The River of My Life
a memoir35 total reviews
Comment from Nosha17
I admire your courage, and you are a survivor. I am glad you are now free of all that misery and health wise you have found a cure. Well written story about your early years under the thumb of abusive, neglectful parents. I could never understand how a parent could treat their children in that way and think it was right. A very sad story, but you have shown such strength to come this far, good luck in the contest. Faye
reply by the author on 29-Oct-2014
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I admire your courage, and you are a survivor. I am glad you are now free of all that misery and health wise you have found a cure. Well written story about your early years under the thumb of abusive, neglectful parents. I could never understand how a parent could treat their children in that way and think it was right. A very sad story, but you have shown such strength to come this far, good luck in the contest. Faye
Comment Written 29-Oct-2014
reply by the author on 29-Oct-2014
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Thanks so much. The shots don't cure the problem and when the study ends I'm likely going to get the problem back. The shots are $40K a year, so who can afford it?
Comment from boxergirl
What a great job you did of telling your story of child-hood survival. Your descriptive details and comments kept me engaged from start to finish. I also liked the added info in your author's notes. You deserve some happiness for your next fifty years. 8-)
reply by the author on 29-Oct-2014
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What a great job you did of telling your story of child-hood survival. Your descriptive details and comments kept me engaged from start to finish. I also liked the added info in your author's notes. You deserve some happiness for your next fifty years. 8-)
Comment Written 29-Oct-2014
reply by the author on 29-Oct-2014
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Thanks so much for the generous review and stars, but especially your kind words.
Comment from N.K. Wagner
Whether a rushing torrent or a placid pool, your life has never been stagnant, Ingrid. Outstanding writing (of course) tells a journey of a trial-by-fire life that has annealed your character in strength and honesty. Well done, my friend. :D Nancy
reply by the author on 29-Oct-2014
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Whether a rushing torrent or a placid pool, your life has never been stagnant, Ingrid. Outstanding writing (of course) tells a journey of a trial-by-fire life that has annealed your character in strength and honesty. Well done, my friend. :D Nancy
Comment Written 29-Oct-2014
reply by the author on 29-Oct-2014
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Thank you for the stars and the nod. It burned itself and robbed my sleep, but emerged as written.
Comment from hifein
You did a wonderful job of communicating and synthesizing your life story. Your story flowed, and I was interested throughout. It is very well written and conveys the strength that you have developed despite a very difficult beginning. Wonderful that you were given that blank paper, but you had the ability to look inside and to create a better world through the written medium. My best to you. Write more!
reply by the author on 29-Oct-2014
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You did a wonderful job of communicating and synthesizing your life story. Your story flowed, and I was interested throughout. It is very well written and conveys the strength that you have developed despite a very difficult beginning. Wonderful that you were given that blank paper, but you had the ability to look inside and to create a better world through the written medium. My best to you. Write more!
Comment Written 29-Oct-2014
reply by the author on 29-Oct-2014
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Thanks so very or your very generous review and kind words. Write more? LOL, I probably write for five to six hours every day.
You might be interested in my novel, published weekly, chapter by chapter on a web site called Page and Spine. I'm up to chapter 29...I think. It's free and all the published chapters are on the site. It's a fictional story about a terminal cancer patient given 3-6 months to live, but the book is about relationships, not cancer. The novel is called 'Measuring Time' by Ingrid Thomson.
Comment from royowen
I enjoyed your work, you're dealings with your mother could be a mirror image of my own, not that I was sexually or physically abused, mine was was the psychological kind that was tied to never being good enough, yet near death, I was the only one of my siblings that remained, apart from an occasional visit from a brother, I raised my children quite differently, but I completely sympathise, and it's true that people can be hurtful and glib in their advice, well done, writing can be therapy, it opens channels of wisdom and understanding, well done, blessings, Roy.
reply by the author on 29-Oct-2014
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I enjoyed your work, you're dealings with your mother could be a mirror image of my own, not that I was sexually or physically abused, mine was was the psychological kind that was tied to never being good enough, yet near death, I was the only one of my siblings that remained, apart from an occasional visit from a brother, I raised my children quite differently, but I completely sympathise, and it's true that people can be hurtful and glib in their advice, well done, writing can be therapy, it opens channels of wisdom and understanding, well done, blessings, Roy.
Comment Written 29-Oct-2014
reply by the author on 29-Oct-2014
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Thanks, Roy. I appreciate the feedback and kind words.
Comment from trimple
Bloody hell!
What a cracking read this is! You certainly know how to compose a story well. The underbelly of humor that runs throughout this piece, really is priceless.
Up until the point where you mention that your belated mother, had herself experienced the terrors dished out upon her own people, as well as having to escape all that was familiar to her. I kept on asking myself, why the hell are you bothering to ever visit this old witch, let alone care for her, at all.
The human condition is like a set on domino's as in one bloodied life falls down upon the next.
Well I won't repeat the many parts of your story that I thought were compelling reading as well as heart wrenching, as there are far too many.
The Psoriasis you have lived with, must have been the cherry on the cake, and I must admit that I didn't know whether to laugh or cry at this point...
