A Leaf on the Wind
Viewing comments for Chapter 37 "Bliss"Autobiography of abuse
14 total reviews
Comment from medicnate
Very good chapter. It's riveting as always. You can really feel the wall he seems to be putting between them. It will be interesting to see where this goes. Although, I think I have an idea.
~medicnate~
reply by the author on 10-Apr-2009
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Very good chapter. It's riveting as always. You can really feel the wall he seems to be putting between them. It will be interesting to see where this goes. Although, I think I have an idea.
~medicnate~
Comment Written 10-Apr-2009
reply by the author on 10-Apr-2009
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Thanks. I am impressed with your continued interest expecially since you accumulate so manay points and so much money reviewing this. Again, thanks for the high rating and great review.
Comment from Stacey Lynne Wells
That's cool that you have Tina and Sarah. I hope they're doing well. I can't wait to find out what happens next. Keep writing and take care!
April
reply by the author on 25-Mar-2009
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That's cool that you have Tina and Sarah. I hope they're doing well. I can't wait to find out what happens next. Keep writing and take care!
April
Comment Written 25-Mar-2009
reply by the author on 25-Mar-2009
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YOu are really reading a lot. Thank you for your continued interest in my book.
Comment from Lois Delaney
I didn't bother to wait for an answer
when Tina was a year-and-a-half
So glad things are going better for you finally. But what about the sisters. Why do they call and then refuse help?
reply by the author on 08-Mar-2009
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I didn't bother to wait for an answer
when Tina was a year-and-a-half
So glad things are going better for you finally. But what about the sisters. Why do they call and then refuse help?
Comment Written 08-Mar-2009
reply by the author on 08-Mar-2009
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Yes, they called often but when I would go out to help they would insist they had not called and I was just making trouble.
Comment from jojosug
I haven't always read your chapters in the right order, but I've always been able to follow the story. Once again this is a strong, powerful chapter. What I really like is Valerie's spirit, I want to say YES!
Beautifully written and despite the raw nature of its content, a good read.
Jo
reply by the author on 07-Mar-2009
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I haven't always read your chapters in the right order, but I've always been able to follow the story. Once again this is a strong, powerful chapter. What I really like is Valerie's spirit, I want to say YES!
Beautifully written and despite the raw nature of its content, a good read.
Jo
Comment Written 07-Mar-2009
reply by the author on 07-Mar-2009
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Thank you for your kind words of encouragement. Yes, it is a difficult story to read but I am pleased you have stuck it out.
Comment from laurelp
Two daughters, that is wonderful. Having children can be such a blessing. But, it never heals someone. Your chapter was very well written and I found no errors. My curiosity is still there as to what happens next.
reply by the author on 06-Mar-2009
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Two daughters, that is wonderful. Having children can be such a blessing. But, it never heals someone. Your chapter was very well written and I found no errors. My curiosity is still there as to what happens next.
Comment Written 06-Mar-2009
reply by the author on 06-Mar-2009
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Thank you for your kind review and contiud interest. You are right, life continues with more problems causd by the past.
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Although I have never gone through anything like you, I am now 62. Unless you (meaning me) are totally blind to life, you have to learn something about living it. Also, in my youth and bygone days (college) I was a volunteen with autistic children. Plus, my life may be far from perfect, but the mistakes made were mine, I can't blame others. So, you learn through life. In your case, you can blame others. They started it and kept on doing it to you and your sisters. Your were too young to have developed the mechanisms to fight back. So when I say it is a miracle you can write about it, I am truly meaning those words. I had a friend that went though emotional and physical abuse. She never got past it. And because I knew about it, she forced me out of her life as well. I always wonder about her. And, that was over 40 years ago.
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Your remarks touch me deeply and I undertand what you are saying. Yes I was too young to comprehend or know how to deal with what was going on. When I described myself as a child in an adult's body I was trying to explain just what you said. I too, know many who did not survive and is precisely the reason for my book. While it is clearly depressing, and all too often disheatening, I do survive. Without giving away secrets, the person who helps to lead me from my darkness into the light will surprise you. Agaian, I sincerely appreciate your high reviews, high ratings, and personal insight.
Valerie
Comment from Arkine
I suppose, even though they deny everything, she is still coming to their rescue. But a young child and baby take a lot of time and care. I kind of think she's not going to be able to run to their aid much longer. She'd hit him over the head with the bottle but I suppose that would have been going too far. ;)
reply by the author on 05-Mar-2009
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I suppose, even though they deny everything, she is still coming to their rescue. But a young child and baby take a lot of time and care. I kind of think she's not going to be able to run to their aid much longer. She'd hit him over the head with the bottle but I suppose that would have been going too far. ;)
Comment Written 05-Mar-2009
reply by the author on 05-Mar-2009
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Thank you for your kind review and yes, I often thought about hitting him a bottle or something. Now, with two children of my own it is my hope too that life will now change for the better.
Comment from SuzyJay
Very well written and a good story line.
