22 Comments
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Tina Rogers's avatar

How life carries on in the midst of death is jarring to say the least. That you express this for a small bird says so much about you and why I feel a connection with your beautiful spirit.

Char Wilkins's avatar

Tina, “jarring” is so the right word. One experiences a seismic shift in life, yet everyday life goes on and the world keeps turning. You understand that the smallest among us is to be valued. Thank you.

Beth Kephart's avatar

Dearest Char, this one hit me hard. Because you wrote it so that I could see it perfectly. You chuckling. You expecting a conversation with this bird. And then the heart stop of the frozenness. The cruelty of the weather. Stopped and stoppered by it, Char.

Char Wilkins's avatar

The way you phrase it, I can see the essentials. I would say you have no idea how much I chopped, but I know you do. Your "Trust the reader" and "Do you need this?" on my shoulder. And always "urgent and compressed." Read what your mentoring reaps. So grateful.

Dorine Andrews's avatar

I didn't want my mother back either. You are courageous to admit it. Thank you.

Char Wilkins's avatar

Oh Dorine, thank you for this. Mother-daughter relationships aren't always easy, loving, or kind, although from the outside they may look fine. My memoir is about my very difficult relationship with my mother...behind closed doors, of course. These hard to talk about relationships don't always wrap up tied with a pretty bow either. Our stories help us not feel alone, they help us heal.

Meg Robson Mahoney's avatar

And we adjust. What an encapsulation, so few words.

Char Wilkins's avatar

Meg, yes! With even fewer words you tell it. Life goes on with or without.

Trish McDonald's avatar

Love how you bring it all back to the mundane--and your glorious details!

Char Wilkins's avatar

Thank you, Trish., for acknowledging our everyday world full of amazing details. You say it so well.

Anne-Marie Oomen's avatar

I so appreciate the contrasts in this piece--what we grieve to see die, what we don't, and the nuances of that, the different forms of grief. Thank you.

Char Wilkins's avatar

Anne-Marie, I so appreciate your read and comment. Your memoir, As Long as I Know You, was such an inspiration to say what was needed to be said as I wrote mine. Every memoirist should read.

Joy Overstreet's avatar

Ah. Life. And death. And school busses and garbage trucks. Seems so simple…

Char Wilkins's avatar

Well put Joy, The simplicity of life seems to evade me sometimes, but you've caught it perfectly.

Debi Lewis's avatar

This is so lovely!

Char Wilkins's avatar

Debi, thank you so much for taking the time to read and comment.

Marie Hobart's avatar

Beautiful Char!

Char Wilkins's avatar

Oh, Marie, so lovely to see you here. Our India pilgrimage was such a heart connection I think fondly of all, often. Carolyn connects here too.

Janey Thompson's avatar

The way the mundanity of life continues - whether our particular experience pleases or not...

Char Wilkins's avatar

You so get it, Janey. Exactly.

Janey Thompson's avatar

Japanese micro-season #66...

The year crashes in -

rain and wind and sun. Meanwhile

the robins and sparrows

Char Wilkins's avatar

A perfect addition to this conversation, this desire to acknowledge and accept,the humility to see what is. Thank you for sharing your beautiful words.