This entire chapter cracked me up, especially the letter. Or should that be "The Letter." (Notice I put the period before the quotes, though I'm partial to putting it on the outside, just because, except in cases where I have a quote within a quote and punctuate accordingly.) I think you might have included with "The Letter" a copy of that photo of the chicken, which appears in its pose to be clapping. It knew the jig was up before anything started.
We have something in common: A man who shall never be named, who claimed much and then more love and adoration, sent, at the start of his long-distance wooing, a copy of his astrological chart, with a warning that things did not look so good for me, given who ruled whom in what house, the date and time of birth, and a lot of other astral nonsense I could not understand. I could not even get the chart to print out. I tried to tell him that I don't walk around with my head in the clouds, and reminded him that gaslighting a Scorpion, as I am, might have dire consequences. Were this my chapter, I'd be titling it, "The Stinger."
Hmmm... when he said he had sex with his wife every day for 35 years, I saw a red flag! Maybe it's even true, but it sounded like a love bomb, so early in his acquaintanceship with you Mary.
I continue to love how you weave certain motifs time and time again in these chapters - family, food, fairy tales, and literature. You asked at the end here what we thought of your "good, bad and foolish"... I think that's the best way to describe anyone who is dating, especially if they just came out of a relationship. Like you and D., I came out of a 21-year relationship in 2019 (though for different reasons) and embarked on some dating a few years later. Unlike you, though, I got none of the pleasure of e-mails explaining why it wouldn't work... they simply ghosted me! (And that's another thing I'm enjoying in this memoir, that you and these men are very considerate about each other - apart from the psychiatrist...)
Ah Mary, I'm in love with you all over again! Honestly? I was reading this and smiling. I laughed outright and shook my head. And like a child, or wet cement, whatever falls on me makes an impression. The writing here is so easy, and so full of hope. (Look at you making your man chicken dinner). It's easy enough for a layman like me can understand. But it's the heartache underneath the sighs as you relive it; the subtlety--the heart on your sleeve desire to have what it seems everyone else has. Togetherness. We all need to be loved as much as we need to be held, and you showed me the easy heartbreak of it, even as you taught me grammar!
What a grand comment on this difficult passage through. From my heart to yours, Ben, for reading writing with such generosity and appreciation of the writing.
Second, My God, Mary -- that letter! I am sure you rendered m.r.s. speechless. The emotional instruments you wielded. Without doubt, he regretted his unpreparedness.
"Could it be that D. will ride a white horse? Or is he on the merry-go-round with me?"
or maybe not the same merry-go-round but another one. A parallel journey - straight lines or circles - it doesn't matter, the hurt, betrayal, the risk-taking, discovery and maybe trust or learning to trust again are all there.
"Inexplicably romantic?" I say no. Romance is not a choice, rather a good emotion that carries risk. Where would we be without romance?
You fell in love, m.r.s. couldn't handle it, and that hurt you. You expressed your hurt through a grammar lesson. I'm rooting for you to keep falling in love.
I almost felt sorry for this one. Almost.
I as well ... but "almost" is the key word here. xx
This entire chapter cracked me up, especially the letter. Or should that be "The Letter." (Notice I put the period before the quotes, though I'm partial to putting it on the outside, just because, except in cases where I have a quote within a quote and punctuate accordingly.) I think you might have included with "The Letter" a copy of that photo of the chicken, which appears in its pose to be clapping. It knew the jig was up before anything started.
We have something in common: A man who shall never be named, who claimed much and then more love and adoration, sent, at the start of his long-distance wooing, a copy of his astrological chart, with a warning that things did not look so good for me, given who ruled whom in what house, the date and time of birth, and a lot of other astral nonsense I could not understand. I could not even get the chart to print out. I tried to tell him that I don't walk around with my head in the clouds, and reminded him that gaslighting a Scorpion, as I am, might have dire consequences. Were this my chapter, I'd be titling it, "The Stinger."
