In the middle of a long overdue email to an old friend (hi, Ly), I wrote this summary—the last five years in less than 100 words:
In the past five years (not quite in chronological order), I have:
gone back to school, gotten my BA (English and Classics), lost my mom, lost myself, watched my dad lose his mind, arranged three cremations, decided not to have kids, given up the chance to pursue my PhD at Princeton, met a bunch of people from the internet, traveled to a stupid number of concerts, stalked a drummer with a flag, laughed, cried, started writing a book, and discovered that I have about a dozen tumors in my head.
If you think that sounds ridiculous in print, imagine watching it unfold live.
I’m thinking maybe that^ should be my About page.
So what would your recent life look like in 100 words or less?
{ 10 comments… read them below or add one }
And you’re still standing. Awesome woman, you are.
Rock on, girly-o. Fuck ‘em all.
<3
HAHA. Right back atcha, lady.
Looking forward to the next 5 years…more stalking, laughing, learning, creating, connecting, loving and much less pain, sorrow, death, disappointment, loss, doctors, etc. 5770 – the start of something good for Kellie, that’s what I say!
Haha. You know, of course, Mimi, that I had to look up 5770. (Initial thought: error message?) L’shanah tovah, my dear.
But what about you ladies? How would you summarize the last five years in 100 words or less? I know that you both have some interesting plot twists as well.
Thanks Kellie…it was the most wonderful Rosh Hashana weekend. I’ll work on my assignment tonight…tempting to do it now, however, I need to remind myself of priorities…like work. Interesting assignment…there are some parallels in our experiences the last five years.
OK Kellie, here goes…do I have to count?
lost my job, got my first computer, made friends on the Internet, went to concerts, found my voice, lost 2 very dear friends, became obsessed with a musician, made new dear friends, finally got a new job, got my first passport, had to use it asap – went to Vancouver, found the magic, lost my mom, made a surprising reconnection, laughed a lot, cried a lot, got a new apartment, found more human & music connections.
I must add something very important…realized when I was in the shower that I should wait unti l I’m more awake to post such things! So here is my final “five years in a nutshell in less than 100 words.”
“lost my job, got my first computer, made friends on the Internet, went to concerts, found my voice, lost 2 very dear friends, became obsessed with a musician, made new dear friends, finally got a new job, got my first passport, had to use it asap – went to Vancouver, found the magic, lost my mom, made a surprising reconnection, laughed a lot, cried a lot, got a new apartment, found more human & music connections, witnessed the birth of my grandson & attended & participated in my granddaughter’s Bat Mitzvah.”
Hellfire, five years?? No way can I fit that into 100 words.
How about the last year?
Lost my job and my place to live, moved, freelanced for three weeks, launched two websites, got another job, had to find another place to live, left it all to go to my momma, lost her, got cannabalized by my siblings, gained a grandson three weeks later, freelanced, moved back and found a place to live, moved from there to another place to live, left there to another place, freelanced, wrote most of a book, had my gall bladder out, found out I have funky masses in weird places and living on the proverbial financial razor’s edge.
And here I am, 53k in the hole, poor as a church mouse, and wondering What. The. Fuck.
Pain, my last theatrical performance, moving cross-country, medication struggles and pain, finding out my sister is an untrustworthy bitch, adoption paperwork, medication struggles and pain again, then a eureka medication is found and pain subsides, losing my grandfather, having a son, parenting, mountains of debt, going back to work, hating work, losing my mom
So, mostly pain, parenting, family drama, and death.
I love you Kellie!
Excellent. Thanks for the synopses, Mimi, Netta, and Robyn! (Love you, too, sweetie.)
Especially interesting to see which landmarks make the cut — like Mimi’s first computer and passport, all of Netta’s moving around (I once moved 5 times in one year, so I hear ya), and Robyn’s sister (feel free to let me know if you ever wish to edit that out).
Also a lot of mother-death going on, so big hugs to you ladies all around on that theme especially.