 31 May 2009 18:43:58 +0000

Wow, good memory. Glad you had some of the good ones. I have those too. They’ll show up too.

By: MartnKimm

MartnKimm — Sun, 31 May 2009 18:25:44 +0000

Jill, Kimm and I were remembering some family get togethers in the Venice house after your dad had gone to live with his caretaker. She would bring him in and he would be so happy going around (and around again) introducing himself to people. I remember someone getting out an old photo album and being amazed that, even in his advanced state, he actually remembered the name of the dog in the picture from when he lived in France! He really seemed in a good place at that stage. I remember his caretaker telling us that she would take him to Rev. Porter’s African American church and that he would sing and get up and dance. What a sight that must have been!