Up From the Memory Mine

[Bill Floyd]

Unsure at first if memories can even be said to have size, then sifting through the sediment of 43-plus years and finding some obsidian chunks and gold flakes alike:

--As a kid, scheduling a magic show for the neighborhood, carefully cutting out construction paper tickets, only to have one of the cool kids tear his up in front of me at the bus stop, saying, "No one's coming to your stupid fucking magic show."

--The way she got up in the middle of the night and draped a sheet around her waist to go into the kitchen, bare feet on the hardwood floors, slim legs and blonde curls, her casually elegant obscenities, the feeling that I was way out of my league.      

--The ER doctor who diagnosed my pancreatitis and, after I'd asked about my options, said, "You either stop drinking or you die"; I was 28.

--My first book contract: during the year between signing and the supposed publication date, my publisher was bought out by a larger media conglomerate and the editor who'd bought my book was replaced with an editor whose overt hostility made it plain she meant to do everything in her power to sink the deal; she succeeded.

--Nearly 10 years later, seeing my first published novel (a different one from the above) on the bookshelf at a bookstore among the new releases, and still unable to escape the sense of waiting for something to go wrong.

--The time when I was ten or eleven and my little sister got caught in a riptide and we both almost drowned; at the peak of my hysteria I promised God that if we were rescued I'd never say, "G.d." again; I still don't.

   

[Kristine_ES]

each memory taken from different facets of a person's life. and i especially liked that you took the time to craft powerful sentences instead of jotting down the first six things that came to you (like the mess i wrote) LOL

sentence one, i'd like to deck that kid. i hope somebody did. 

sentences four and five scare the hell out of me.

sentences three and six:  thank you God Bill (and his sis) are here.  :-) 

[Jeanette Cheezum]

WOW!   A great collection of strong memories.

[Angela]

I like that your memories were skewed more to your adulthood, and that they were not entirely focused on the touching or humorous.

I wrote a personal one of these, but I didn't post because my memories tend to fall into the same kind of mood/"category" as yours.  Thank you for sharing.  I was too timid.

[Stephen Torelli]

My brother did magic shows and I sold the tickets. One time we placed a washing machine box over him and I had neighbors ask questions and the answer slid out. I'm glad no one ripped up our tickets or we would still be fighting. Regardless, I feel for you and really admire your memories.

[Toby Tucker Hecht]

I melted after reading this--no--while reading this.  I feel we have seen your soul through a transparent window and love what we see.

[Teresa]

You're still putting on magic shows, and we all love to attend.  Screw the "cool" kid at the bus stop, and the editor who tore up your book deal.  They'll get theirs.  I think I love #'s 3 and 6 best.  They're both about strength and survival, the 6th especially a peek inside your strong heart.  Honestly, what rooted my deep respect most of all was the first time I heard the ER story at Blowing Rock.   I haven't met many people who get up and stay up.  They earn way more points than the ones who have never been tested.

[Gloria Watts]

Strong, powerful words, all so very heartfelt and that aprehension felt at sentece five, I know just how it feels - hope you get that next novel published and lose that feeling forever.

[Cita]

What Gita said. What Joey said.  I don't have a favorite.  Each one seems visceral, deep, not tiny at all.  I saw a Mercedes Benz add posted on fb today about the difference in our left brain and our right brain.  This piece seems to be a beautiful meld of both.  That makes for good writing.  

[Joey Delgado]

Bill, these are all so moving. I especially like #1 and #5. I think a lot of writers have been bullied at one point in their life. It may be what shapes us, what drives us to form perfect comebacks on the page. It's also very touching that you never say "G.d." I love that you stopped cause he saved your sister. Beautiful memories. :)

[Gita]

Sentence five is so powerful because that kind of fear is  undeserved, should never happen to anyone, and robs us of happiness. I hope that your next novel gives you nothing but joy. And soon. Never ever doubt your talent.