Maureen, What a guy to get rid of!
And on those periods: The rule seems to be put the person inside the quotes, but sometimes that looks silly, doesn't it?
Hmmm... when he said he had sex with his wife every day for 35 years, I saw a red flag! Maybe it's even true, but it sounded like a love bomb, so early in his acquaintanceship with you Mary.
I continue to love how you weave certain motifs time and time again in these chapters - family, food, fairy tales, and literature. You asked at the end here what we thought of your "good, bad and foolish"... I think that's the best way to describe anyone who is dating, especially if they just came out of a relationship. Like you and D., I came out of a 21-year relationship in 2019 (though for different reasons) and embarked on some dating a few years later. Unlike you, though, I got none of the pleasure of e-mails explaining why it wouldn't work... they simply ghosted me! (And that's another thing I'm enjoying in this memoir, that you and these men are very considerate about each other - apart from the psychiatrist...)
I'd thought it was true what he said, but perhaps you're write: "love bomb".
im still trying to figure out if you can actually eat off a plate like that without alerting some kind of security
I do every day ...
Ah Mary, I'm in love with you all over again! Honestly? I was reading this and smiling. I laughed outright and shook my head. And like a child, or wet cement, whatever falls on me makes an impression. The writing here is so easy, and so full of hope. (Look at you making your man chicken dinner). It's easy enough for a layman like me can understand. But it's the heartache underneath the sighs as you relive it; the subtlety--the heart on your sleeve desire to have what it seems everyone else has. Togetherness. We all need to be loved as much as we need to be held, and you showed me the easy heartbreak of it, even as you taught me grammar!
What a grand comment on this difficult passage through. From my heart to yours, Ben, for reading writing with such generosity and appreciation of the writing.
Oh Mary…these men. They deserve every bit of your schooling!
Means so much, Kimberly.
The letter to m.r.s. is wonderful. It has the air of Johnson's letter to Lord Chesterfield, one of the great put-downs of all time: https://englishliterature.net/samuel-johnson/a-letter-to-lord-chesterfield
I'm loving your use of fairy tales, too!
I'm loving your reads and your erudite mind, dear virtual friend.
👍👍👍
💕💕💕 Thank you, Edward
Probabilities don’t matter for a single event. ‘Time to move on.'
Sure, looks that way--and am trying to do just that. Thank you, Bill, for reading and commenting and helping: Means much. ~Mary
First, the mental connections you make!
Second, My God, Mary -- that letter! I am sure you rendered m.r.s. speechless. The emotional instruments you wielded. Without doubt, he regretted his unpreparedness.
Oh, Jay, what a moment in time that was--and what a kindness that you find time to read and support with such eloquence.
I think none of these men have deserved you. I think you are worth a million of them. Keep posting. I want to know what happens. X
You bet, lovely author and soul. Thanks so, not only for being here, but for your writing that I read and comment on and suggest others do as well!
"Could it be that D. will ride a white horse? Or is he on the merry-go-round with me?"
or maybe not the same merry-go-round but another one. A parallel journey - straight lines or circles - it doesn't matter, the hurt, betrayal, the risk-taking, discovery and maybe trust or learning to trust again are all there.
Such and insightful and eloquent comment, Isabelle. My heart to yours ...
"Inexplicably romantic?" I say no. Romance is not a choice, rather a good emotion that carries risk. Where would we be without romance?
You fell in love, m.r.s. couldn't handle it, and that hurt you. You expressed your hurt through a grammar lesson. I'm rooting for you to keep falling in love.
Confession: I say "I feel badly" frequently.
Love this comment, David --and Here's to LOVE and romance and connection!
Saving for my reading escape!
Diane, you have become a favorite reader. What a grand comment! Heart to heart and thank you ever so much!
How kind, Mary! As soon as I can settle in for the night, I’ll be catching up!
Can't wait to hear what you think, following you and with you,
I’ll report!