The Summer We All Grew Up
Life is precious.35 total reviews
Comment from T B Botts
Hello Douglas,
Childhood memories shouldn't include losing a friend to murder. I'm sorry that yours are tainted with the nightmare of this loss. I can see where this could be therapeutic for you. I hope that writing about it will give you some sense of peace. Be assured that innocent children walk the streets of heaven when they pass on. Thanks for sharing this.
Have a blessed evening.
Tom
reply by the author on 18-Aug-2023
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Hello Douglas,
Childhood memories shouldn't include losing a friend to murder. I'm sorry that yours are tainted with the nightmare of this loss. I can see where this could be therapeutic for you. I hope that writing about it will give you some sense of peace. Be assured that innocent children walk the streets of heaven when they pass on. Thanks for sharing this.
Have a blessed evening.
Tom
Comment Written 18-Aug-2023
reply by the author on 18-Aug-2023
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Very releasing to write this story. Thank you for your much appreciated comments.
Comment from Pearl Edwards
An emotional write and memory for you to share Douglas. I like that you started off showing the fun on bus 9 before that terrible day when Becky's life was ended. In those days everyone was told 'get on with it' thankfully we have learnt to talk and write about them. Thanks for sharing. Beautifully written.
Cheers
Valda
reply by the author on 18-Aug-2023
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An emotional write and memory for you to share Douglas. I like that you started off showing the fun on bus 9 before that terrible day when Becky's life was ended. In those days everyone was told 'get on with it' thankfully we have learnt to talk and write about them. Thanks for sharing. Beautifully written.
Cheers
Valda
Comment Written 17-Aug-2023
reply by the author on 18-Aug-2023
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A tough write, indeed.
Comment from w.j.debi
What a tragic way to go, at the hands of someone who should have been protecting her. And look at all the trauma it has caused for the children and adults who knew Becky.
You told this with empathy and caring. It is informative as well as a warning that we need to do better.
Thank you for remembering Becky and sharing her story with us.
reply by the author on 18-Aug-2023
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What a tragic way to go, at the hands of someone who should have been protecting her. And look at all the trauma it has caused for the children and adults who knew Becky.
You told this with empathy and caring. It is informative as well as a warning that we need to do better.
Thank you for remembering Becky and sharing her story with us.
Comment Written 17-Aug-2023
reply by the author on 18-Aug-2023
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Thank you for the kind words.
Comment from Debbie D'Arcy
Oh my God, Doug! What a story and how deeply traumatic for you! I've been riveted all the way through and feel the emotion that is so palpable here. Your prose is brilliantly written and tells an horrendous account of domestic abuse and mental illness. If that were not enough for you as a child to be subjected to, the enforced witnessing of the child in the coffin simply amounted to more child abuse in my view. No wonder you were traumatised and it makes me so angry thinking about the absolute foolhardiness of the adults who allowed this to happen. This is worthy of a six and regrettably I have none. I just hope that there has been some catharsis for you in recounting this story which is serving its purpose of keeping Becky's memory alive. Well done! This must have been an incredibly hard write for you but worth it! Debbie x
reply by the author on 17-Aug-2023
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Oh my God, Doug! What a story and how deeply traumatic for you! I've been riveted all the way through and feel the emotion that is so palpable here. Your prose is brilliantly written and tells an horrendous account of domestic abuse and mental illness. If that were not enough for you as a child to be subjected to, the enforced witnessing of the child in the coffin simply amounted to more child abuse in my view. No wonder you were traumatised and it makes me so angry thinking about the absolute foolhardiness of the adults who allowed this to happen. This is worthy of a six and regrettably I have none. I just hope that there has been some catharsis for you in recounting this story which is serving its purpose of keeping Becky's memory alive. Well done! This must have been an incredibly hard write for you but worth it! Debbie x
Comment Written 17-Aug-2023
reply by the author on 17-Aug-2023
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Thank you. Yes, this was not an easy write, but it was therapeutic and I do feel that she won?t be forgotten as it was on the Welcome Page for a long time. I did not want to be too graphic and dishonor her, but I wanted people to remember this story. She was a fun kid and was dealt a bad hand.
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What you cleverly achieved here was that your details, for example in the coffin, were never over the top but conveyed your thoughts palpably but with deep respect. That takes immense skill....
