I hoped someone else was to blame. The math said otherwise. No fraud. Just a his-and-hers tab, a pattern, and the truth that hollowed me out.
Tag: alcoholism
The Mirror Shows His Face (And It’s Mine)
What if the habits I judged in my dad are the ones I’m building for myself? Writing is my salvation—but could it also be my cave?
Facing Medusa in Memoir: the Memoirist’s Gaze
If I can’t talk to you, at least I can try to see you better. Sometimes, writing is the only way to reach the truth.
O Me, O My: S’more Wallowing and Whingeing
I whinge worse than the backdoor hinge that guides my blind dog inside. Like my daddy before me, I wear my emotions like a second skin.
PostScript: Blame the Alcoholic, Too (I Do)
Dad’s drinking made him a target. By 2020, Dad was too vulnerable, too ripe for the picking, and she just couldn’t resist the temptation.
ThanK you aIMee, for the Viewpoint & Voice
My desire for vengeance is ruining this project. I know of only one way to stop it: embrace it, then let it go. So, here it is.
Keep Your Eyes Peeled for Spiders
I used to convince myself: if only I had squashed that spider when she first bared her fangs, Dad’s death could’ve been prevented. But I know better now.
Money Over Matter: Happiness vs. the Bottom Line
Dad gave up his dream so he could pursue the finer things in life; it made him miserable. Endless waiting, better days on the horizon, but never here.
Mary Karr’s Magic: How The Art of Memoir Unlocked My Soul
I saw my heartache in print; only, it wasn’t mine. These were the experiences of a 1960s family in Texas. Karr’s familial hurts merely echoed mine.
Why Love Hurts: The Brain!
A loved one’s absence isn’t a void; it’s a continuation of their presence. Their influence remains, shaping our lives as profoundly in their absence as their presence once did.