Thursday, May 24, 2012

diving deep

I've been wanting to write about my mom since her death, but had been scared to get too close, dive too deep. That is starting to change. Yesterday, The Rumpus published my essay, Get Me Away From Here, I'm Dying, which was so hard to write, but felt so incredibly necessary...it practically clawed its way out of me. I have been deeply moved by the outpouring of support it has already received over the last day. When I first saw that the essay had been posted, my heart nearly broke through my chest, it was pounding so hard. I felt a little dizzy all day, both from having such a raw piece of myself out in the world, and from having people receive it with so much love.

Thank you to everyone who has already read and shared the piece. You are giving me the courage to continue to dive, as Adrienne Rich said, into the wreck.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

This evening I picked up "Self Storage" and didn't put it down until half way through the book. I only stopped because I wanted to go to your blog and tell you what an amazing book you have written, what a wonderful gift it is to read...just what my soul needs on this day. And then, I stopped to read your piece about your mom which brought me to tears. I must say thank you for sharing about all of these raw edges of life. We live in such a paradox of sorrow and joy, vulnerability and strength. What can we do but continue to do "whatever makes us say YES inside."? Thank you!

gayle said...

Thank you so much, Anonymous. I wish I could thank you by name, but please know I'm so grateful for your kind words, and I'm delighted that you enjoyed my novel. YES!! :)