Being pedantic - the only word I that didn't rest easy as I read was polite: "was too polite to complain". I struggle to find the word to use here, but I'm not sure that polite is it.
reply by the author on 05-Mar-2009
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Very well written and a good story line.
Being pedantic - the only word I that didn't rest easy as I read was polite: "was too polite to complain". I struggle to find the word to use here, but I'm not sure that polite is it.
Comment Written 05-Mar-2009
reply by the author on 05-Mar-2009
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I think you are right. I'll go back over that section and see what I can do.
Comment from jodeecee
/Concerned,/? /When/ he would ask, "Valerie, what's wrong?"
Consumed with guilt but unable to tell him the truth/,/ I would always say, "Nothing. I'm just tired."
As I reached for the phone/,/ I glanced at the clock on the nightstand.
Half awake I managed to mumbled, "Hello."/"/
clear/ed/ing/ the sleepy fog from my brain.
I had to get to /m/om's as fast as I could.(the next 2 mom's too)
I will never let Daddy come /new/ near you."
baby kick or listen/ing/ to its heartbeat.
reply by the author on 05-Mar-2009
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/Concerned,/? /When/ he would ask, "Valerie, what's wrong?"
Consumed with guilt but unable to tell him the truth/,/ I would always say, "Nothing. I'm just tired."
As I reached for the phone/,/ I glanced at the clock on the nightstand.
Half awake I managed to mumbled, "Hello."/"/
clear/ed/ing/ the sleepy fog from my brain.
I had to get to /m/om's as fast as I could.(the next 2 mom's too)
I will never let Daddy come /new/ near you."
baby kick or listen/ing/ to its heartbeat.
Comment Written 05-Mar-2009
reply by the author on 05-Mar-2009
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Thakyou, again fo you good eye. I truly appreciate you review and help.
Comment from amada
This is a taunting story and it was a pleasure to read it. It left me with feelings of sadness, though, so much injustice in the world. Innocent children pay a big price. I wish you the best from now on.
reply by the author on 05-Mar-2009
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This is a taunting story and it was a pleasure to read it. It left me with feelings of sadness, though, so much injustice in the world. Innocent children pay a big price. I wish you the best from now on.
Comment Written 05-Mar-2009
reply by the author on 05-Mar-2009
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Thank you for your kind review.
Comment from adewpearl
just to be told I was overeating again should be overreacting
You describe so well how the horrors of the past influenced your behavior in the present - no wonder Richard stopped being attentive when he was rejected so often without explanation - it is so sad that you couldn't share your past with him.
And the parts with your mother allowing your father to continue molesting the younger children - and then they lie to you - so many people putting so much energy into defending this monster. If only at some point in the chain someone had just turned him into the authorities, how much damage could that have prevented - and this happens in so many families.
I think this is one of those things people on the outside of the situation never understand because they were never put in that situation - I say to myself, of course I would go to teachers, counselors, police, neighbors, the minister, everyone and anyone until someone helped - but it didn't happen to me so I don't know for sure if I would have reacted rationally. This continues to be such a compelling story. Brooke
reply by the author on 05-Mar-2009
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just to be told I was overeating again should be overreacting
You describe so well how the horrors of the past influenced your behavior in the present - no wonder Richard stopped being attentive when he was rejected so often without explanation - it is so sad that you couldn't share your past with him.
And the parts with your mother allowing your father to continue molesting the younger children - and then they lie to you - so many people putting so much energy into defending this monster. If only at some point in the chain someone had just turned him into the authorities, how much damage could that have prevented - and this happens in so many families.
I think this is one of those things people on the outside of the situation never understand because they were never put in that situation - I say to myself, of course I would go to teachers, counselors, police, neighbors, the minister, everyone and anyone until someone helped - but it didn't happen to me so I don't know for sure if I would have reacted rationally. This continues to be such a compelling story. Brooke
Comment Written 05-Mar-2009
reply by the author on 05-Mar-2009
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Thank you for your kind review. Even if I had turned him in, not much would have been done other than a warning to stop. Laws were vry different back then...1960's. This was just not someting people or officials saw as a real problem. To them he was just a man with a drinking problem. The most the officials would have done was recommed he seek treatment or go to AA. No excuse for the family's denial other than to say, my sisters learned from their mother to keep quiet and pretend everything was fine. Again, thanks for the kind review.
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that is just so tragic - I do know what you mean about when law doesn't help - when my ex didn't pay child support in the 80's , trying to get any agency to force him to do so was like trying to move mountains, and that is such a petty thing compared to your problem - as I said, you don't have to justify yourself - I'm not the one who was up against it. It is just a common human reaction for readers to think - well, I would have handled it more logically, more efficiently. And they'll never know if they never actually had to try to do it!
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I completey unerstand your comments. You are correct. Sorry if I came across as defensive, that was't my intent. I was just pointing out the challenges of the time I lived in. Your comments are alwys welcome.