You are a brave and very strong woman. I admire your courage and determination to carry on regardless.
I can't see you not winning this competition.
Fantastic, though terribly tragic.
Kind regards
tracey trimple
reply by the author on 29-Oct-2014
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Bloody hell!
What a cracking read this is! You certainly know how to compose a story well. The underbelly of humor that runs throughout this piece, really is priceless.
Up until the point where you mention that your belated mother, had herself experienced the terrors dished out upon her own people, as well as having to escape all that was familiar to her. I kept on asking myself, why the hell are you bothering to ever visit this old witch, let alone care for her, at all.
The human condition is like a set on domino's as in one bloodied life falls down upon the next.
Well I won't repeat the many parts of your story that I thought were compelling reading as well as heart wrenching, as there are far too many.
The Psoriasis you have lived with, must have been the cherry on the cake, and I must admit that I didn't know whether to laugh or cry at this point...
You are a brave and very strong woman. I admire your courage and determination to carry on regardless.
I can't see you not winning this competition.
Fantastic, though terribly tragic.
Kind regards
tracey trimple
Comment Written 29-Oct-2014
reply by the author on 29-Oct-2014
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Tracy, in life if you can't laugh, you might die. Laughter is as much a tactic as it is a defence system. In a strange moment, long ago, I was on a beach in Miami, bravely soaking up rays in a distant land where no one knew me. An Adonis trotted by. A friend who I with posed and preened hoping to get noticed.
I thought she was ridiculous so I called out to the hunk and stopped him in his tracks. "Do you want to go up to the condo with me and play connect the dot?" I asked.
Two of us laughed. One was not my girlfriend.
Thanks for the generous stars.
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ROTFLMFAO!
Oh my God woman! You are so f...king funny!...
Comment from gypsycaravan
If the content were not so powerful, the excellent writing alone deserved the six stars. Add the content and I wish I had a "10." No person should have to endure what you have. Your comparison to a river or stream is fabulous. The second line in this essay and the mighty final line bookcase your entire cruise. What a powerful retelling of a painful path to maturity. i salute you. So happy for your relief from Psoriasis, also.
reply by the author on 29-Oct-2014
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If the content were not so powerful, the excellent writing alone deserved the six stars. Add the content and I wish I had a "10." No person should have to endure what you have. Your comparison to a river or stream is fabulous. The second line in this essay and the mighty final line bookcase your entire cruise. What a powerful retelling of a painful path to maturity. i salute you. So happy for your relief from Psoriasis, also.
Comment Written 29-Oct-2014
reply by the author on 29-Oct-2014
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If you've ever known someone in constant pain who has suddenly been freed from suffering, they'll tell you that the relief is like a miracle and the confusion of where remaining pain comes from is totally confusing.
Thanks for the stars and very kind words.
Comment from Mystic Angel 7777
This is an amazing contest entry. It is so much more emotionally stirring than the others I have read. You progress through your life beautifully. I especially liked the section in which you talk about deflecting undesirable emotions or situations through the use of humor as not many people realize they are doing it when they do. I wish you all the best in the judging and thank you so much for sharing this with me.
reply by the author on 29-Oct-2014
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This is an amazing contest entry. It is so much more emotionally stirring than the others I have read. You progress through your life beautifully. I especially liked the section in which you talk about deflecting undesirable emotions or situations through the use of humor as not many people realize they are doing it when they do. I wish you all the best in the judging and thank you so much for sharing this with me.
Comment Written 29-Oct-2014
reply by the author on 29-Oct-2014
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Thank you so very much for the kind words and the feedback.
Comment from livelylinda
Spiritual Echo: your story brought me sadness for yourself and reminded me of a similar childhood I survived. The very last line of your 'author's notes' about swimming with your grandchildren for the first time, put a broad smile on my face. You have come a very long way and you used your brain to it. Same with me. We are 'sisters' in a way. Bravo to you and your success and long live the public library! This essay is very well written and deserves a sixer but I'm out. livelylinda
reply by the author on 29-Oct-2014
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Spiritual Echo: your story brought me sadness for yourself and reminded me of a similar childhood I survived. The very last line of your 'author's notes' about swimming with your grandchildren for the first time, put a broad smile on my face. You have come a very long way and you used your brain to it. Same with me. We are 'sisters' in a way. Bravo to you and your success and long live the public library! This essay is very well written and deserves a sixer but I'm out. livelylinda
Comment Written 29-Oct-2014
reply by the author on 29-Oct-2014
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Thanks for the feedback and kind thoughts.
Comment from jpduck
So much pain in your life, and now so patiently and skilfully described. I am hugely impressed. How wonderful that you are now free of psoriasis. I am so glad.
reply by the author on 29-Oct-2014
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So much pain in your life, and now so patiently and skilfully described. I am hugely impressed. How wonderful that you are now free of psoriasis. I am so glad.
Comment Written 29-Oct-2014
reply by the author on 29-Oct-2014
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Me too but it is nota cure. When the study ends it will likely return, but hey, I've got practice now dealing with it all. Thanks for the kind review.
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You're very welcome