Comment from jenintorre
I hope it has helped you in some way by writing this story. It is totally heartbreaking. How horrifying that you kids had to look at Becky in the coffin. That alone would surely traumatize you for life. A very well written story and great entry for the competition. Good luck and best wishes. Jen.
reply by the author on 17-Aug-2023
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I hope it has helped you in some way by writing this story. It is totally heartbreaking. How horrifying that you kids had to look at Becky in the coffin. That alone would surely traumatize you for life. A very well written story and great entry for the competition. Good luck and best wishes. Jen.
Comment Written 17-Aug-2023
reply by the author on 17-Aug-2023
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Thank you. Writing is therapeutic.
Comment from Carol Hillebrenner
You have told this story very well and reminded us of a certain age how easily we were entertained in those days. For me it brought to mind hearing a neighbor beat his son to death in 1950. We were only four and couldn't cross the street to play with each other, but he was my first friend in my new neighborhood. The dad came back from WW2 with an opium addiction, and they disappeared after the death. There is nothing more traumatic than the death of a child to other children. We all think we will live forever, or at least until we get old at twenty-five or so, when we are young.
reply by the author on 17-Aug-2023
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You have told this story very well and reminded us of a certain age how easily we were entertained in those days. For me it brought to mind hearing a neighbor beat his son to death in 1950. We were only four and couldn't cross the street to play with each other, but he was my first friend in my new neighborhood. The dad came back from WW2 with an opium addiction, and they disappeared after the death. There is nothing more traumatic than the death of a child to other children. We all think we will live forever, or at least until we get old at twenty-five or so, when we are young.
Comment Written 17-Aug-2023
reply by the author on 17-Aug-2023
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Oh goodness. You have your own traumatic experience. Writing helped me immensely. I like your new photo by the way. Bless you.
Comment from royowen
What a delightful look on that child's face, I'm so glad you posted and wrote this memorial work in tribute to a poor child, beaten to death by a mentally disturbed mother. I can still remember my best friend Bruce, who committed suicide at age 19, it was devastating, beautifully written Douglas, blessings Roy
reply by the author on 17-Aug-2023
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What a delightful look on that child's face, I'm so glad you posted and wrote this memorial work in tribute to a poor child, beaten to death by a mentally disturbed mother. I can still remember my best friend Bruce, who committed suicide at age 19, it was devastating, beautifully written Douglas, blessings Roy
Comment Written 17-Aug-2023
reply by the author on 17-Aug-2023
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Sorry about, Bruce. Life can be tough, but never as tough as death.
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Yes, it?s a bit final
Comment from jmdg1954
Oh how I wish I had one six star remaining to award you.
How tragic a story. I couldn't imagine what I would have done or honestly felt.
I see why this was hard to write. You've done well in choosing the right words to honor your dear friend.
My prayers go out to you, your friends and Becky.
John
reply by the author on 17-Aug-2023
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Oh how I wish I had one six star remaining to award you.
How tragic a story. I couldn't imagine what I would have done or honestly felt.
I see why this was hard to write. You've done well in choosing the right words to honor your dear friend.
My prayers go out to you, your friends and Becky.
John
Comment Written 17-Aug-2023
reply by the author on 17-Aug-2023
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Thank you, my friend. I think I honored here with this piece. She has been on the Welcome Page for a few days. I don?t think people will forget her.
Comment from Kathy Hyer
What a horrible thing for a child to go through. I think it is important to write about your friend, and i hope you find peace and God's gentle blessings help you.
reply by the author on 17-Aug-2023
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What a horrible thing for a child to go through. I think it is important to write about your friend, and i hope you find peace and God's gentle blessings help you.
Comment Written 17-Aug-2023
reply by the author on 17-Aug-2023
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Thank you. I think writing about bad experiences can help.
Comment from JSD
Not much one can say about this. The tragedies that we come across and the heartbreaks we experience are varied and many. One can just hope that people learn just to be nice to each other. Thank you for going through the pain of writing and sharing this and all best wishes to you. X
reply by the author on 17-Aug-2023
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Not much one can say about this. The tragedies that we come across and the heartbreaks we experience are varied and many. One can just hope that people learn just to be nice to each other. Thank you for going through the pain of writing and sharing this and all best wishes to you. X
Comment Written 17-Aug-2023
reply by the author on 17-Aug-2023
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Thank you, my friend.
